Latest news with #LeavingCert
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Leaving Cert home economics paper praised for clarity, relevance, and focus on sustainability
Leaving Cert home economics students would have been "delighted" with the straightforward 2025 exam, which allowed them to showcase their in-depth understanding of the course. That was the view of teachers who reviewed the exam papers as the first day of the 2025 Leaving Cert continued on Wednesday afternoon. Exams also took place for Junior Cycle students in religious education. Both the higher and ordinary level home economics papers were well received by students, according to Maura McCaul, a teacher at Loreto College and subject spokesperson for the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI). 'They were two very straightforward papers, covering a range of topics that allowed for the student to show off their knowledge and research related to modern-day living.' The higher-level paper placed a strong emphasis on sustainability, with questions focusing on environmental awareness, interior design, and waste and water management. Other social issues also featured, she added. 'They were asked to discuss social housing provision and the requirements of housing for families with disabilities. Very topical in relation to today's society, so students would have been very pleased with that.' She noted that the exam also placed a strong focus on money management. 'There was budgeting on both the higher and ordinary level paper and everything from mortgage approval to merchandising technics and consumer research.' Ella Cleary and Andrea Whittaker look over the home economics exam paper after the examination at Regina Mundi College, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins A "very nice" question explored the impact of food choices and eating habits in Ireland today. 'This was another question where a student would have research for, from across a range of topics on the course, ' she explained. Ordinary level The ordinary level paper was also very well received, Ms McCaul said. 'Very straightforward and there was a very good choice of short questions.' Similarly to the higher level paper, there was a sociological element to the questions with one question about poverty, and another about lifelong learning. 'As well as the topical issue of childcare in Ireland.' Studyclix subject spokesperson Megan Friel, a home economics teacher at Mercy College, Sligo, said the higher-level paper was "very practical, topical, student-friendly, and contained no curveballs." 'There were plenty of nice questions in this exam. Section B Q1 was compulsory and focused on the impact of food choices and eating habits of adults in Ireland. This was very relevant to students and gave them the opportunity to display their in-depth knowledge of the course.' She also described the ordinary level paper as "student-friendly and accessible." Section B, Question 1 included a clear and simple chart on soup, while students will be relieved that Question 2 followed the same format as in previous years. Overall this was a very fair paper which will likely have brought a smile to the faces of students and teachers alike.'
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Leaving Cert 2025: English Paper One – how would you get on?
From Margaret Atwood to the Booker Prize-winner and a short story about a reckless character, the paper was varied but much to be expected for students. In case you haven't had a bout of Leaving Cert nightmares recently, check out if you could answer the below questions that came up on today's paper. The paper is split into two sections, with reading comprehensions making up the first section and a personal essay in the second section. Section one Section one contained three texts based on the underdog effect, a speech by Margaret Atwood, and edited extracts from Samantha Harvey's novel, Orbital. Text 2 focused on a speech given last year by Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale. It focuses on Atwood's advice to the younger generation. A timely question given the recently released season finale of the series inspired by Atwood's novel. Do you think you could answer these three questions? Text 3 featured edited extracts from Harvey's novel, Orbital published in 2023. It tells the story of six astronauts in an H-shaped spacecraft rotating above the earth. Orbital is also current, with the novel taking home the Booker Prize in November 2024. Can you answer this question? Section two Section two features a choice of seven different composition assignments intended to reflect language study in the areas of information, argument, persuasion, narration and the aesthetic use of language. Questions varied from asking students to write a feature article, short story, discursive essay, speech and personal essay. Check out these three questions to see if you'd be up to the challenge.
Irish Examiner
11 hours ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Could you pass English paper 1? First Leaving Cert exams of 2025 'very balanced'
Podcasting, underdogs, a 'love letter to Ireland', a rally cry to young people from the author of The Handmaid's Tale and an extract from the Booker Prize winner all featured on the higher level 2025 English paper 1. Overall, the first papers to open the 2025 Leaving Cert exams were 'very balanced' and themed around perspectives. Podcasting and poetry made appearances on the Junior Cycle papers, where a question on short stories may have caused some students to stumble. There were lots of opportunities for students when it came to the higher level English paper 1 Leaving Cert questions, according to Kate Barry. The English teacher with Loreto Secondary School, College Road in Fermoy and subject spokesperson for the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said she believed this year's papers were 'very fair on the whole.' 'I really liked the three texts they gave,' she added. This included an article by science writer David Robson, a speech made by Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale, and an extract from Samantha Harvey's 2024 novel Orbital which won last year's Booker Prize. In her speech, Margaret Atwood gives advice to young people, referring to herself, 'a wise old counsellor'. 'It's good to see someone of her calibre appearing,' Ms Barry said. "There was a good level of challenge in the Section A questions.' 'The three questions were very similar, they were very consistent, and nice and general. They asked students to write about elements of language that are elegant, thought-provoking, or inspiring. Sometimes those questions can be very 'tick the box', whereas I thought this was nice and broad, you can bring in a lot there. However, she was more critical of the paper's Question Bs, which carry 50 marks. In particular, a question that asked students to imagine they are a contributor to a podcast while reflecting on how their perspective on a significant issue changed. 'I don't see why that question needs to be for a podcast,' Ms Barry said. 'It's a lovely invitation to write, it's a very nice topic and encourages them to think and reflect, but I don't see why it needs to be for a podcast.' 'I think they are trying to be current, and they think 'well a lot of people listen to podcasts'.' The other two Question Bs were more creative, asking students to imagine they are either a sports captain or a hotel manager. 'Not everybody is up for that so it was good to have a question where they could write as themselves.' Meanwhile, the higher-level essay topics, which carry 100 marks, were 'really nice'. 'There were some really nice options there, I thought,' Ms Barry said. In particular, she liked the option that asked students to write a speech for or against the motion that: Truth has become a valueless currency in today's world. 'I really like the questions where students can take it personally, and can write about their own lives, but there was plenty of scope there if they do want to engage in current events.' Another of the questions she liked was the option to write a love letter to Ireland. 'Some of these essay questions can be a bit doom and gloom, but this question asked students to view contemporary Ireland from an optimistic lens. It gives them an opportunity to be positive, which actually can be a challenge.' The only essay question she has concerns about was one asking students to reflect on some of the factors that would influence their voting intentions in future elections. 'You'd really expect and hope that all the people correcting that would put their own views to the side. I don't think it would be a popular one anyway." Ordinary level English paper 1 The ordinary level English paper 1 had some 'accessible' texts that included extracts from the writing of Paul Howard and Rosaleen McDonagh as well a visual image question themed around 'Love in Many Guises' which included song lyrics from The Beatles, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift as well as Mark Twain and Lao Tzu among others. In particular, Ms Barry liked the essay question on this paper that asked students to reflect on the importance of people standing up for their views and beliefs. "Sometimes people have different reasons for taking ordinary level English,' she said. 'Sometimes they haven't been in Ireland very long and wouldn't have enough English to do the higher-level paper but they would be well able to come up with their own thoughts and opinions. "It's not aimed too young, it takes into account that they are emerging adults, grappling with adult themes too.' Junior Cycle Overall, the Junior Cycle papers were 'lovely and clear', Ms Barry said. Similarly, the idea of perspectives came up on the Junior Cycle exam. Podcasting made another appearance on the 2025 Junior Cycle exam, with a question based around 'The Black & Irish Podcast'. However, a question asking students to write about a short story they have covered may have caused some to stumble. 'That technically is on the course, it is a specification but that specification is huge,' Ms Barry explained. 'The amount of material they must cover on it, and that is the first year they have specifically been asked to cover a short story they have studied. It's very, very difficult to teach the whole specification,' she added. 'I would expect they would interpret short stories there liberally when they go to correct it. It's something they might not have done. They would have read them as part of the Junior Cycle, but they mightn't have been expecting them as an exam question.' 'It's come up in the past to write their own short story, rather than analyse one as a text. Some of our students here, they were able to take something they had read and answer that way but I do think out of all the questions, that was so new and that would have been the one that caused some to stumble.' 'That will all be reflected when they come to the marking scheme, I would reassure people about that.' The ordinary level Junior Cycle paper was very 'nice and straightforward', she added. 'I'm not sure about this way they have of testing vocabulary where they ask what this word means, and they mightn't know the word, they just get given a random five words, but overall, I did think it was very candidate friendly.' Read More Record number of students to sit State exams this year
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- General
- Irish Times
Leaving Cert English paper one: challenging but plenty of choice
The first of this year's Leaving Cert exams contained challenging elements, but provided enough choice for students to engage with it meaningfully, teachers have said. 'The higher level paper, which was based on the theme of 'perspectives', featured a nice balance between creative tasks and reflective or discursive tasks,' said Kate Barry, a teacher at Loreto Secondary School in Cork and ASTI subject representative for English. 'This played to the strengths of different candidates.' [ Classroom to College: our expert newsletter on the Leaving Cert for parents, guardian and students ] Gillian Chute, head of English at , an online grinds company, said that the three section B questions tend to be consistently unpredictable. 'This seemed to be the case this year, where students were asked to assume the persona of a hotel manager and write an online response on the hotel website 'in response to a disgruntled guest's highly critical review,' Ms Chute said. READ MORE Sue O'Sullivan Casey, subject expert and a teacher at Pobalscoil Inbhear Scèine, Kenmare, said that, overall, students would have been happy with the accessibility of English paper one. 'The three reading comprehensions centred on how perspectives can change either on a personal or societal level,' Ms O'Sullivan Casey said. 'Candidates would have been pleased with the variety of text types, which included an article on 'underdogs', a speech by novelist Margaret Atwood and a narrative extract from the Booker-prize winning novel, Orbital by Samantha Harvey.' In the personal essay question, one of the more challenging options asked students to 'write a personal essay in which you reflect on some of the factors that would influence your voting intentions in future elections.' Ms Barry said that she hoped the State Examinations Commission would give clear instructions to examiners that students should be assessed here on their writing, and not on their political opinions, which any individual examiner may or may not agree with. She said, however, that any of the other six essays offered a good choice. Ms Chute said that the essay genres were predictable. 'There was one discursive essay, one speech, one article, two personal essays and two short stories,' she said. Ms O'Sullivan Casey said that students would have favoured the essay on disappointments which allowed for scope to demonstrate their reflective writing skills. 'Both short stories on offer allowed students to explore character in their narrative writing and gave candidates freedom to develop plots in a number of directions,' she said. Meanwhile, Ms Chute said that the speech titled 'Truth has become a valueless currency in today's world' would have provided students with ample material to explore such as AI, social media and fake news. Ordinary level At ordinary level, Ms O'Sullivan Casey said that the paper was clear and straightforward, asking students to demonstrate their understanding of language and their writing skills. 'Candidates sitting the Ordinary Level paper would have been pleased with the accessibility of the three texts to choose from,' she said. 'An article, narrative extract and a series of quotes, lyrics and images were all on offer and the Question As were easy to navigate and manage. 'The Question B writing tasks were familiar to those candidates who had diligently prepared. A pamphlet, letter and interview were available to choose from and the tasks were clear in their requirements. 'The composition titles that appeared featured a good selection of choice for these candidates,' Ms O'Sullivan Casey concluded. Try this one: Leaving Cert English (higher level), section one, Q3 (b) You are a contributor to a podcast entitled, Eyes Wide Open, where you reflect on how your perspective on a significant issue changed as a result of an experience or an encounter. Write your reflection for the podcast in which you: identify the issue and explain your previous attitude towards it, describe the experience or encounter that changed your perspective, and consider some of the life lessons that you and others can learn from this reflection.
BreakingNews.ie
12 hours ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Leaving Cert: Teacher analyses English paper one as students complete first exam
A teacher has given her initial reaction to Leaving Cert English paper one, which students completed on Wednesday morning. Overall, students would have been very happy with the paper's accessibility, Sue O'Sullivan Casey from Pobalscoil Inbhear Scèine, Kenmare, Co Kerry, said. Advertisement She added: 'The three reading comprehensions centred on how perspectives can change either on a personal or societal level. Candidates would have been pleased with the variety of text types, which included an article on 'underdogs', a speech by novelist Margaret Atwood and a narrative extract from the Booker-prize winning novel, Orbital by Samantha Harvey.' 'The 2025 paper was student-centred and would have appealed to the candidate who had diligently worked hard on the language aspect of the course over the two years. Those candidates who used past papers in their own study would have benefitted from seeing familiar or similar tasks appear and would have had the confidence and ability to execute each question successfully.' Ms O'Sullivan Casey, who is a Studyclix subject expert, said candidates sitting the Ordinary Level paper would have been pleased with the accessibility of the three texts to choose from. 'An article, narrative extract and a series of quotes, lyrics and images were all on offer and the Question As were easy to navigate and manage. Advertisement 'The Question B writing tasks were familiar to those candidates who had diligently prepared. A pamphlet, letter and interview were available to choose from and the tasks were clear in their requirements.' She added: 'The Ordinary level paper was clear and straight-forward, asking students to demonstrate their understanding of language and their writing skills.' Junior Cert In the Junior Cert, Ms O'Sullivan Casey said the Higher Level paper was 'fair'. 'There were some surprises but nothing too challenging for those candidates who had prepared', she said. Advertisement 'An unseen poem formed part of Section A and was accessible in its subject matter and themes. However, candidates would have been surprised to see the studied poetry question require them to write about two poems that they have studied in Junior Cycle – a departure from recent years that only the prepared candidates would have managed well. 'The studied drama question asked candidates to write about moments of suspense, but the latter question asked candidates to identify the 'moral lessons' of the play. Some candidates may have had difficulty with this terminology. 'Another curveball was the question asking candidates to write about a short story in class. This is a new style of question for Junior Cert English and candidates may not have prepared for this going into the exam.' She said the Ordinary Level paper would have been welcomed by some students who had a good understanding of their studied texts. Advertisement 'The short questions were easy to navigate and accessible. The paper required candidates to answer questions on studied poetry, a drama and a novel which is challenging but the style of short-answer questions allowed for candidates to navigate the paper in an easy and straightforward manner. Writing tasks included writing a letter and candidates would have been well prepared for this.'
