From magazine cabinets to smartphone music apps in Junior Cert

The woodwork exams taken yesterday afternoon went down well with Junior Certificate students who spoke to Noel Scott.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland subject spokesman said the topics on the higher level exam were relevant and interesting, and he praised the quality of the images used in the paper.

Among the tasks set for students was to design a unit to hold remote controls and magazines, and other questions asked about power machines and safety procedures, and about forest conservation.

Teachers’ Union of Ireland subject spokesman Michael Leyden said the exam was challenging but fair, giving plenty scope for students to achieve good marks.

He said sketches were clear and easily identifiable.

While the first long question needed quite a lot of work, Mr Leyden said well-prepared students would have been okay on it, while the second question allowed students showcase their design skills.

Mr Scott said the ordinary level exam questions included a marquetry-decorated wooden mobile phone case, and a very nice question about using a laser cutting machine for the gears and cogs in a wooden watch.

Mr Leyden saw no problems with the first section to the ordinary level paper, and the second was quite fair with a good range of questions, the most challenging question being about a golf society logo.

In the morning, around 12,500 students took technical graphics exams which ASTI subject spokesman Michael Horan said were well-received.

Mr Horan said questions at both higher and ordinary level were fair and were pitched at a very appropriate level.

The higher level exam was well structured to reward candidates who were given wide exposure to the syllabus, he said.

Mr Horan felt that the 3D graphics of objects on both papers helped with the students’ visualisation and understanding of the questions.

Some examples of these items included a music app for a smartphone, a logo for an animal shelter and part of a car dashboard.