Junior Cert maths students in ‘crux’ over misnamed Harry Potter symbol

Maths and science kicked off the second week of Junior Certificate exams yesterday.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) maths spokeswoman Elaine Devlin said there was no magic in the air for students faced with a shape described as a “Horcrux” on the second higher-level maths paper.

She said it was unfamiliar in mathematical terms, even if students were able to recognise it from the Harry Potter movies. Students pointed out on social media that the symbol was the Deathly Hallows, and not a Horcrux.