Technical drawing caused few surprises, which naturally pleased students.
At higher-level, TUI subject representative Mr Pat O'Dwyer said paper 1 was reasonably similar to last year, if a little easier. Part (c) of question 1, which had caused trouble last year, was far more accessible. However, there was a little too much to think about in question 4, and question 7 was difficult and might have caught some students out.
Mr Pat Murphy, a representative of the Association of Materials Technology and Graphics teachers also said the content of the higher-level paper was similar to previous years. "It was fair but demanding to complete in three hours. There was a lot of drawing required in some questions."
Students might have found it difficult to visualise what was required in question 4, on the interpenetration of solids. "In general, it was a fair paper with an expected, good choice of question," said Mr Murphy, who teaches in Wesley College, Dublin.
At ordinary level, Mr O'Dwyer, who is assistant principal of Kenmare Vocational School, Co Kerry, said the paper was fine although questions 3(c), 5 and 6(b) would only be answered by the better students.