Were today's English papers tough?

Expert verdicts on Leaving Cert & Junior Cert exams

Verdict on LC English Paper 1 (Higher)

Students experienced a ‘well-pitched and broadly appealing paper’ for this year’s Leaving Cert English Paper 1, Studyclix subject expert Lorraine Tuffy, English teacher at Jesus and Mary Secondary school Enniscrone, Co Sligo has said.

She added: “Paper 1 had a broad menu of choice to whet the examination candidates’ appetites for the coming weeks. The well-pitched and broadly appealing paper focused on an initially cryptic general theme: ‘Between two worlds’. Comprehension texts were varied and interesting, for the most part and encouraged critical reflection and creative thinking in students.

“The set texts included a comfortably accessible extract from Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah’s Gravel Heart’ that explores the intimidation, confusions and excitement experienced by an immigrant child in London while Text 3 considers the gap between two worlds, human and technological, in its assessment of Artificial intelligence in the modern world.

“Section A followed a familiar format where questions on each text assessed students’ understanding, elicited personal opinions on and forced consideration of the language style of each text.

“Section B was equally appealing offering a range of options: a personal letter, personal reflection and article. Candidates will have felt guided by the sample personal letters included in text 1. The website article will also have been a popular choice among candidates who were invited to adopt a serious and/ humorous approach in assessing the increasing role played by technology in school exposing both its positive and negative influences.

“Enticing and stimulating titles in the composition section will have put candidates at ease; although the personal essayist only had one option, it was a particularly open one in which they were asked to reflect on “some of the things that bring excitement and wonder” to their life. The discursive writer was invited to consider the positive or negative impact of influential individuals in today’s world. Other options included a debate speech on a lack of ethics, decency and respect for the law in today’s world and an article reflecting on one’s hometown/ area. Both short story titles were, refreshingly, open and inviting for the creative writer. Candidates who opted for the short story were rewarded in today’s exam with titles that gave them free reign over plot, setting and characterisation.”

Verdict on LC English Paper 1 (Ordinary)

Studyclix subject expert Lorraine Tuffy, English teacher at Jesus and Mary Secondary school Enniscrone, Co Sligo, said:

“The theme of today’s OL paper was ‘Life Lessons ‘Text 1 Irish international soccer player Denise O’Sullivan reflecting on her life and career. She shared her experience of moving to Glasgow when she was just eighteen. Her story will resonate with those candidates who find themselves embarking on exciting new chapters after the Leaving Cert.

“The other texts were equally well pitched: Text 2 was a commencement speech by award winning author George Saunders and Text 3 an article about graffiti artist Banksy accompanied by two popular visuals.

“QBs included a blog in which you imagine your experiences living away from home after the leaving certificate, a radio interview with an older person who has experienced an eventful life and a letter on the divisive impact of graffiti on a community.

“Typically, composition titles were broad and varied. Much like the HL paper, the personal essay options here was open and comfortable as students were asked to either consider their personal passions in life or the people who have influenced them throughout their lives. The speech option proffered an interesting debate topic: ‘Human beings never learn from their mistakes’. There was something for everyone with an article reflecting on celebrity culture: ‘Celebrities - Love them or hate them?’”.

Verdict on JC English Paper 1 (Higher)

Commenting on the JC High Level English Paper 1, Studyclix subject expert Lorraine Tuffy, English teacher at Jesus and Mary Secondary school Enniscrone, Co Sligo, said:

“Students’ preparation and approach to tackling the exam is key to success at Junior Cycle. It’s not enough to revise material well, students must engage carefully with the exam questions ensuring to allocate sufficient time to each question. The discrepancy between knowing your material and being able to successfully answer the demands of specific questions was highlighted in today’s paper.

“Candidates might have found the first page of their paper confusing this morning. “Their film studied question was prompted by a series of tweets by Pixar character, Buzz Lightyear. While The approach to questions will have seemed abstruse, the tasks themselves were certainly manageable. Ultimately students were asked to consider characterisation and/ the ending of their studied film. Some students will have found the phrasing of questions in this section challenging. They were asked to explore how the use of visual striking images engages the viewer. While candidates will be well prepared to discuss key moments of their studied film, they may feel derailed by the approach of this question.

“Unlike a well-pitched Leaving Cert paper this morning, Junior Cycle students were presented with the unseen poem ‘An Apology’ by Roger McGough that explores a marriage proposal and failed engagement. The question asks students to narrate the experience from the ‘woman’s perspective’. A bizzare, ill-fitting challenge for even the most creative writer at 15 years old.

“Consolation came in the studied poetry section however with a comfortably inviting and open question where students drew from their studied material to discuss “a poem that tells a personal story”. Heaney’s autobiographical anthology will no doubt be liberally accessed in response to this question.

An extract from Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ presented an appropriate challenge for the HL candidate before the paper concluded with a short talk that evaluates the art of good story telling in one of their studied texts. While the paper certainly presented some challenges, none were insurmountable.”

Verdict on JC English Paper 1 (Ordinary)

Commenting on the JC Ordinary Level English Paper 1, Studyclix subject expert Studyclix subject expert Lorraine Tuffy, English teacher at Jesus and Mary Secondary school Enniscrone, Co Sligo, said:

“Many Ordinary level candidates will have found the opening grammar and poetry questions of today’s paper challenging. However, for every challenge, there is a reward. The following question, a diary entry in which students were to imagine summer is over and they were returning to school was familiar territory for all. Studied poetry questions, much like HL, were open and manageable for the well prepared candidate. The paper closed with a radio script advertising their studied film. Despite the challenge posed by the opening pages, the rest of the paper was comfortably manageable.”