Technology is not just for boys, was the message from this year's Junior Cert technology papers, particularly at ordinary level.

"The ordinary-level paper was very gender-friendly. There was a lot that girls and boys could identify with, it really struck a balance," said Padraig Kirk, of the Engineering and Technical Teachers Association. Kirk praised the use of openended rather than "yes/no" questions and said projects and tasks examined were very well chosen.

"The steady-hand game, the cheese plate and the missile thrower were all projects the students could relate to, which is very important at this level."

Kirk was happy with the short questions in Section A of the higher-level paper, but felt students may have had problems with Sections B and C. Question 6 was "pretty stiff", he said, and phrased in a confusing way.