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Report for Quinn on Leaving Cert Maths paper errors "nearing completion"

The minister had ordered that the SEC take the errors into account when marking the exam. Results are due out on Wednesday.

A INVESTIGATION ordered by Education Minister Ruairí Quinn into the origin of an error on a Leaving Cert paper taken by nearly 15,000 students is nearing completion, according to the State Examinations Commission.

Paper 2 on the Higher Level Mathematics course contained a major error which meant it was possible to get two different answers – each of them equally ‘correct’ – in a particular question on trigonometry.

Many students reported having lost time as a result of the confusion caused by the question, with one Dublin teacher telling TheJournal.ie:

One of my students was in floods of tears after that paper. She said she had spent almost an hour on the question and hadn’t given enough time to others.

I heard the same story from some of my grinds students too. The general feedback is people wasted way too much time.

The question was mandatory for all students sitting the exam, and was worth 5 per cent of the total grade for the subject. Students will find out how they fared in the exam on Wednesday when the results are released.

Minister Quinn said earlier this summer that the errors would be taken into account by the Chief Examiner when finalising marking schemes for the exams.

Quinn said the SEC had two jobs: to ensure that the errors did not result in any individual students being penalised, and to ensure that no such errors occurred again.

A spokesperson for the State Exams Commission told TheJournal.ie today the report on the errors was now being finalised, and would be handed over to the Department of Education as soon as it is ready.

It is expected the SEC will reveal more details about how the marking scheme for the paper was amended to account for the error in advance of the release of the Leaving Cert results.

Read: Here’s the problem with the Leaving Cert honours maths paper >

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29 Comments
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    Mute John Jones
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    Jan 2nd 2017, 8:26 PM

    I started cooking meals for my wife and fair play the weight flew of her , a massive transformation weight loss , walked to work and home is all she did about 40 mins a day walking , fk that running business killing yourself , educate yourself about food and proper portions and you will succeed in weight loss.

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    Mute Brian Henoll
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    Jan 2nd 2017, 8:28 PM

    “You don’t have to look like a cover model or perform like a sports star. Fitness is for everyone.”
    followed by a picture of two super fit people doing impossible pushups. That will really get others moving. not

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    Mute Alan b..
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    Jan 2nd 2017, 8:46 PM

    If people took your attitude nothing would ever get done or change,do you think they always looked that fit and could always do those type of push ups?everyone ahas to start somewhere and everyone what’s different levels of fitness the more you get into it and the more results you see the further it pushes you.I for one love the buzz you get after exercise especially one you’ve pushed yourself to the limit.Get up of the couch and try those push ups you’ll be able to do them in a few days if you persist

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    Mute Carl Cautley
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    Jan 4th 2017, 4:03 PM

    @Brian Henoll: You are right Brian, not the best choice of picture, however, hopefully you found the article of some benefit.

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    Mute saoirse janneau
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    Jan 2nd 2017, 9:08 PM

    “Commit to making fitness a part of your life rather than a means to an end”. Very good advice. People fail if they try and focus on the latter only.

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    Mute Stephen Duffy
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    Jan 2nd 2017, 9:28 PM

    There is a lot of truth in the saying “no pain; no gain” Parts of the body should be sore after a good workout, or you’re not doing it right, unless you’re an elite athlete of course..

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    Mute A H
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    Jan 3rd 2017, 12:02 AM

    Yes and don’t start on January 1st like all these dumb articles year after year after vomit inducing regurgitated year. Just lay off the cake all year round and move a bit more.

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    Mute Pharmyco
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    Jan 3rd 2017, 1:23 PM

    @A H:

    So, you could say, Less Cake, More Exercise

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    Mute Declan Connor
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    Jan 2nd 2017, 11:01 PM

    But thats the problem isnt it? Keeping focused and not giving in the first or second week. I think your absolutely right and i also think beyond the health benifits it helps you set and maintain goals and objectives through organisation and structure.

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