Warm welcome for challenging papers

Leaving Cert Technical Drawing: There was a warm welcome for yesterday's technical drawing paper two at Leaving Certificate higher and ordinary levels, which were described by teachers as interesting and challenging.

Students of the subject can opt to sit one of two papers - one focusing on engineering application and the other on building application. However, the vast majority of the 6,000 students taking the subject opt for the second of these.

And according to John O'Sullivan of the Asti, a teacher at CBS New Ross, Co Wexford, higher level paper 2b was "a fair paper which provided students with ample opportunities to display their knowledge and understanding". He particularly liked the first question on perspective, which seemed to be based on the well-known Burj al-Arab hotel in Dubai. The choice of this example highlighted the relevance of geometry in the modern world, he said. At ordinary level, yesterday's paper 2b was "very fair", Mr O'Sullivan said.

"The popular questions on topics such as perspective and mining geometry were all examined in a manner that students have become accustomed to," he said.

Pat O'Dwyer of the TUI, a teacher at Kenmare Community School, said his students were "absolutely delighted" with the higher level exam.

"It was an extremely interesting paper to do, there was nothing out of the ordinary yet it was doable," he said.

"In particular, it would have judged candidates very well - it would have tested them." The ordinary level paper was also "excellent", Mr O'Dwyer said.