LEAVING CERT PHYSICS AND ART: One of the more difficult Leaving Certs moved on to a higher note for thousands of students yesterday with relatively easy papers in physics and art.
This is the first year the new physics syllabus has been examined and, while students noted differences between sample papers circulated earlier this year and the real thing, overall the papers received a warm welcome.
The higher-level paper was well illustrated and considerably shorter than its predecessor, said Mr Jim Murphy, teacher from Abbey Community College in Wicklow. He welcomed the choice given within questions, particularly in question 10 where students could do parts (a) or (b).
He said section A, which focused on experiments, was straightforward and relatively predictable, but he said it was a pity there were still no marks awarded for carrying out experiments during the two years of senior cycle.
He said question 5 in section B was a "welcome innovation" which gave students a range of short questions from which to choose. He said question 11, which featured Benjamin Franklin and the lightning conductor, reflected the new emphasis in the syllabus on science, technology and society.
While students would have been able for the first few questions, the reminder were very searching and maybe too in-depth, considering what was on the syllabus. Question six also had some shortcomings, he said, It started well with Newton's law which would be familiar to the majority of students, but he said the rest of the question suddenly went into Hook's law and this may have thrown some students.
The ordinary level paper appeared straightforward and manageable, with a question on Chernobyl attracting a lot of attention. Being a new course, he said, it was not clear whether examiners would stick within existing marking patterns or create new trends.
Mr Sean Ashe, principal of Maynooth post-primary schools, also reported that his pupils were pleased with the exam and there were few complaints.
Meanwhile there were few harsh words about the art history and appreciation paper which accounts for about 40 per cent of the marks at Leaving Cert level.
Students were usually given a wide choice of questions in the paper, said Ms Helen Comiskey, TUI subject representative from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, and this year was no exception. However she expressed disappointment at the low level of illustrations.
She said there was also some disappointment that collections from the National Gallery were given so little space on the paper, but overall she said the questions were relatively predictable. She said Newgrange, which had not come up for several years, made a welcome comeback.
Mr Paul White, ASTI subject representative in Co Galway, said some students were disappointed there was no "straight Renaissance question". However any material they knew about the Renaissance could have been used elsewhere.
