Leaving Cert economics and DCG: Topical and challenging paper

Emigration, Irish Water, the price of private rented accommodation, the value of the US dollar and restrictions on residential mortgage lending featured on one of the most topical higher level economics papers for years.

Pat Collins, an economics teacher at Dungarvan CBS Waterford, said the paper was fair and offered choice throughout. "A short question on the value of the dollar relative to the euro was timely, as exports from Ireland to the US have become that bit cheaper while more American tourists are coming here."

The third part of the longer questions usually provides a greater challenge and allows the stronger students a chance to shine; that did not change this year. In one such question, students were asked for their opinion on whether or not Irish Water, the water utility company, should be regulated.

Mr Collins said economics students learn to leave their political opinions, such as those on water charges, at the door.

The ordinary-level economics paper was straightforward and the questions were clearly stated, he said. In total, 5,224 students sat the economics papers.

‘Well structured’

Mr Collins said the questions are usually set around January or February, and that examiners do aim to make them topical, so students should pay particular attention to the news at that time of year.

In the afternoon, an estimated 5,432 students sat the design and communications graphics (DCG) exam. Michael Horan, ASTI subject representative and a teacher from St Brigid's Secondary School in Killarney, said the higher- and ordinary-level papers were well received by students.

“They were fair, well structured and challenging, and both struck a nice balance in terms of testing the depth and breadth of students’ knowledge and understanding across the ability spectrum.”

He said both papers incorporated many objects from everyday life, which would be familiar to all students.

“Significant effort was made to test geometry in an applied manner. Higher level students were asked to construct drawings around objects such as a satellite orbiting the earth, transmitting back television signals, the Fifa Club World Cup trophy and plotting the movement of a mechanism from a coin pusher arcade-style machine from the popular ITV game show Tipping Point, while ordinary level students constructed designs including an image from the Angry Bird computer game and the roof structure of Glasnevin Museum in Dublin.”

Try this at home

Discuss the economic effects of emigration on the Irish economy.

Advise the Government on two policy initiatives/measures that could be introduced in budget 2016 to encourage emigrants to return to Ireland.

(From Leaving Cert economics, higher level)