There were mixed feelings about yesterday morning's Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) Irish paper. It was more difficult than last year's and some small changes in the paper may have thrown some students, said Ms Stasia Somers, LCA co-ordinator at Liberties College, Dublin. The aural tape, however, was less confusing than last year's. Its pace was slower, which allowed more time for reading and writing. Nonetheless, it was still difficult, she said. "Students reported that the rural accent - they called it `old' - was hard to understand. They were far more confident about the written paper." Teachers, meanwhile, registered disappointment about the fact that suggested improvements had not been implemented. Question 6 in part 3 for example, allowed too much space for answers. Less space would have been "more encouraging", she said. Section 4 lacked structure, she added.

By yesterday afternoon, LCA students of hotel, catering and tourism were settling into their exams. For the most part they were happy with the paper, according to Ms Somers. Teachers, too, felt it related directly to the course's four modules. Section 3, question 5 (on holiday accommodation) was difficult. Fortunately they had the option of answering question 6 instead - "a more interesting question about making a documentary film about your own area".

LCA students were lucky, Ms Somers said - they went into the exams with up to two-thirds of their marks already under their belts. "Continuous assessment keeps them motivated and they don't have two years' work riding on one single exam."