The students were thoughtful, purposeful and a little edgy. The fact that if you appealed your exam results, you could now be moved up or down - and possibly lose a coveted college place - would make them think twice, they said.
A classroom had been converted into a secure script viewing room. A Department of Education and Science notice, signed by secretary general Mr John Dennehy, loomed overhead. It warned students that if they wrote on or attempted to alter scripts they were likely to have their exams - in all subjects - cancelled. The Minister could debar candidates from entering any of the Department's exams for as long as he wished, the notice stated. They were returning for a variety of reasons, the Templeogue students said. With over 500 points and a place on UCD's business and legal studies course under his belt, Kevin O'Sullivan had points to spare. He was back to check his English and "Bus Org" (business and organisation) papers. "If you put a lot of work into something, you expect to get so much out of it. You've been through the stress. The disappointment of not getting what you expect is too much," he explained.
Barry Condron has a place in finance at NUI Maynooth. He was back to view his geography and economics papers on which he had performed less well than anticipated. "I may go for a recheck after I've seen the scripts - if I feel I've been harshly marked."
Joe Rafferty said he was happy with his points and with his second course choice - information and communications technology at TCD. He was keen, though, to view his chemistry script. "I've been back over the chemistry paper to see where I went wrong and I'm interested to see if I should go for a recheck."
Mark Lowe was there simply out of curiosity. His Leaving Cert results had proved better than expected. "At the start of the summer I was definitely repeating," he explained. "But I did better than I thought I would and I've got a place in computers at IT Tallaght." Although students were allowed to bring one adult with them into the viewing room, Mark came alone. "I've got the course I wanted, but if I'd been five points short of a place I might have asked a teacher to accompany me."
One student had marched in announcing he was going for a recheck. He'd failed in three subjects - accounting, French and English. If he was upgraded he could apply for an apprenticeship. He hadn't worked though, he admitted. He left the viewing after only 10 minutes. "It was brutal," he declared. "I can't believe I wrote such rubbish." He disappeared into the rain to decide his next move.
Kevin O'Sullivan spent 1 1/4 hours going over his papers. "I was glad I did it," he reported. "I have a much clearer idea now and I'll definitely go for a recheck." Barry Condron was "pleased enough" with what he saw, but had decided against a recheck even though his teacher had advised him that he had been marked harshly.
On Friday evening and Saturday, 22 of Templeogue College's 110 Leaving Cert students returned to view their scripts. It was estimated that throughout the State 20 per cent of students viewed scripts over the weekend. Educators have been surprised by the low turnout. Earlier, it had been suggested that up to 60 per cent would look at their scripts. However, holidays, satisfaction with results and the fact that only subjects without oral or practical components were on view this year have been cited as reasons for the low turnout.