German and Construction Leaving Cert papers well received

Tens of thousands of Leaving and Junior Certificates completed relatively straightforward German exams yesterday - experts say the papers contained “no massive surprises” and would have suited the majority of students.

“The texts on the Higher Level Leaving Cert paper were absolutely fine. There was nothing that would have caused major consternation for students,” said Patrick Kavanagh from the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI).

The first text centred on an old woman was about to turn 100 and wanted to organise a flight in a small airplane to fulfill a lifelong dream. The second text was about a student who had just done the Leaving Cert and wanted to go to music school.

The written pieces, however, could have confused some sitting the Higher Level exam, according to Mr Kavanagh.

In the first written piece, students had to choose between two options.

The first option asked students what they thought the most important professions would be in the future.

“A lot of students would have looked at it and they would have had a mental block,” said Mr Kavanagh.

“Some kids would have fallen on the hurdle there and would have said that’s horrible, that’s a horrible question.”

As such, Mr Kavanagh said most students would probably have chosen the second option, which asked students to say if they thought all children throughout the world have a happy childhood.

“That’s a much more straightforward question,” said Mr Kavanagh. “I would imagine most would probably have gone for that one.”

In the second of the written pieces, where students have to read a letter and respond to it, students were once again given a choice between two questions.

The first option dealt with someone who was fed up with their clothes and planned to bring them to the town square for a clothes exchange party.

Mr Kavanagh said Irish students might not understand the idea of a clothes exchange party, but that the event wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to a German person.

“It depends on if that cultural difference has really been dealt with and explored in the class. Some kids would have just thought it was weird,” he said.

“The second option was absolutely fine though, it was just about the growing popularity of bicycles as a means of transport.”

Mr Kavanagh said the Ordinary Level paper was also “a very nice paper, with nothing out of the ordinary” as were the Junior Certificate German papers.

“If they’ve done their work, learned their stuff, kept on top of the course for the two years and prepared past exam papers, students would have been very happy today.”

Leaving Certificates also had Construction Studies yesterday afternoon, while Junior Certificates sat their Home Economics exam. Both were said to be fair examinations with no surprises.

Subject spokesperson from the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) Dara Fitzpatrick said the Higher Level Construction Studies paper had “a certain predictability to it” but was very up-to-date and reflected recent changes to building practises.

He said the Ordinary Level paper was also very fair and mentioned the topic issue of rainwater harvesting.

Maura McCaul from ASTI said the Junior Cert Home Economics paper was “well received” by the students and for many of them it was their last exam.

“From a teacher’s perspective it was a very contemporary paper and it did cover a broad range of topics from the course which was nice to see.”