Harmonious response to music exams

The responses from students of Junior Certificate music were largely harmonious after yesterday’s exam.

That was the view of Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) subject spokesperson Mary McFadden after an exam that featured Anitra’s Dance from the Peer Gynt Suite as the set work in the listening test. The examination of folk songs in the Irish music section allowed students show their knowledge and the composing questions were very fair.

She said ordinary-level students would have been pleased that knowledge rather than memory was tested when having to match song types to descriptions.

lBrian Doran of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) said the higher-level Leaving Certificate design and communication graphics exam was quite challenging, as the inclusion of more than one topic in many questions meant students had to have the entire course well covered.

He said the ordinary-level exam was well suited to students at this standard.

ASTI’s John O’Sullivan said papers at both levels were fair and students were challenged to apply their understanding of the course with interesting scenarios. For example, higher-level questions based on an Egyptian pyramid and Beyoncé’s diamond engagement ring, and an ordinary-level one about a water fountain in Sweden.

* Shane Ó Ciardubháin of TUI said the higher-level paper in Leaving Certificate economics began with a settling question on consumer demand. He was pleased at the use of topical issues such as national debt and youth unemployment.

But some related questions were challenging, particularly one on quantitative easing.

ASTI’s Bairbre Kennedy said higher-level questions demanded analytical thinking, with one asking students to advise government ministers on budgetary measures and youth unemployment. She said these and others like a gender pay gap question required students to apply their learning well and many questions linked to topical news issues.

She said the ordinary-level exam was fair and needed students to show knowledge of current topics, including property tax.

Mr Ó Ciardubháin said the paper had plenty of choice but weaker students might have struggled with parts of some questions.