Air of mystery intrigues candidates

LEAVING Certificate English higher level Paper 1 had a theme of mystery running through it.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) subject spokesman Michael Doherty thought there were no surprises in the comprehension questions and felt that students would have been well prepared for questions on writing styles.

While there was a good range of essay options, he considered the choice of just one short story very narrow. The story had to be about the solving of a mystery, which many students felt was a bit vague, but Mr Doherty said more capable candidates wouldn’t have had any problem.