Exam Times

LEAVING CERT APPLIED MATHS:SOME OF the best maths brains in the country were "devastated" by yesterday's applied maths paper, the chair of the Irish Applied Maths Teachers' Association has said.

“This is a major setback for the subject,” said Kevin Conliffe.

“Many of my members were unhappy with the length of the questions, the number of twists and turns and the absence of key sections of the syllabus.”

There was no reference to the subject of circular motion at all, he said. “Many students and teachers will have spent considerable time preparing for this question,” Mr Conliffe said.

Other teachers in the association complained that every question on the paper was “unnecessarily complicated” compared to previous years.

“At first glance, this looked like a straightforward paper, but a number of teachers in the association sat down to do it in the afternoon and found it very difficult,” said Mr Conliffe.

Applied maths is still a minority subject and uptake has remained low, at about 1,500 each year.

The subject has a reputation for difficulty and the majority of schools don’t offer it.

According to statistics from the State Examinations Commission, 20 per cent of applied maths students get an A1. The subject places maths in a practical context, and teachers maintain that the exam is formulaic and approachable.

“Included in the 1,500 students taking this subject yesterday are some of the best maths students in the country,” said Mr Conliffe.

“Some would be looking for full marks. Not many will get full marks for that paper this morning. People are aware that marking schemes are adjusted in situations like these.

“However, based on yesterday’s paper, candidates will tell their younger brothers and sisters not to take it.

“Most who take applied maths take it as an extra subject, outside the school in private colleges or with a tutor. It’s a tremendously challenging and interesting subject, but exams like that will not attract more people to take it. We are very disappointed.”

Not all teachers and students were unhappy with yesterday’s paper. Christy Maginn of St Declan’s in Cabra described the paper as “progressive and honest”.

“In recent years the applied maths paper has been accessible and well-structured, with clear diagrams and instructions,” said Mr Maginn

“The paper continues to debunk the myth that applied maths is a hard subject.”