asked the Minister for Education if a pupil has the opportunity of reading the pass and honours examination papers before choosing one paper in the intermediate and leaving certificate examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Examination Papers.
School assessment and guidance clearly indicate to a candidate well in advance of the examination which level of the papers in a subject he should select at the examination.
I am satisfied that it would not be in a candidate's best interests to allow him the option proposed in the Deputy's question.
Would the Minister not agree that a few minutes spent reading over an examination paper would not affect the student's ability to get an advantage in relation to any one paper and should in fact help him to decide which paper he will take?
I would not agree at all. If the Deputy would look at some of the papers—for example, the history higher and lower level papers— and try to visualise a student going in to do the examination, reading through these papers and trying to decide which paper he should take in the examination, I do not think he would regard this as a realistic proposition.