State exams 2026: 'Overwhelmingly positive' reaction to maths paper 2

Leaving Certificate students Katie Murphy and Letitia Kongue after English paper 2 at Ursuline College, Blackrock, Cork, last Thursday. Picture: Larry Cummins

After a tough start with paper 1 last week, many Leaving Cert students would have been relieved with a fair and approachable maths paper 2 on Monday morning.

The 2026 State exams continued on Monday morning, with Leaving Cert maths paper 2 and Junior Cycle science.

Many students found paper 1 of higher-level maths to be a tough one on Friday afternoon.

Paper 2 was much more straightforward, according to Niall Duddy, maths teacher and subject spokesperson for the ASTI.

“It seemed to be overwhelmingly positive, the reaction here with students aftyerwards,” Mr Duddy said. 

“It struck a chord with most of them.

“Not that they were delighted, but they certainly found it much more accessible than paper 1 on Friday.”

Mr Duddy added: "Just looking through the paper, any student who prepared for probability and statistics, they were handsomely rewarded.

“If they were well prepared in that area, they would have gotten well over 100 marks.”

The prompts on the paper were also very welcome, said Mr Duddy.

The paper also included questions on statistics, area and volume, and trigonometry.

“Overwhelmingly the reaction here from students was it was better than Friday,” said Mr Duddy.

“It seemed to be much more user friendly.”

Paper 2 of ordinary-level maths was also “well received” and “straightforward”, said Mr Duddy.

Teacher and Studyclix subject spokesperson Stephen Begley said paper 2 of ordinary-level maths was "fair and approachable" with a pleasant range of choice. 

"The paper largely focused on familiar topics, and those who had prepared using past papers were rewarded with clear, accessible questions presented in a well-known style." 

The Leaving Cert continues with Irish paper 1 on Monday afternoon and paper 2 on Tuesday morning. 

The exams conclude on June 23.