New Ross students up and
SCORCHING HEAT AND BURNING BRAINS – LEAVING CERT STUDENTS PLOUGH THROUGH THEIR EXAMS
HUNDREDS of secondary school students across the district faced into their exam papers last week.
At Good Counsel College 122 students sat their exams, with English first up for most on Wednesday.
Deputy Principal Aidan O’Brien said the students were very happy to get off the mark and enjoyed the scope for freedom of expression that the English comprehension paper afforded them.
Mr O’Brien said: ‘ We have 280 students sitting exams between Junior and Leaving Certs. Most of the study is done. I often think that people say the fine weather is an unfortunate occurence in that it is synonymous with exam time, but it’s nice to come out of an exam hall into bright sunshine, rather than a cloud burst. The sun puts everyone in better form and improves the mood and attitude of students.’
Mr O’Brien said students reported back that they got on well in their first exam.
‘It’s the one they favour most as it’s more comprehension based and involves more personal writing. It’s less study based as it’s not based on texts they studied so they don’t do background work for it.’
Leaving Cert exams continue until Friday week, June 22, with Junior Cert exams concluding two days earlier.
Mr O’Brien said this is the second year that English is being tested as a new Junior cycle subject.
‘With the Junior cycle the final paper is not the only form of assessment. There is a classroom based assessment and an assessment task and they are already done. The students won’t be graded in the old A, B, C way, rather by being awarded a distinction, merit etc. Next year Business and Science will come on stream, followed by the other subjects.’