‘Too difficult’ Leaving Cert Higher Maths exam officially given milder marking

This should come as a relief to many who sat the test.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has confirmed that this year's iteration of paper one of the Leaving Cert Higher Maths exam was marked more leniently. In a statement on Friday (25 August) - the day that over 60,000 students will receive their Leaving Cert results - the SEC confirmed the news. It stated that the alteration to the marking scheme came as a result of some students and media commentary suggesting that the first part of maths test was "too difficult". The SEC's statement reads:

"Following the sitting of Leaving Certificate Higher Level Mathematics examination on 9 June, there was media commentary in relation to Paper 1 which suggested that the examination paper was too difficult. It should be noted also that some media commentary took a different perspective, reporting on the reasonableness of the paper given that it is Higher level Mathematics. In addition to media coverage, the SEC received correspondence raising similar concerns in relation to this paper. "In line with our normal processes that apply each year, the correspondence received was brought to the attention of the Chief Examiner and considered in the refinement of the draft marking scheme. As part of the standard setting process, a detailed analysis of candidate responses was undertaken at a number of stages over the course of the marking. "This process resulted in a marking scheme that was at the more lenient end of the normal range."

However, the State Examination Commission also stated that, after considering all the evidence, it has concluded that "there was no systemic issue with the Paper 1 at Higher Level in Mathematics this year". "Many of the questions that were commented on as being unusual or abstract, were answered well by candidates in comparison to their answering of other questions that did not attract any such comment," it added. "This is not to undermine the views expressed about the level of difficulty of the paper but the SEC must base its decisions on the evidence available in the quality of engagement and answering in the candidates’ scripts and the expert views of the senior examining team." At 10am on Friday, the SEC issued the Leaving Certificate 2023 results to students who sat the exams this year. In a statement, Education Minister Norma Foley extended "the heartiest of congratulations" to the 61,736 students receiving their grades. "Today brings enormous reward and recognition for all your hard work and dedication over the past number of years, including through challenging times," she said, referencing the Covid pandemic.

“This is an exciting occasion in your life, filled with the prospects of the many great and varied opportunities that lie ahead. "To all of you receiving results today, I wish you every success and happiness as you embark on the next stage in your life. "Whether the next step on your journey will take you to work, an apprenticeship, further or higher education, or other possibilities, I hope you can enjoy today and reflect on all that you have achieved so far to bring you to this point."

Images via Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

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