There was widespread relief, rather than elation, over the first maths papers at Leaving Cert.
Students were reported to be happy with the layout and felt the questions were genuinely trying to elicit information, rather than catch people out.
Teacher John Evans, from Mount Temple School in Dublin, said students were relatively happy. However, he said some of those doing applied maths, which takes place on June 22, said the paper "lacked substance".
Cammie Gallagher, a teacher in St Jarlath's College, Tuam, said both gifted and weaker students were happy with the paper. He said question 5 on a geometric sequence was very easy, and that a theorem needed for section C of this question was the one prepared by many students.
He said the calculus questions (7 and 8) were "easier than last year" and gave students a good chance to improve their grades.
The ordinary-level paper was described in similarly glowing terms. Gallagher said there was fewer words in it than last year, which allowed students to concentrate on the maths.
Evans said the paper tested students "with fairly thorny part C questions". He said there was also an increased emphasis on "algebraic manipulation" which was not surprising in the light of critical remarks last year by the Chief Examiner for maths.
Teacher Maria Kelly, in Bishopstown, Co Cork, said it was a very fair paper. She said one of the few quibbles was the first question about cooking a turkey. "The way the question was phrased was unfamiliar to the students and may have thrown some of them."
She said with most maths questions the first section is the easiest, but in question 5, section b was easier than section a.
The foundation paper, in charming apricot colours, was described as satisfactory. Evans said question 2(c), which involved the financial transactions of Sile and Sean, drew "unfavourable comment, with one student suggesting it be sent to Fair City as a new plot development".