Junior Cert students heading into metalwork (materials and technology) yesterday had the comforting cushion of having 75 per cent of their exam already behind them. Only 25 per cent of the total marks for metalwork are allotted to the written paper, which makes it a "nice relaxing exam", Dr Lawrence Smyth, a teacher in Falcarragh Community School in Donegal, said.
"The higher-level paper was widely embracing and well balanced," he said. "It was of the expected standard and had fairly stimulating graphics."
Question 2 required a bit of analysis, he said, and question 5b(ii) asked for the gear rotation, which might have upset some students, but overall he was "fairly satisfied" with it.
Padraig Kirk of the Engineering and Technical Teachers Association said there was more emphasis on "calculation type questions" than previously. He felt the paper was appropriate for higher level, but said question 1(f) in section B was "too much to expect at Junior Cert".
Smyth said the ordinary-level paper was "extremely well laid out". Question 3(a) again required analysis and the standard was "quite stiff".
Kirk felt the paper was well-pitched at ordinary level but there were two many "yes or no" questions. "I wouldn't like to see the paper going this way. There should be more scope for open-ended questions," he said.