THE language used in the Leaving Cert agricultural science papers was unnecessarily complicated, said Mr Padraic Brennan, TUI subject representative and a teacher in the Vocational School, Roscommon. For instance, at higher level students were asked about the synchronisation of oestrus in sheep where the simple term "compact lambing" would have sufficed. The term "monogastric animal" was also unnecessary, said Mr Brennan.
The question on genetics had tour parts as opposed to the other three part questions. Part (d) of this question made an already complicated situation more complex, he said. Overall, the higher level paper was a little difficult.
Mr Tom Gilligan, ASTI subject representative and a teacher in Benada Abbey Secondary School, Co Sligo, said that his students were very happy with the higher level paper. There was a good choice and the language was user friendly. The student who had the work done would find this a very fair paper, he added.
At ordinary level, a good range of topics was covered and the choice was satisfactory, said Mr Gilligan. The questions were testing for students of this standard.
Mr Brennan said the ordinary level paper was fine overall but question 5(a), which asked students to distinguish the difference between the body structure of a liver fluke and an earthworm, was too difficult. In 7(d) students were about traits in mice, fruit fly and tomatoes. Mr Brennan said that students might not have studied those particular organisms.