Vol. 467 No. 4
205 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education the way in which errors occurred in the 1996 leaving certificate practical test held in May; if she will give details of the administrative deficiencies in the organisation of the examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13626/96]
A code of procedures which have been developed and refined over the many years of conducting the national examinations is followed in the preparation of examination papers. This results in minimising the possibility of errors occurring in the examinations. In the case of the 1996 music aural examination, although the procedures have been followed unfortunately a small number of minor errors have occurred concerning the layout of the paper and wording. This is regretted. There was a small amount of confusion about the starting time of the examination in a number of centres but the centres were able to cope with this.
All matters raised about this examination paper were fully considered at the pre-marking conference stage. These are being carefully monitored during the progress of the marking so that no student will be at a disadvantage.
