THE layout and presentation of the materials and technology (metalwork) papers was praised by Mr Phelim O'Doherty, ASTI subject representative and a teacher in Summerhill College, Sligo.
He said that the ordinary level paper was reasonable but the higher level paper "was a stiff enough test overall". The diagrams in both papers were excellent, he said.
At ordinary level, questions followed multiple choice and fill in the blank formats, with little writing involved. Questions covered topics ranging from suitable metals for sinks and keys to the use of oil in car engines to the smelting of iron ore.
At higher level, Mr O'Doherty said students would be familiar with the practical aspects of the slip ring assembly shown in section B, question 1, but they might find the theory a little difficult. For students who knew their electronics, question 3, which dealt with soldering, was fine, he said.
Furnaces and alloys were the subjects of question 4, which Mr O'Doherty described as a "standard question, lovely". However, question 5, which was based on a diagram of a pedestal grinding machine, was one of the more difficult questions he said.
Question 6, which included a diagram, showing a method of bracelet design, asked students to design an alternative decorative bracelet to suit their own wrist, using the same method of design.
They also had to give a description of how to polish the bracelet and bend it to the shape, of the wrist and name a suitable material for it. This should have caused students few, if any, problems, Mr O'Doherty said.
Equally, students should have anticipated a question on CNC lathes, he noted, so question 7 should not have posed many problems.