Letters

Unfair grading at junior cycle

Percentage of distinctions is not an accurate reflection of student ability

Tue Oct 24 2023 - 02:15

Sir, – It strikes me as rather unfair that fewer than 4 per cent of candidates achieve a distinction in any subject at junior cycle. Yet 23 per cent of university students on average achieve a first-class honours in their final degree examinations.

Could it be that the State Examinations Commission is expecting higher standards from 15 year olds than Irish universities are expecting from more mature and experienced students? Whatever happened to the mantra: “Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí”? – Is mise le meas,

SEÁN Ó BRIAIN,

Deepforde,

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Drogheda.

Sir, – Not for the first time, Breda O’Brien speaks the truth, this time in relation to junior cycle assessment (”What is going on with bizarre grade deflation in the junior cycle?” Opinion, October 21st). She rightfully rebukes the common-level papers that are not fit for purpose, the policy to cluster results around the merit mark (55-75) and the bizarre distribution of higher grades.

The percentage of distinctions of 2-4.6 per cent in most subjects is not an accurate reflection of student ability or potential, rather an in-built system protection against the charge that the junior cycle has been “dumbed down”.

Some subjects bring additional challenges. Students sitting the junior cycle geography paper in June 2023, for example, were advised that not all questions carried equal marks, but were not told how many marks each question carried.

Also unfair is the enhanced difficulty for the student wishing to appeal results. Appeals applications will be accepted only from the school principal and not from students or their parents, with each appeal costing the student ¤32 per subject.

Overall, what is now apparent and alarming is the number of students, teachers and parents who simply don’t believe in the junior cycle. Blunders were made in its introduction with undue attention paid to the biggest barriers to reform – lack of time, lack of resources and the scale of the changes.

This does not bode well for the review and development of senior cycle. – Yours, etc,

JOHN MCHUGH,

Principal,

Ardscoil Rís,

Dublin 9.