A challenging higher-level paper tested students' knowledge of a wide range of topics. Mr Tom Gilligan, deputy principal of Banada Abbey, Co Sligo, said laboratory and experimental work were emphasised more than usual.
Question 8(b) would have placed students in non-sugar beet growing areas at a disadvantage. Some questions spanned more than one topic making it difficult for students.
At ordinary-level, he said there was a good choice of question. Some of the questions on lab work were quite specific, and difficult for this level of student. It was a reasonable paper overall although question 8(c) on the life cycle and control of liver fluke was more suited to a higher-level paper, said Mr Gilligan, who is the ASTI subject representative.
Teacher Mr Patrick McGarry said there was a lack of continuity within questions at ordinary level. Choice was somewhat limited as question 4(a) was similar to 6(a) while 4(b) was similar to 8(b). At higher-level, his only quibble was that the genetics question was somewhat long.
There were more than 3,000 entries for the agricultural science exam this year.