Highly anticipated topics appeared on this year’s higher-level Irish paper two yesterday, but some unseen elements of the exam were more challenging than in previous years, teachers have said.
The State Examinations Commission has apologised for an error in the higher-level biology paper, Tuesday’s second Leaving Cert exam, and says it will be taken into account in the marking scheme.
Today, students will sit French in the morning and history in the afternoon.
Key reads
Niamh Towey – 4 minutes ago
The French papers have now been published online.
Higher level is here.
Ordinary level is here.
French paper had well-flagged topics – except for one ‘odd’ question
The French exam is now over, and Peter McGuire has early reaction to the papers:
The higher-level French paper contained well-flagged topics and was fair and accessible, according to early reactions from teachers.
Elizabeth Lyne, who tutors at FrenchNotes.ie, said that her students would not have issues with the exam.
“In the first, obligatory part of the paper, they could answer about their favourite holiday, and they would have been well-prepared.
“The récit (story or narrative) option was a little odd, asking students if they ever experienced having to ask someone to give them a chance, but they could have swerved it for the other options.”
Maria Ciuperca, a teacher at TheTuititionCentre.ie, said that the paper contained topics that were relevant to student lives, including climate change, artificial intelligence and fast fashion.
“These are the kinds of conversations students are already having in SPHE, CSPE, Geography and everyday life, which made the paper feel current and meaningful,” Ciuperca said.
Lyne said there was nothing too complicated in the reading comprehensions, with a grammar question asking them to look for a feminine adjective.
Ciuperca said that the language of the literary text was relatively accessible, but the themes were mature and thought-provoking.
“It will be interesting to see whether future papers continue in this direction, with topics such as social media, misinformation and the impact of technology on young people’s lives becoming increasingly relevant,” she said.
“Overall, the paper was less about testing whether students knew a particular set of vocabulary and more about whether they could engage with real-world issues in French.”
Niamh Towey – 3 hours ago
On Monday Dara Mac Dónaill was at Marian College in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, following Maths paper two.
Marian College is a non-fee charging boy’s secondary school founded by the Marist Brothers in 1954.
Leaving Certificate students Mohamed Essam, Faris Madian, Nathan Oates and Ryan Homer following Maths paper two at Marian College, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill 
Leaving Certificate students Reuben Keogh, Yaroslav Berezan, (standing left) with Lucas Clarke and Alex Duffy, following Maths paper two at Marian College, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill 
Leaving Certificate students Oisín Burke and Vlad Dumitre following Maths paper two at Marian College, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill 
Leaving Certificate students Arjun Shenai, Jayden Muvambwi and Bat Batorshikh following Maths paper two at Marian College, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Niamh Towey – 4 hours ago
Leaving Cert maths paper one: what were those who set it trying to achieve?
In today’s Letters pages Colette Griffin from Dublin 6 questions the intentions of those who set the higher level maths paper one.
“Were they trying to ensure that students left the exam hall in tears? Or that students’ confidence in their ability to sit other subjects was shattered?
“Were they perhaps trying to put students off taking higher-level maths in the future? Or were they making sure that students were doubly worried for paper two?”
Read her full letter here.
Niamh Towey – 5 hours ago
Irish Times photographer Dara Mac Dónaill visited St Nathys College in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon yesterday after Irish paper two.
I sat my Leaving Cert at St Nathys sixteen years ago, and have fond memories of it as a diverse, warm and academic school.
Many of my classmates went on to do wonderful things – doctors, pharmacists, teachers, accountants, physiotherapists, theoretical physicists – and even playing senior football for Mayo ladies.
I won’t forget the intensity of these days, though. A sense of change in the air. A final few days on the corridors of a school which had become home.
In a matter of days, these students will be done with St Nathys, and the rest of you across the country will finish with whatever school became home for you.
Leaving Certificate students Kate Molloy, Grace McDermott, Ellen Henry and Anna Mai Regan following Irish Paper two at St Nathys College, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon.
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill 
Leaving Certificate students Frank Hassett and Euan Flynn following Irish Paper two at St Nathys College, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill 
Leaving Certificate students Peter Giblin, Brooke Coleman and Danny Flynn following Irish Paper two at St Nathys College, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon.
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill 
Leaving Certificate students Aaron Fox and Aaryanna Waldron following Irish Paper two at St Nathys College, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon.
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill 
Leaving Certificate students Kate Molloy, Grace McDermott, Ellen Henry and Anna Mai Regan following Irish Paper two at St Nathys College, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon.
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Niamh Towey – 5 hours ago
The sixth day of Leaving Certificate exams kicks off at 9.30am today with French.
Almost 19,000 students were due to sit this exam across higher and ordinary level. The aural exam will follow at 12.10pm.
In the evening we will have history, which starts at 2pm and finishes at 4.50pm.
Over 14,000 students were predicted to sit this subject this year.
We will have paper review for both subjects once they are completed.
As always, please feel free to get in touch at niamh.towey@irishtimes.com.