Irish listening exam proves a difficulty with students ‘lost in translation’
THE students from Loreto Secondary School in Bray remained calm and composed after a few surprises in their maths and Irish papers yesterday.
The morning started off with Maths Paper 2 – which may have proved a challenge for some, given a difficult concept and skills section. But for Catherine Farrell (18) the exam was a “relief” after a “shocking” Paper 1.
The higher maths student said: “I was shaken after Paper 1 but I feel relieved after this paper and more confident. I’d studied and prepared for everything.”
Catherine, who is aiming to study biology at UCD, felt like many in her school that Irish Paper 1 was somewhat lost in translation.
“During the listening section, I actually thought the CD was messing up,” she said. “It was hard to tell what was being said. That was a problem.”
Lucy Cleary (18), who is aiming to become a home economics teacher, said she was relieved she had taken ordinary maths when she heard how difficult many felt higher Maths Paper 2 had been.
“It’s not my favourite subject but I think I did OK with the ordinary paper,” Lucy said. “Parts were difficult, including the last question, which was on deferential statistics – we just weren’t expecting it.”
Eimear Martin (18), who wants to study psychology at UCD, said the higher Irish paper was “good” but agreed the listening section of the exam proved a difficulty. “I wrote right up to the last minute.”