Madam, – In response to Carmel Tierney (September 17th), surely it is a prerequisite that a prospective Engineering student would have a proficient level of Maths as a matriculation to a university or college?
Ms Tierney – who kindly put every letter she had available to the end of her name, I presume to let us know that it is no fool who wrote to The Irish Times – says it was the high failure rate of the Maths paper and not insufficient “time and effort” that caused her family member’s E grade.
She calls her family member a “true gambler” for taking this risk. I would suggest he is a poor gambler. An E is not even a borderline grade for a matriculation. Surely he was aware of his mathematical capabilities?
The proposition to have the Maths paper taken in stages is moot. For those students who are able for Higher Level Maths, this would mean sitting five papers in three days. Furthermore, Engineering courses, in the main, require a grade C or higher in Higher Level Maths to be accepted. Why take the emphasis off Higher Level?
I accept that students who prudently gamble on a Higher Level paper and fail should have the option in the autumn to re-sit the three core subjects – Maths, English and Irish – so that they have an opportunity to gain access to a college or university. – Yours, etc,