Anyone hoping for a surprise or a bit of controversy on yesterday morning's Junior Cert Irish paper 2 would have been disappointed. The paper, teachers reported, was well received by students and appropriately geared to their level. Ms Treasa Ni Chaonola particularly liked the prose section which contained a passage on Ingrid Bergman's entry to the acting profession. "It was a very interesting piece," she said, "and the questions were well within their range."

However, Mr Eamon O hAllmhurain, the ASTI course committee representative, who teaches at CBS North Brunswick St, Dublin, thought the passage a bit on the long side. "But then it usually is," he added. It was, however, well within students' capabilities, he said.

Mr Hilari de Barra, who teaches at St Louis Secondary School Dundalk, Co Louth, highlighted improvements on last year's paper. The use of coloured photographs enhanced the paper's appearance, while shorter reading comprehension passages reduced the pressure on students, he said.

The unseen poetry question included Belshade (Beal Sead) by Gabriel Rosenstock and An Gra by Colm Breathnach. The accompanying vocabulary was extremely useful, Mr O hAllmhurain noted. An Gra was full of symbolism - which some students may have found difficult, Ms Ni Chaonola observed.

Junior Cert students taking ordinary-level Irish enjoyed a free morning yesterday. Foundation-level students, meanwhile, should have had few if any difficulties with their paper. "There were no twists or problems," Mr de Barra reported.