Students taking higher maths as part of their Leaving Certificate may have found the first paper they sat last week very challenging, as it contained several tricky questions.

This is the analysis of the examination by maths spokesperson for ASTI Brigid Cleary, who highlighted questions four and six as especially tough, RTE reports.

Ms Cleary, who teaches at St Flannan's College in Ennis, also said many candidates would have been thrown by the graphs in question seven, which was not something they would have expected.

Responding to claims from both teachers and students that the higher paper was too difficult, the State Examinations Commission stated it is happy the questions fall within the parameters of the syllabus.

It added such observations would be taken into account when the marking scheme is being devised.

The first higher level paper consisted of eight questions, from which students were required to answer six, the news provider stated.

Prior to the start of the exams last week, the Irish Times reported that the number of students sitting the higher paper could be the lowest ever, as many candidates were expected to drop down to the ordinary paper at the last minute.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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