Tricky and untopical

Students sitting yesterday's Junior Cert Italian exams had a dull time of it. While students taking Tuesday's Spanish papers had enthused over questions on Ronaldo, Prince William and Sergio Garcia, students of Italian had to make do with tourism and restaurant questions. The only bright spot on the ordinary-level paper asked about actor Manuele Labate - probably unknown to them, but at least he looked good. Questions could have been more topical, said Mr Aidan Farrell, who teaches at Scoil Eoin CBS, Athy, Co Kildare. The papers he said were tricky enough and more demanding than in previous years.

The 16 students at John Scottus School, Dublin, who sat yesterday's higher-level Greek exam were pleased enough with the paper, according to their teacher, Mr Daniel O'Connor. "This exam has gone some considerable way to expel the idea that Greek is impossible. The paper was fair and well within the prescribed syllabus."