Maths once more the topic of conversation for State exam students

Students across Tipperary continued with their leaving certificate exams this morning when Maths paper 2 was sat by thousands of students.

After the generally stressful and unpredictable first paper last week, today's exam was approached with caution by students. 

The verdict on the leaving certificate Maths higher level Paper 2 was provided by Studyclix subject expert Stephen Begley, a Maths teacher at Dundalk Grammar School who said:

“After a rocky start for many with paper 1, Maths Paper 2 saw a fair, doable and well-set exam giving students lots of opportunity to showcase their knowledge of the typical Paper 2 topics. 

“The usual suspects of Probability, Statistics, Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry and Geometry appeared in well guided and well prompted questions. Students will certainly feel a weight lifted off their shoulders after what was a very fair paper. The short questions each spanned a single topic. Probability, Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry of the Line and the Circle, Statistics and Geometry boasted a short question each and were certainly generous in what they asked. The questions were clear, direct, and very workable. Students would have been content with these and would have certainly built up their confidence throughout the paper as they made their way onto the long questions in Section B.

“Given the choice due to the amendments, students had to complete three of the four long questions in Section B Contexts and Applications. The first was a generous Trigonometry question which covered their knowledge of triangles, trigonometric functions and a little touch of calculus, a delight for any higher level student. Most students would have been happy to work on this approachable and ‘straight-up’ question. Next was the traditional Statistics & Probability style question, which for those who prepared who this topic would have been thrilled to see. 

“Question 9 saw a mixture of Area & Volume, Trigonometry and the Circle in a very approachable question. The exam concluded with an Area & Volume and Probability question. This was a very workable section and students could have certainly played to their strengths given the choice offered to them.

“After what was a rocky start with Paper 1 for some, this morning’s Paper 2 made a u-turn on the challenge posed to students on Friday. Those who prepared the usual Paper 2 topics would have certainly been very content with the paper. Overall, the examiner offered the students a good deal of choice in a very decent set of questions. While of course elements of challenge appeared in parts, much of the paper was encouraging, straightforward and very fair.”

Speaking about the leaving certificate Maths ordinary Level Paper 2, Studyclix subject expert Stephen Begley said:

“After a busy Paper 1, students were given a decent selection of questions in Paper 2. The short questions were mostly direct and concise and covered a single topic each. The usual suspects of Coordinate Geometry of the Line and Circle, Statistics, Probability, Area and Geometry made for a short question each. For the most part these questions were well guided in their demand. 

“The long questions had some very nice parts, though maintained a balance of challenge throughout. These context heavy questions were very clear and direct in what they were asking students to do. Students could select any three of the four long questions covering Trigonometry, Area and Volume, Statistics and Area/Probability. Given the balance of marks between the short and the long questions, alongside the workability of the questions, students would have been content with this fair, approachable and balanced paper.”

Regarding the junior certificate Science exam Studyclix subject expert Liam Hennelly, who is a Science teacher at Belvedere College S.J., Co, Dublin, said:

“Section A of the paper was very fair. It would have allowed students to settle into the paper and to pick up a lot of marks in this Section that had ten questions worth 150 marks. It focused on Biology, Chemistry and Physics but did not contain a question on Earth and Space.

“As expected, Section B of the paper was more challenging. It contained one question worth 30 marks and four questions worth 45 marks. A recurring theme in these questions is that topics from the different strands of the specifications were interwoven into the questions. Question 11 was based on the Carbon cycle from the Earth and Space strand. It included topical questions on greenhouse gases and global warming. Question 12 was a really nice and accessible question on Forces from the Physics strand.

“Question 13 was from the Earth and Space strand and focused on Eclipses and the Nature of Science. Question 14 was a challenging question as it started off examining students' knowledge of Forces and measurement and then went into human nutrition.

“Question 15 was a very nice question. It focused on the breathing system and the heart and finished with two questions on respiration and the effect of micro-organisms on human health.

“But Question 14 part (f) may have thrown off some students as they were given 22 lines to do an extended piece of writing by describing the processes involved from when bread is put into the mouth to when cells use the energy in the carbohydrate.

“Overall, this was an accessible and reasonably fair paper that would have been well received. However, the lack of choice in the paper continues to be an issue.”

Students across the country continue with their exams this week.