Some 'sail through' while others trip up in the detail

LEAVING CERT MATHS: HIGHER LEVEL PAPER I:THERE WERE widely different responses to yesterday's higher level maths paper, with some students "sailing through" while others found the going tough, according to commentators.

Aidan Roantree of the Institute of Education in Dublin said his students were broadly satisfied. "The paper was well received by institute students. Although a couple of challenging parts were identified, namely question 2c (Algebra) and question 5c (Binomial), the expected Proof of De Moivre appeared. All in all, most students go into Paper II on Monday, relieved to have cleared the first hurdle," Mr Roantree commented.

At Terenure College in Dublin the paper was not as well received, according to teacher Jim Healy. "This paper was well put together, and it really explored minor parts of the course. This rewarded students who paid attention to detail. For those who did not, they might have had trouble."

ASTI representative Eileen Scanlon regarded yesterday's paper as "lovely". "Let's hope that paper 2 is as user-friendly. If the higher paper is too difficult, as it was in 2006, it's very stressful for everyone.

"Maths teachers try to convince students to stay with higher maths, but if they fail, they have to repeat the year. There's a lot at stake."

At present, one in five students takes mathematics at the higher level.