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Irish Times
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Irish Times
Leaving Cert English paper two: ‘Dense' questions posed a challenge amid relief over appearance of much-predicted poets
Students were relieved that several predicted poets appeared on this year's higher-level English paper, but many of the questions were very specific in scope, teachers have said. Kate Barry, a teacher at Loreto Secondary School in Cork and ASTI subject representative for English, said that both Eavan Boland and Tracy K Smith – a new poet on the course – both featured. 'But the question on Boland, which asked about the complex nature of powerlessness, was quite specific,' Ms Barry said. 'The question on Smith, which focused on the nature of their lives, was perhaps more candidate-friendly.' READ MORE Clodagh Havel, an English teacher at the Institute of Education, said that it was a testing paper. 'It was not necessarily an arduous one but nevertheless students will feel a lot more pushed to react and grapple with the exam than they did yesterday,' she said. 'Between densely phrased questions and some peculiar vocabulary, some students will be worried that they weren't on the right path. 'Each question was precise in its scope – they had a wide selection, but a narrow focus.' Gillian Chute, head of English at , said that students answering a question on the poet Derek Mahon may have been disappointed with the question. 'It was unconventional in nature,' she said. 'It asked them to what extent they think that an audience's appreciation of both Mahon's language and thematic concerns would be enhanced if his poetry was read out loud, and this may have presented considerable difficulty for some candidates.' Ms Havel said that candidates reading the first King Lear question may have paused and caught their breath on the mention of 'duality' – or two-ness – within the text's characters. 'For those who gave themselves a moment to fully read the question they will have found lots of choice in who to discuss: Lear, Gloucester, Edmund are all very comfortable candidates for discussions and only two were required.' Both Ms Barry and Ms Havel said that the second King Lear question were more accessible. 'The second question was gorgeous in its exploration of justice, order, chaos and cruelty but again the way the question was phrased was dense,' said Ms Havel. 'In the cauldron of the exam hall, composure and a level head are easier said than done. Everyone would have material to bring to fulfil these prompts, they just might not glide through it.' In the comparative texts, Ms Havel said that students aiming for the top marks will need to pick up on the nuances of texts in order to truly incorporate the elements of the 'subtle', 'contradictory' or 'paradoxical' elements mentioned. Both Ms Barry and Ms Havel praised the unseen poem. 'It covered familiar ground about a lost relationship, which is a common theme,' said Ms Barry.' At ordinary level, Ms Barry said that there was a lot of reading and wordiness on the paper, which may have thrown some students, although the questions themselves were not too difficult. 'On higher-level English paper one, students were asked to prepare a podcast, and podcasts also appeared on ordinary level paper two,' she said. 'This is probably because podcasts are such a popular medium these days. 'The other questions, including a debate around the ending of the text, were really nice.' Studyclix subject expert Sue O'Sullivan Casey, a teacher at Pobalscoil Inbhear Scèine, Kenmare, Co. Kerry, said that the ordinary level single text questions were accessible and many students would have managed well with the demands put to them. 'Other questions on Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible' and Colson Whitehead's 'The Underground Railroad' were challenging but not unfamiliar,' she said. 'The paper was fair and straightforward. A student who had prepared consistently over two years would have been ready to handle the questions well.'
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bath Uni 'sorry' for not giving students enough time for exam
A university has apologised after students sitting a three-hour physics exam were only given two hours to complete University of Bath said an "administrative error" meant first-year students sitting the Foundations of Physics exam on Tuesday had an hour added the issue was identified shortly before the start of the exam, but said subsequent room bookings meant it was not possible to extend the of the university's physics department, Professor Ventsislav Valev, said: "We are deeply sorry for the confusion and concern this has caused." She continued: "Our priority is to ensure that no student is disadvantaged. We are reviewing our processes to ensure such an error does not occur again."A University of Bath spokesperson added results of all assessments are "considered and finalised" by Boards of Examiners but students would be continued to be supported.
South China Morning Post
22-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Student misses exam to save classmate's life, stray dog eater in China: 5 trending stories
We have selected five Trending in China stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing A student in eastern China has earned plaudits online after he missed a crucial exam to save his classmate's life and says he has no regrets for doing so. A group of Japanese men, known as the 'bumping gang', deliberately collides with pedestrians to release their frustrations. Photo: SCMP composite/Facebook A group of Japanese men, known as the 'bumping gang', has brought their harassment tactics to London, deliberately slamming into pedestrians – primarily targeting young women, the elderly, and children, sparking widespread concern online.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Six low-cost resources to help your children with revision ahead of exams
EXAM time is looming for school and college students. If your child or someone you know is preparing for a test, there are plenty of low-cost resources to help with revision. 6 Here's some ideas to help them pass with flying colours. SCHEDULE IT: A study timetable is the best way to plan work. Break up the day into chunks of one to two hours and schedule in breaks around revision. There are loads of free templates for timetables online, which you can print off and use. Visit website for different styles to suit your needs. FLASH CARDS: Help them to memorise facts using flash cards. You simply use small cards to write a question on one side and an answer on the other. You can make your own using printable templates from Or head to The Works and get a pack of 50 cards for £1. A QUIET SPOT: Television and other distractions around the home can make it difficult to concentrate on your work. Local libraries are quiet and free to use, making them ideal for study sessions. BUDGET BOOKS: Revision books can really help information sink in. Avoid buying them new and look on second-hand selling sites instead. BBC BITESIZE: The BBC has a wealth of free resources for those sitting GCSEs, Scottish Higher and National exams including past papers and exam quizzes. There are also revision tips broken down by individual subjects including maths and English. Take a look at CHEAP TUTOR: Tutors can help students stay on track with revision and simplify tricky areas. But they don't come cheap and can cost around £40 a hour. However, if you have a skill you'd be willing to trade you could try using a swap site. For example, if you're a plumber or handyman and want a tutor for your child, you can post your skills online and ask if any tutors would be up for a trade. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. Deal of the day GET your teeth sparkling with this Oral-B Pro 1 electric toothbrush and travel case, down from £69.99 to £34.99 at Superdrug. SAVE: £35 Cheap treat SWEETEN up your tea break with Morrisons Market Street cookies. £1 with a More card, £1.50 without. Top swap KEEP feet comfy and stylish with these leopard print sandals, £39 from Next. Or walk away with a similar pair from Matalan, £12.50. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 6 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
OPSC OCS Main Exam update: Crucial notice issued for optional papers on opsc.gov.in
OPSC OCS Main exam : The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has recently issued a crucial notice regarding the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Main Exam 2023, specifically concerning the optional paper. Candidates who have appeared for the examination can visit the official OPSC website at for more details. The OPSC OCS Main Examination was conducted from April 19 to April 27, 2025. The examination was held in two shifts: The first session ran from 9 AM to 12 PM, and the second session took place from 2 PM to 5 PM. The exam began with the Odia Language and English Language papers and concluded with the Optional Subject papers I and II. Issue with Anthropology paper I A significant issue was identified during the examination on April 27, 2025, when Anthropology Paper I was being conducted. It was found that the question-cum-answer booklet for Anthropology, Paper I, inadvertently contained questions from the syllabus of Anthropology Paper II. This issue prompted the OPSC to take swift action and direct the continuation of the examination for the concerned candidates. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Despite this error, the examination proceeded as planned, and affected candidates were notified to appear for the exam with the existing question paper. The commission has since provided clarification and further details on how the situation would be addressed. Odisha Civil Services 2023: Examination overview The OCS Main Examination is being conducted to fill 399 vacancies in various state government departments. The examination carries a total of 2000 marks, which includes 250 marks allocated for the Interview/Personality Test . The main exam covers a variety of subjects, with candidates being evaluated on their knowledge in both compulsory and optional subjects. The optional papers for the OCS Main Exam, such as Anthropology, Paper I and II, are a critical part of the evaluation process. Candidates have been advised to stay updated through the official OPSC website regarding any further developments or rescheduling of papers due to the issues identified in the examination. Important dates and registration information The registration process for the Odisha Civil Services Examination 2023 began on January 18, 2024, and ended on February 16, 2024. Candidates who successfully completed their registration are currently taking the main exam. Further updates and notices regarding the examination can be found on the OPSC official website. Next steps for candidates Candidates who participated in the OCS Main exam are advised to regularly check the OPSC website for any further notices or updates related to the examination, particularly regarding the optional papers and any rescheduling requirements. The commission has assured that the situation will be handled promptly, and the integrity of the examination will remain intact.
