Students who had practised past papers while studying for the higher level biology exam reaped the rewards of doing so this morning, while budding detectives got to stretch their sleuthing muscles with innovative questions at ordinary level.
"Overall, the format at higher level was as we'd expect," said Michael Fitzgerald, an ASTI representative and teacher in Garbally College Ballinalsoe. "All the big topics were there."
"The short questions were lovely," said Mona Murray, a teacher in the Institute of Education. She added they had: "A calming effect on students."
Section B, in which students are examined on their knowledge of the 22 practical experiments they are required to carry out, held one surprise, however. "Students would normally expect all of the questions in that section to be about those mandatory activities," Mr Fitzgerald said. "In fact question seven was about scientific methodology which maybe limited the choice slightly."
Ms Murray felt that this was a bit unfair. "Candidates understand that this section would examine the 22 mandatory experiments," she said.
The other two questions in the section drew no complaints, however. The long answer questions were very well received. "The ecology question was lovely," Mr Fitzgerald said.
"Part B of that question required candidates to have a good general knowledge of ecology," Ms Murray said. "Candidates were required to have both the knowledge and the confidence to apply that knowledge to answer this part of the question effectively. Regurgitation of learned information would not have sufficed."
The genetics question was, "very, very nice," Mr Fitzgerald said. "There were a lot of definitions asked," he added. An absence of modern genetics was unusual, but that question turned up in Section B.
Question 12 is always about the human body, and this year excretion and the kidney came up. "It was very much as you'd expect it to be. It required candidates to have an in-depth knowledge of the organ," Ms Murray added.
"There was a nice choice in questions 14 and 15," Mr Fitzgerald said.
A graph detailing the results of a classroom photosynthesis experiment would have required candidates to really think the question through, in the first part of question 14, Ms Murray said.
"It was well within the abilities of most higher level students," Mr Fitzgerald said.
Ordinary level students faced a very fair paper, according to the teachers. "There was one question I particularly liked," Mr Fitzgerald said. "In the genetics question students were asked about genetic profiling by means of a question about blood samples taken from a crime scene. They were asked to identify the perpetrator. Considering that so many of them watch CSI I thought it was a good touch."