RELIGIOUS STUDIES:A WING and a prayer was not enough for Junior Cert students sitting yesterday's Religious Studies exam. The paper was described as "wordy", "exacting" and "awkward" by teachers and students.

Teacher Aisling Flood said it was demanding by virtue of its length and the specific information required in many sections.

“The essay section was especially challenging. The language was off-putting and long-winded.”

Illustrations on the paper were also criticised. A map of Palestine was described as “blurry”.

The ordinary level paper, of which one in five take, was regarded as an improvement on previous years.