Leaving Cert Applied:Over 3,000 students sat the Leaving Cert Applied (LCA) English and Communication exam yesterday. The LCA's system of assessment meant these students had already fulfilled a significant part of the English requirement, but yesterday's exam still accounted for just over half of the marks.
The exam is split into two parts, an audio-visual section where students are shown a piece of film and answer questions about it, and a written section.
Overall, the response was positive, with students picking the poem by Paul Cookson, Let No One Steal your Dreams, for praise.
The paper was very well laid out, according to ASTI representative Bernadine O'Sullivan. "I thought the questions were very well constructed with very good illustrations," she said.
A film review featuring the animated feature Happy Feet was also welcomed by students.
The audio-visual element of the exam produced the only quibble. Featuring an extract from RTÉ agricultural programme Ear to the Ground, it was feared the content may not have suited many students. "Students mentioned that it was a bit fast moving for them and the questions were reasonably challenging," Ms O'Sullivan said.
This was the only issue however, and the overall consensus seems to have been that the paper was uncontroversial.
