Vol. 509 No. 3
16 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the format of the leaving certificate honours paper on geography in June 1999 created difficulties for students; if he had the matter investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20173/99]
Following the leaving certificate geography higher level examination on Monday 14 June, concerns were expressed by some candidates, teachers and parents that the compulsory Question No. 1 had been reduced from a three-part to a two-part question. There was also comment that, in the regional geography section, which contained four questions of which candidates had to answer one, the candidates were asked to divide a country into regions using one of five given countries as an example rather than allowing them to choose one country themselves from among the 14 countries stated in the syllabus.
As is normal in the case of comments received about an examination paper, all concerns regarding this geography paper were referred to the chief examiner who considered them and discussed them with the advising examiners before the marking scheme was finalised.
The chief examiner has reported that the marking process provided no evidence to suggest that the form of these questions adversely affected candidates' performance generally. The grades obtained by candidates in this year's examination are broadly similar to those of last year. It is also worth noting that the number of appeals in this subject in 1999 was similar to that in 1998.
I am satisfied, therefore, that the format of this year's leaving certificate higher level geography paper did not adversely affect candidates' performance in the examination.
