Agricultural science paper suits students of biology

Students of biology found themselves at an advantage yesterday on a Leaving Cert agricultural science paper with plenty of genetics, animal and plant biology questions.

"This was a wide-ranging paper and the questions were different from other years," said James Conway, TUI subject representative. "There were mixed topics within questions. There was a lot of practical material covered too. I'd say people not familiar with farming would have had problems."

Mr Conway, who teaches at Tullow Community School in Co Carlow, described some of the topics as "peculiar", including a question on the decline in oats due to horse numbers going down and the popularity of kale as a forage crop. "Not in the part of the country where I am from," he said.

Good mix
Peter Keaney of Wilson's Hospital, Multyfarnham, Mullingar, said there was a good mix of the scientific and the agricultural on the higher paper.

“I felt question 2 on nitrogen phosphate and potassium levels might have left students struggling. It was toughest question on the paper.”

Over 7,500 students took yesterday’s exam at both levels.

The ordinary level paper was welcomed apart from a difficult question on species of grass.

Over 6,000 students took music for the Leaving Cert this year. Teacher Mary McFadden was "very pleased" with the listening paper. "The main question was on the Romeo and Juliet Overture by Tchaikovsky, which was easy for students to identify."

Living Irish composer Gerald Barry also featured.

Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody made its third appearance in as many years.

"The questions on Queen made them think and critically engage with the piece," said Mary McFadden, who teaches a Loreto Secondary School, in Fingal, where there are two classes taking music this year.