A 1999 Leaving Certificate history paper, which was widely described as too difficult and unfair by teachers and students, has been strongly defended by the Department of Education.
However, the chief examiner's report for history, published yesterday, also shows a continuing decline in the numbers taking the subject.
Last year's higher-level Leaving Cert paper provoked protests, but the chief examiner appears to take the view that instead of studying the whole syllabus, students were coached to answer only those parts of the course which had featured regularly on past papers.
The examiner acknowledges that Course II (modern history) is a particularly long course.
He is unapologetic about higher-level Course I: "It is obvious from references in many answers that some candidates depend almost entirely on class notes and potted/printed synopses".
He says that, despite some adverse comments regarding the examination paper for Course II, the overall results were in keeping with those in the recent past. The failure rate in ordinary level history - over 28 per cent in one paper and over 20 per cent in the second - is certain to attract comment.
The chief examiner said the quality of material presented by 3035 per cent of candidates was very poor indeed. The examiner points to some common defects, including "evidence of racism and sectarianism with regard to other cultures and peoples".