Junior Cert Maths Paper 1

IT WAS a tough day for Junior Cert students yesterday as maths paper 1 was considered “marginally more difficult” than they were expecting.

“The paper kept them working right until the very end, nobody left early,” said teacher James Healy of Terenure College in Dublin.

There were no specific complaints with the paper, but some sections were regarded as “slightly off-putting.”

“One of the algebra questions (6c, part 2) was unusually phrased and some of the students may have been thrown,” said Michael Berry of Coláiste Dún Iascaigh in Cahir, Co Tipperary. “Still, it would have given the top students a chance to show what they are capable of.”

Another sticky question arose in section 3, where students were asked to calculate the through-flow of pipe. “It wasn’t hard, but some students may not have made the connection between the wording of the question and the maths behind it,” said Mr Healy.

One parent from Dublin complained that the higher paper was harder than students anticipated. “This is not a welcome approach when so many young people are turning away from honours maths in the Leaving,” he said. Less than 20 per cent of Leaving Cert pupils will take higher level maths in the Leaving Cert this week.

The ordinary level paper was considered consistent with previous years. It was simple, according to Mr Healy. “In fact, it could have been about half an hour longer. Lots of students were finished early.”

Junior Certificate maths paper 2 will be held on Monday.