Delighted higher-level metalwork students completed a very "manageable" exam yesterday while the ordinary-level Junior Cert pupils faced a harder paper than last year .

By and large, students who had worked hard and studied past exam papers would have had little to complain about as no real surprises showed up on either paper, according to commentators.

"All the questions had come up before in some shape or form," said TUI subject representative Mr Mick Glynn, who teaches at Tallaght Community School. The higher and ordinary level papers were each worth 25 per cent of students' overall grade, which greatly relieved stress-levels for metalwork students.

Higher-level candidates completed a project and a practical exam throughout the year, each worth 37.5 per cent, while ordinary level students took the project only, which was worth 75 per cent.

Most students have achieved a pass grade before going into the exam and a many are aiming for high grades, said Phelim O'Doherty, ASTI subject expert from Summerhill college in Sligo. This year, the project undertaken by higher-level students involved the creation of a model snow plough.