Obscure exams draw mixed reactions

LEAVING CERT ART: ALL LEVELSIT WAS a tough day for art students yesterday, as the written component of their exam proved exacting and, in places, "obscure", according to one teacher.

"The higher paper was very mixed," said ASTI subject representative Jane Campbell. "The illustrations in the Irish section were not all labelled - not every student would have recognised the Book of Kells, for example."

Other teachers regarded the paper as fair overall, but queried the inclusion of an obscure Georgian building in Cavan on question five.

"This is a simple, red-brick building with few of the features common to Georgian architecture. It's not even open to the public," said one.

There was also some disquiet among students over the European art section, which focused on particulars and offered a paucity of choice. A question on Degas caused an upset to students hoping for a more general review of Impressionist art.

Yesterday's art history paper counted for almost 40 per cent of the overall grade. That's set to change, however, when the new syllabus is implemented.

"We are simply waiting for the Minister for Education to approve the implementation of the new syllabus, which will drastically alter the experience of the Leaving Certificate art student," said Ms Campbell. "Under the new syllabus, the written paper will only count for 30 per cent of the grade, similar to the current Junior Cert syllabus. Students will be able to concentrate on their chosen category of art history, rather than having to engage in guesswork."

The most recent chief examiner's report on art concluded that the art history syllabus has been gradually whittled down and tended to be concentrated on a small number of questions. The syllabus for Leaving Certificate art has been in place since 1970.

Almost 11,000 students were predicted to sit yesterday's art history exam; four out of five students take the subject at higher level. Twice as many girls take the subject as boys. Students earn the rest of their grade earlier in the year from projects on design or craftwork, life sketching and imaginative composition.

Yesterday's ordinary-level exam was also regarded as difficult. "Clearer language would aid the ordinary-level student getting to grips with the paper," Ms Campbell said.

Phrases like "composition" and style may have thrown some students, said Ms Campbell, and the paper would have benefited from some definitions.

Some students complained that the inclusion of a sculpture by John Burke, situated outside the Bank of Ireland headquarters in Dublin, was too obscure. Students were asked to discuss the location of the work, which was not specified in the exam.

The question on Manet was also considered challenging for the level, but the inclusion of Pablo Picasso's Guernicawas applauded.