Music exam hits all the right notes as technology is well received
She said questions were worded well, but the selections from which they were asked to pick the form of the first listening excerpt were quite advanced. There was nothing too unexpected in the written section, but working in the key of B-flat may have been difficult for some students.
Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland spokeswoman Mary McFadden considered the exam accessible. She said some students might have had a problem explaining an ostinato in a question on Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Feelin‘ Groovy’.
The set work section was on the popular William Tell Overture. She welcomed a wide choice of Irish music figures and the inclusion of a modern song, Jason Mraz’s ‘I Won’t Give Up’.
Ms Glynn said the ordinary-level paper gave students lots of choice and was well laid out. Students might have found trouble working in the key of G major in written section questions.
The afternoon’s higher-level technology exam was well received, according to TUI’s Fiona Byrne, but was challenging in places, such as a robotics and control question. She said questions about aerial drones and sport technology would have appealed to students.
Ms Byrne said the ordinary-level exam had nice examples of technological developments, like the Dublin Bikes scheme and cars running on compressed air.
