Junior Cert:This year's Junior Certificate examinations came to an end yesterday with about 2,000 students sitting exams in Latin, Greek, Italian and classical studies.

The classical studies paper was "a very nice paper full of attractive colourful illustrations and a good range of topics," said Daniel O'Connor of John Scottus Senior School in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

In contrast to a colourful classical studies paper, students of Latin were said to have been disappointed by a dull and lifeless paper.

"The Latin paper was quite straightforward and students were happy with the translation question," Mr O'Connor said. "They were familiar with the topics."

Students of Greek were given a very straightforward paper that didn't deviate from the norm.

"Some students who were fans of the film 300 were hoping for a question on Thermopylae, but this did not come up," Mr O'Connor added. "Those students who had done their work should have had no problems."