LEAVING CERT ENGLISH ORDINARY LEVEL:STUDENTS WERE happy coming out of the Leaving Cert ordinary level English exam yesterday morning, and the vast majority appeared content with what was viewed as a very fair paper.

Remarkably, the essay choices at ordinary level were seen by teachers as being just as challenging as those at higher level. Some of the essay choices were similar to options that had appeared in previous years and there was a good choice of short stories - a popular option for students, according to Louise O'Reilly, a teacher in the Patrician Secondary School in Newbridge.

"There was good scope for personal account in the composition section," Ms O'Reilly said. "Students seemed happy with that."

One of the striking questions in the paper was a section featuring various pictures regarding the lifestyle of the Irish in 2008.

This featured striking photographs of The Spire on O'Connell Street; an underwater explorer off the west coast; a camogie player with a perfect swing and children fascinated by rock pools.

Lifestyle was a theme that ran throughout the paper, and it suited students very well, according to Ms O'Reilly.

The comprehension question was described as "fair and straightforward".

Question B provided great scope for students - in particular an opportunity to write about an invention that has had an influence on our present day lifestyle. "Students liked that one. It gave them an opportunity to write about the internet and Bebo," Ms O'Reilly said.

Another question, one that asked students to write a speech encouraging classmates to take up photography, was deemed too specific by some.

That question was optional, however, and didn't appear to pose a problem to most.

In recent years, over three quarters of students taking the paper at higher level secured an honours grade (A, B or C), and this relatively high rate has drawn people to the higher level paper.