No great surprises but themes were limiting

Junior Cert Irish: Paper II :Yesterday's second honours Irish paper for Junior Cert was regarded by students and teachers as…

Junior Cert Irish: Paper II:Yesterday's second honours Irish paper for Junior Cert was regarded by students and teachers as a reasonably engaging, if predictable, exam.

The studied literature questions were not difficult, although the range of themes offered was considered somewhat limiting. The short reading comprehensions were topical, with an extract from a website for review, a report on the Special Olympics, and a discussion of Robbie Williams's merits as a reborn Frank Sinatra. Given that reading comprehensions appear on paper I, it's arguable that these skills do not need to be retested on paper II, one commentator remarked.

Ordinary-level Irish students had no second paper but foundation students yesterday sat a "grand" exam, with few surprises. TUI teacher expert Mr John MacGabhann lamented the fact that the paper was shoddily presented with poor graphics.

Louise Holden

Louise Holden

Louise Holden is a contributor to The Irish Times focusing on education