Leaving Cert art: Student-friendly papers with lots of choice

Students and teachers have reacted positively to the art history exam, calling the higher and ordinary level papers generous and fair.

Declan Kelly, an art teacher at The Institute of Education, said that the questions were generally thoughtful and considerate with very few curve balls in the mix.

“It really gave students a strong platform to demonstrate their ability and knowledge after a difficult two years of study.

[ Examwatch 2022: Reaction to the Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert exams ]

Veronica Lavin, ASTI subject representative and a teacher at Thomond College, Moylish Park, Moylish, Co. Limerick, said that the higher and ordinary level papers were both fair and offered lots of choice.

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“There was nothing that would throw them,” Ms Lavin said. “Because of Covid-19, students only had to answer one question from two sections instead of one from each of three.

“At higher level, the questions required the candidates to display critical thinking.

“Students would have liked the choice in the European questions, especially around impressionism, but it was noteworthy that no living female artists appeared in section one, question seven.”

Mr Kelly said that the European section on the higher-level paper, in particular, offered a “really reliable” set of questions, notably the gothic question.

“It was also really nice to see Van Gogh appear, especially considering the constant stream of [related] events in Dublin this year,” he said.

“The Irish including Yeats was great for anyone that saw the amazing exhibition in the National Gallery last year, but the other questions were good reliable numbers that students should be comfortable with.

“This is the last Leaving Cert art exam of this format,” said Mr Kelly. “It’s all new from next year so I think this was the ideal way to say goodbye to an exam format that has been used for many decades. Overall, this exam was a greatest hits of the Leaving Cert art history questions.”

Try this one at home:

Leaving Cert art history, higher level

-Choose one of the following: • James Barry (1741-1806) • Daniel Maclise (1806-1870) •  Jack B. Yeats (1871-1957) •  Mary Swanzy (1882-1978) •  Tony O’Malley (1913-2003) •    Robert Ballagh (b. 1943) •  Colin Davidson (b. 1968). Describe and discuss the work of your chosen artist, making detailed reference to two named works by that artist. Refer to subject matter, style, media/materials, techniques and influences in your answer. Illustrate your answer.