Paper an ‘encouragement’ for study of applied maths

The applied maths paper taken by more than 1,500 higher-level Leaving Certificate students was an encouragement for others to pursue the subject.

This was the view of Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) subject spokesman Christy Maginn, who said there was very little that was unfamiliar on the exam, either in question styles or the techniques needed.

While some students might have had difficulty with a question on projectiles, and the opening part of a question about collisions was longer than would be expected, a differential equations question incorporating elements of the new Project Maths syllabus was very student-friendly.

Mr Maginn said exams like yesterday’s rewarded students who worked hard and should help reiterate the message that applied maths was not an elitist subject.

Also taken yesterday morning were religious education exams for 1,300 Leaving Cert students and ASTI subject spokeswoman Aisling M Flood said the higher-level paper was very fair. She said the clarity of language was an improvement on last year and it was nice to see a choice within the first section, but it would have been good to provide internal choice in the other sections. Ms Flood said students felt there was more of a connect than other years with the Junior Certificate course and it was good that the paper examined a mix of personal experiences and knowledge of the course. She felt the ordinary-level exam had much more accessible language than the higher-level paper.

Kieran Christie of the ASTI said students were pleased with both higher and ordinary-level Leaving Cert technology exams.

He said graphics used in the higher-level short questions section were of a very high standard and the materials technology option related very well to the thematic brief regarding disability issues.