Problems with higher Leaving Cert maths exam must be addressed – Crowe

The Sinn Féin education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has said changes to the Leaving Certificate higher level maths paper had presented significant difficulties for many students.

Deputy Crowe made his comments after criticism from teachers who questioned the fairness of the exam content.

Deputy Crowe said:

“There has been a good deal of criticism of the exam with one teacher, Brendan Gildea, saying that the majority of candidates he spoke to were devastated after sitting the test. This is a very worrying situation.

“This is the first year that all students will be examined in part in the new Project Maths syllabus which is supposed to challenge students who had in the past been encouraged to learn by rote. The revised exam is also an attempt to encourage more students to take maths at higher level and I understand there has been a 25% increase in the numbers sitting the paper.

“There is mounting criticism of the language used in the exam and some teachers have stated parts of question seven on statistics were not on the syllabus and that the exam in no way assessed what candidates had learned.

“The State Examinations Commission and Education Minister Ruairí Quinn must seriously assess the criticism levelled at the exam and take steps to improve its content and fairness.”