By two o'clock yesterday afternoon almost 8,000 Leaving Cert candidates were poring over technical drawing paper 2. Most of them, were happy enough with what they found.
The ordinary-level paper was similar in standard to those in previous years, according to Mr Philip O'Callaghan, the ASTI subject convenor, who teaches at CBS Naas, Co Kildare.
However, TUI subject representative Mr Philip McLaughlin said that questions 1, 2 and 3 were "reasonably stiff" and weaker students would have had difficulties with them. Fortunately, the paper afforded sufficient choice - students were required to answer four out of seven questions.
Higher-level students found paper 2 more difficult than paper 1, Mr O'Callaghan said. Question 2 on roof surfaces caused problems. Mr McLaughlin agreed that students would find parts of this question difficult. Question 6 was also problematic. The question - on hyperbolic paraboloid - was easy enough, but it was asked in an unusual manner which could have been off-putting for some students.
The paper was time-consuming and students had to rush to complete it. But, Mr McLaughlin pointed out, "students don't get high grades unless they give a good account of themselves".