Teachers have welcomed this year’s construction studies exams, with particular praise for the focus on environmental themes.
Peter Masterson, ASTI subject representative and a teacher at Mountmellick Community School in Co Laois, said that the paper was well laid out and had lots of choices.
“Kieran McDonagh, Studyclix.ie subject expert and a construction studies teacher at Ballinrobe Community School, Co Mayo, said that the questions on the higher level paper were very reasonable and uncomplicated, providing students with a lot of choice.
“Students would have been pleased to see the trend of recent examinations continuing again this year,” Mr McDonagh said.
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“As homeowners nationwide struggle to reduce their energy costs, questions assessed students on their knowledge of how best to design homes which have a low environmental impact.
Mr Masterson said that students would have loved question five, which was on U-values and is a regular feature on the paper.
“There was no twist on the question, which was another bonus for students,” he said.
Question eight focused on how to maximise the benefits of natural light through the use of solar panels, Mr McDonagh said.
“Question ten asked students to discuss the benefits of considering the orientation of a house at the design stage. Question three focused on the issue of regenerating our town centres. Students were asked to redesign a traditional town shop into a family home,” he added.
On the ordinary level paper, Mr McDonagh said it did not contain any surprises, which would have put students at ease from the outset.
“The paper contained a similar theme to the higher level paper where students were presented with questions examining their knowledge on how homeowners can reduce energy costs,” he said.
“In particular, question two assessed students on suitable methods of installing attic insulation whereas question three focused on the topic of rainwater harvesting.”
Mr Masterson, meanwhile, said that the ordinary level paper was “very doable, well laid out and well-pitched, with relevant topics including health and safety and the benefits of natural light.”
TRY THIS ONE AT HOME:
LEAVING CERT CONSTRUCTION STUDIES, HIGHER LEVEL
Question 8. The owners of a house wish to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home by installing a solar collector on the roof to provide hot water for the house.
(a) Discuss in detail three considerations when installing a solar collector for heating domestic hot water.
(b) Using notes and a single-line diagram, show a typical design layout for a solar collector that will connect with an existing system to supply domestic hot water. Indicate the location of all control valves and give typical sizes of pipework. Describe how the system works.
(c) Discuss two advantages and two disadvantages of installing a solar collector system in a domestic house.
