Sighs of relief at having first paper under their belts

THE big day passed without any major hitches for students taking their first Junior Certificate exams yesterday.

English papers were the order of the day for more than 56,000 candidates around the country. But most Cork students appear to have got through the papers with relative comfort.

At Mayfield Community School in Cork, there was relief among Junior Certificate students at having the first paper under their belts. Gemma Kelleher found the ordinary level paper easier than expected, and she was glad to have overcome the pre-exam nerves.

“I just wish the whole thing was over sooner, I have two more weeks before I’m finished,” she said.

Cousins Shane and Leonard Dunlea, also students in Mayfield, were equally pleased with their performance. However, having the first exam out of the way had done little to ease their nerves about next week’s French and science papers.

Paul McGill was also anxious about the length of time to the end of the exams, with technical graphics being his final subject on June 21. But it was so-far so-good after the first day for him. “Today’s paper was easy enough, although it was a bit long, so I’d say I’ll pass,” he said after yesterday morning’s ordinary level English exam.

Several Junior Cert students at Ursuline Convent in Blackrock found the second higher level paper longer noticeably than the first.

“The Shakespeare question was fine but the poetry was very hard, it didn’t make any sense,” said Eadaoin Looney.

Mary O’Regan found Paper I difficult but she said the second paper in the afternoon was quite easy.

Another Ursuline student, Katie O’Donoghue, thought the choice of essays was really bad and found the first day of the exams very long and tiring.