Madam, – The State Exams Commission states that the questions on Mathematics Higher Level Paper 1 were within the parameters of the syllabus (Louise Holden, Exam Times, June 11th).
While this might be the case, they were certainly not within the spirit of the syllabus. Most teachers and indeed the inspectorate in the Department of Education (Mathematics) have made great efforts over many years to encourage students to study and sit mathematics at higher level, without compromising standards. Last Friday’s paper has done serious damage to this effort, given that the number of students sitting higher level mathematics is already at an all-time low.
Regardless of the outcome of the results, the paper was deeply upsetting for many pupils and has done a great disservice to all involved in the promotion of higher level mathematics. – Yours, etc,