Leaving Cert maths paper two: Verdict: Students who learned their formulae by heart were rewarded yesterday as honours maths paper two turned out to be a "traditional" affair with few complications.

Many students were apprehensive about the second paper, which features two of the most dreaded topics in maths - trigonometry and geometry.

Last year the same exam caused misery to many students, beginning with a misprint and going on to throw up plenty of unpleasant surprises.

This year honours students were broadly satisfied with their second maths paper, which relied heavily on learned formula and suited those who had studied their theorems in detail.

Many students deemed yesterday's exam the easier of this year's maths papers.

While there were no problem questions highlighted, some students reported difficulties with the length of sections.

Many spent too long on trigonometry, leaving themselves short of time for the rest of the paper.

The compulsory section of yesterday's honours paper, which also caused some problems last year, was a safe question this year with a traditional approach.

Mr Jim Healy, subject expert for skoool.ie, identified vectors, probability and further calculus as possible sticking points for students on yesterday's paper.

Section 1, on the circle, created havoc last year as a missing line from the question left students grappling with an impossible challenge from the outset.

The mistake was highlighted at some exam centres, but many students were left to contend with an incomplete question. This year's circle question was straightforward and accurate.

Some ordinary level students were reportedly "delighted" with a paper that was described as well laid out and easier than paper one.

As with honours, ordinary level paper two is considered more challenging than paper one, but this year students were treated to a decent selection of questions with no traps.

Mr Andrew Carolyn, of Ardee Community School, said the section on linear programming was "unusual" but not difficult.

He also queried the length of some of the sections which he felt may have put some students under pressure.

Overall, however, Mr Carolyn believed that the ordinary level paper was well laid out, and gave the strong student a chance to shine.