LEAVING CERT MATHS ORDINARY LEVEL PAPER 1:ALMOST 40,000 students took yesterday's ordinary-level maths paper, which was described as "fair and very doable".

“The paper gave weaker candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their mathematical skill,” said Jean Kelly of the Institute of Education. “Some tricky elements presented more capable candidates the chance to showcase their knowledge.”

One teacher queried the focus on reciprocal functions in the last question, which she described as unfair. “This question deviated from the usual structure and with its emphasis on a part of the course that not all students will have focused on, it left some stuck,” said Bríd Griffin of Carlow Institute of Further Education. “The real bogey on the paper, though, was the algebra question. Many of my students didn’t like it at all.”

On question six, candidates would have expected a reference to “first principles” which was absent, instead candidates were asked additional questions related to the rules of differentiation, said Ms Kelly. “This was surprising, not particularly challenging. Part C was a little difficult but closely resembled a question on last year’s paper.”

Question eight also caused a measure of confusion with a slightly different layout to that of previous years.

“Traditionally candidates were required to create a graph derived from an equation. However, this year the question included a graph including half the points. Candidates were simply required to derive the other points; it was not challenging,” said Ms Kelly.

“However, part four of this question would have allowed the more capable candidate scope to impress,” she added.

Some students and teachers claimed they were confused by the language used in question seven, although the maths itself was “approachable”.

More than four out of five students take Leaving Cert maths at ordinary level. A further one in five higher-level maths students was expected to drop down to ordinary level on the morning of the exam, based on figures from previous years.

It is hoped that a 25-point Central Applications Office bonus for higher maths will discourage students from dropping a level from next year.

Twenty four schools sat a partially revised Project Maths paper and will sit a fully revised paper on Monday.

By 2015 all schools will examine the Project Maths syllabus.

It is hoped that the new course, with its focus on practical Maths and subject context, will attract an increased number of students to higher level.