BHI scolairi agus muinteoiri lan sasta le Gaeilge paipear 2, ardleibheal agus gnathleibheal.

Ms Treasa Ni Chonaola, who teaches at St Michael's College, Ballsbridge, Dublin, said ordinary-level students were very happy with a predictable paper.

"On the face of it, it seems a lovely paper, but reading the chief examiner's reports it becomes apparent that it has little educational value. Students learn by heart because they don't have the language resources to manipulate the language. Also, the chief examiner notes that many ordinary-level students don't turn up for this paper. It accounts for 110 out of 600 marks so they do a very good oral, aural and paper 1 they can still pass," she said.

The secretary of Comhar na Muinteoiri Gaeilge, Mr Hilari de Barra, said the ordinary-level paper was much improved. There had been problems in the past. Questions on poetry were direct and easily understood. "Overall, it was an excellent paper," he said.

ASTI subject representative Ms Maire Ni Laoire said the questions were such that students could attempt not just every section but every sub-section. "It's nice that for the majority of ordinary-level students their last formal contact with Irish ended on a good note."

At higher-level, the paper was extremely fair, said Mr de Barra. "It gave students every chance to show their knowledge. There were no unusual twists to catch

people out. The Stair na Gaeilge section, which is often difficult, was straightforward," he said.

Ms Ni Chonaola said the choice in this section was somewhat limited but, overall, the higher-level paper was liked by students in St Michael's College. It was a fair evaluation of the syllabus, she said.

Ms Ni Laoire, who teaches in Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Blarney, Co Cork, said the students were delighted with a paper which did not contain any surprises. They didn't all avail of the extra 20 minutes allowed this year for the first time.

However, a teacher and mother contacted Exam Times to complain that her daughter was exhausted - she had just sat a three hours and 20 minutes exam in Irish and would have to do the same in the afternoon. "It's ridiculous adding 20 minutes on to these exams and then putting them on the same day. She is my sixth child doing the Leaving and never have I seen students under so much pressure."