JUNIOR CERT SCIENCE: ALL LEVELSALTHOUGH STUDENTS were pleased with yesterday's higher and ordinary-level Junior Cert science papers, some found the higher paper testing.
ASTI representative and science teacher Michael Moriarty said that students who sat the higher-level paper found some of it challenging.
"It was a straightforward and decent paper, but some of the questions required a little more thinking from students. For example, in the biology section there was a question on the eye, asking students why the pupil appears to be black in most situations," said Mr Moriarty.
"The student would have to think about it to realise the back of the eye absorbs lights so you are seeing the dark pupil."
There was also a question in the chemistry section that might have thrown students.
"There was a question on the limit of solubility of oxygen in water.
"What was required in a graph and answers was fine, but students might have seen it and thought, 'we haven't done that in class' and it would have thrown them - although it was very doable," Mr Moriarty said.
The ordinary-level paper was welcomed by students with clear diagrams and comprehensible language.
"Students were very happy with it and found it was easy. You did have to know your facts and there was no bluffing.
"The level of questioning was simple and gave students multiple choice options in some sections. . . . Overall it got a good reaction and students thought it was fair," Mr Moriarty added.
