Chemistry paper a wordy challenge

About 8,400 students sat the Leaving Certificate chemistry papers yesterday.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) representative, Pauline Nagle said students at both ordinary and higher-levels were set testing papers that relied heavily on theory rather than practical work.

She said even the strongest students would do well to get an A on the higher-level exam, which was very wordy throughout.

While she thought there were many nice questions, such as one on chemical reactions, others such as a full question on the history of the atom required an awful lot of reading.

She offered a similar view on the ordinary-level exam, which she thought only those students who may have dropped down from preparing for higher-level would do really well in.

*There were Spanish papers for students at all levels yesterday morning, and Máire Ní Chiarba of the ASTI said higher-level Leaving Certificate students were given a suitably challenging paper.

Students were pleased enough with the listening test after their written exam, in which she thought questions followed the first comprehension piece about replacing schoolbooks with laptops and netbooks.

A longer reading piece about addiction to work was of the usual difficult standard and diary and note- writing questions appeared fine.

Ms Ní Chiarba said ordinary-level students were happy with the written section, although a reading comprehension about the Titanic was challenging.

nA lot of reading was required of higher-level Junior Certificate students of the same subject. Ms Ní Chiarba felt a piece about Madrid zoo was difficult, but earlier comprehensions on a Celtic music festival and firefighting were OK. She said the ordinary-level Spanish exam seemed fair.

nThe afternoon’s Junior Certificate papers were taken by close to 8,000 students.

Teachers’ Union of Ireland spokesman Paddy Sheelan said the higher-level paper was very modern, and fair without being easy.

ASTI’s Kenny Donagher thought the exam well laid- out and said the inclusion of a question on jewellery making and decorative metalwork may help make the subject more appealing to girls.

Both teachers thought the ordinary-level exam was well laid out and featured answerable questions.