'Real meat' was in higher paper

THE "real meat" came after lunch for Junior Cert students who took higher level business studies, after a morning paper which might have caused ordinary level students to wonder why they hadn't attempted the more difficult course.

Ivan O'Callaghan of the TUI and Pobalscoil Rosmini in Drumcondra, Dublin, said that while some ordinary level students would have been well able for higher level paper I, they would have changed their minds after seeing the afternoon paper.

Overall, he said both papers were excellently laid out and consistent with candidates' expectations, but paper II, which is only taken by higher level students, was "challenging" in a good way.

Pat Morris, of the ASTI and Colaiste Chriost Ri, Cork, agreed the higher level paper was "along usual lines" and said students were very happy with it.

The two-hour long afternoon paper included "a nice topical question" on two people who had lost their jobs and were considering starting up their own business.

There was another manageable question on using advertising to sell spectacles, Mr Morris said.

Mr O'Callaghan said the "only snag" with the ordinary level paper was that section B answer papers were incorporated into section A. Those who read to the end of section B would have found question eight very straightforward, but many students may have launched into the household budget question which is time-consuming.

Mr O'Callaghan said the higher level afternoon paper was encouraging to those who will go on to study accountancy.

The club accounts question was shorter than in the past and formulae were printed for candidates so they could "work on the business end of the question" rather than trying to remember them.

He said this was more reflective of real life.

- Grainne Cunningham

Irish Independent