Leaving Certificate: classical studiesAlexander the Great and other recent Hollywood heroes turned up on yesterday's Leaving Cert Classical Studies paper, which was generally praised with some reservations.

The question on ancient epics deviated from the patterns of recent years with only one question on Homer's Odyssey, while the Aeneid was tested in three different subsections. Students were asked to make a comparison between the Aeneid and the Irish epic An Táin; many were expecting the Odyssey to turn up again in that section.

The question on Alexander the Great went down well, as it was a repeat of previous years.

The illustration section created some concern among students who had difficulty discerning a Greek artefact in photograph (e). Students of Greek drama felt a little restrained by the question on Medea, which asked them to compare the attitudes of men and women to marriage at the time the play was written.

Eight hundred and forty students took yesterday's classical studies exam.

While a minority subject, it has held its numbers steadily over many years. ASTI subject representative Michael Barry said he was looking forward to an NCCA review of the subject, which he said was long overdue.

"The syllabus and the exam are way too long," said Mr Barry, who is on the NCCA classical studies committee.