Mixed feelings around Leaving Cert maths but students avoid getting caught in spider web question

A question in Section B 'was on the strange side', as it was about spiders building webs out of silk. File picture

Students may have given a question themed around spider webs a wide berth on Friday’s higher level maths paper 1 as teachers noted mixed feelings towards this year’s exam.

The third day of the 2025 Leaving Cert continued on Friday afternoon, with maths.

There was “mixed reaction” amongst some of his students coming out of the exam on Friday, according to Niall Duddy, teacher with Presentation College in Galway and Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) subject spokesperson.

Each question had a “bogey” last-part, he added. 

“But that is to be expected. There were a few students who were upset, and a few that were happy.

“Looking at the paper as a whole, Section B was on the strange side, in particular question 7 which was to do with spiders’ webs.

“It was about spiders building webs out of silk. A few of the students spotted the dangers with it and gave it a wide berth.”

Question 7 and 10 had to do with patterns and sequences.

“The tail end of question 10, which was about patterns, caught one or two them unawares.”

Ordinary level

The ordinary level paper 1 was more straightforward, he added, "if a little on the verbose side".

“We’ve noticed again the trend in keeping with previous years, where some traditionally paper 2 material appear on paper 1 again, with a question on volume.”

His advice to students ahead of the weekend is to reset.

“It's half-time, and they’ll have a good idea there how they got on.

“My advice to everybody, I know one or two students here came out of the hall quite upset, I say to them ‘look, it's over and done with, and there’s no need to panic about it’.”