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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Science
- Irish Times
Leaving Cert Irish paper one: a topical paper with some notable absences
Higher-level Irish paper one was topical and covered the key areas of the course, although not all anticipated topics appeared, according to teachers. Stephen Doyle, subject expert and a teacher at Moyle Park College said that, while the questions were generally fair, some detailed questions in Cuid C required careful listening skills. 'The composition section provided excellent choices that any well-prepared student could tackle confidently,' Mr Doyle said. 'The essay options gave students a wide range of current and relevant topics including people they admire, whether Ireland is a good place to live, environmental issues, and timely topics like world politics and current news stories.' READ MORE Artificial intelligence, which was expected to appear, provided opportunities for students on a paper most students would be happy with, said Mr Doyle. Lorraine Finn, ASTI subject representative for Irish, said that she found the artificial intelligence question a bit niche, while the climate change question provided limited scope. 'Otherwise, there was more or less everything you might expect. Most students would have an essay prepared on their topic of their lives today,' she said. But Danielle O'Connell, an Irish teacher with , said that expected topics such as An Ghaeilge (the Irish language) and córas oideachais (the education system) were notably absent from the exam. 'One welcome inclusion for many students was the essay prompt scéalta nuachta na linne seo (news stories of our time), which allowed candidates to adapt their prepared content across a range of issues,' said Ms O'Connell. 'This flexibility meant that topics such as géarchéim na tithíochta (the housing crisis) and even education or climate issues could be woven into the question Éire – an tír mhaith í le cónaí inti? (Ireland – is it a good country to live in?), provided students took time to plan their approach carefully.' Overall, Mr Doyle said that this was a fair and balanced paper. 'There was a wide variety of options that gave students good opportunities to succeed,' he said. Ordinary level On the ordinary-level paper, Mr Doyle said it was very accessible. 'The composition section offered simple choices including writing a blog on shopping, an interesting place or their favourite sports person. 'On the other hand, the vocabulary needed for section C (the letter, would have challenged any sixth year ordinary-level student. Section D, the conversation, allowed students to talk about a part-time job; however, the question was very specific. 'The story option would be welcomed by students as it allowed them to discuss music and a concert they attended. Overall, this was a manageable paper,' Mr Doyle said. Try this one at home: Scríobh AISTE nó ALT NUACHTÁIN/IRISE ar cheann amháin de na hábhair seo. A - Daoine a bhfuil meas agam orthu. B - Éire – an tír mhaith í le cónaí inti? C - An comhshaol – ábhar imní do phobail an domhain. D - Polaiteoirí agus cúrsaí polaitíochta ar fud an domhain. E - Scéalta móra nuachta na linne seo.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Irish Times
Junior Cycle Irish: Relief among students over ‘fair' and ‘relatable' exam paper
Junior Cycle Irish students were happy with a 'fair' and 'relatable' higher-level paper, teachers have said. Danielle O'Connell, an Irish teacher with , said the much anticipated topic of climate change appeared in the reading comprehension section of T2, the paper which is given to students in English-medium schools. 'The biggest change was the úrscéal (novel) and dráma (drama) questions, which appeared as two separate questions this year, having previously been paired together as a choice question for the past three years,' she said. 'This may have thrown some students.' READ MORE Stephen Doyle, subject expert and a teacher at Moyle Park College in Clondalkin, Dublin 22, said that the topics were relatable for students. 'The reading comprehension, for example, was about climate change and young environmental activists, something that matters to students today. 'Question H on the reading comprehension may have challenged less prepared students but, overall, the listening and reading sections were very manageable. 'The grammar section was also straightforward and not too complicated compared to previous years,' Mr Doyle said. Ms O'Connell said that students also would have been happy with question six, which included common topics such as sport, a day out in the city, or being at a birthday party. 'Students would have been easily able to tackle this question based on their previous learned knowledge of verbs and vocabulary over the past two years,' she said. One significant change this year saw the drama question paired with a short film question. 'This meant students needed to have both drama and novel prepared, as the novel became a stand-alone question,' said Mr Doyle. 'All the literature sections questioned students on how the events, emotions or images made them feel. Students' opinions and insights were very important throughout this exam.' Overall, Mr Doyle said that it was a fair paper which rewarded students who prepared well and should have been manageable for confident students. 'This paper was well-balanced and most students who studied hard would have been able to show their Irish skills well,' he said. Ordinary Mr Doyle said that the ordinary level paper was easy to approach and covered the basic language skills students need. 'Short reading questions were about everyday things like cooking class and a visit to a concert and a disco with friend topics that students could understand easily. 'Overall, the paper was well set out and friendly for students, giving them different ways to do well while keeping to the right level for this level,' he said.
