Spanish inquisition challenged many

More than 8,500 students had Junior Certificate exams in Spanish yesterday.

According to Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) subject spokeswoman, Laoise O’Boyle, there were many challenges in a comprehension section which started with items on technology and environmental issues. It got more tricky after that, particularly in relation to vocabulary.

The letter question was accessible, however — covering a lot about Spanish culture such as school and food.

Ms O’Boyle said the ordinary level exam was tougher than expected, but strong students could show off their vocabulary. The letter section asked about usual topics such as family, house, school, and what students plan to do after their exams.

The written exam for metalwork students was taken yesterday afternoon and ASTI’s Donal Cremin thought the higher level paper was fair but challenging. He said it gave students an opportunity to display their talent and knowledge.

Mr Cremin said design and problem solving featured prominently throughout. A question on the design process required students to think on their feet, he said.

Earlier this year, students had to design and manufacture a model stock car as part of their coursework, and should have been familiar with the kind of question which appeared on that project. Other topics in a wide-ranging exam included safety and the environment; and Mr Cremin said high-quality graphics and images were used well in the paper.

He welcomed the quality of the ordinary level exam, which covered modern and relevant topics, and featured excellent use of graphics to stimulate students.