Reaction to 2026 Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science (Higher Level) by Catriona Hendry, Agricultural Science teacher at The 91制片厂.
- Students who knew their beef will be happy
- No potatoes or barley will upset many听
While much of this paper was very logical and approachable, both sections had stiff starts that offered听no comfort for apprehensive听students. Often students flick through the paper looking for quick footholds in the exam, but the question setter clearly wants them to slow down and really read the specifics; to see the wood for the trees.听Several questions had niche preambles or striking window-dressing that could easily discourage a less careful reader, but those who were discerning in parsing out the questions will be fine.听
Section A opens with questions on the environmental impacts of triangular-tracked machinery and photosynthesis to enhance crop production. While a student could potentially logic听out the former, the latter would challenge most.听Perhaps the听most surprising aspect of this section听was three questions on animal diseases in a row.听Though听much of the material will be familiar (previous听papers鈥櫶齦ameness reappears but for dairy cows听now), sometimes the framing of the question was unusual. For example,听not many听students will be aware of Barber鈥檚 Pole Worm and so be instantly dissuaded by Q6鈥檚 diagram, yet the rest of the question was a generalist take on parasites that most would know. As the section progressed the听selection听settled into an array of questions that will be more comfortable for many. Even if students struggled to听identify听the specific breed of beef bull, they could answer听the majority of听the questions. The experiment question was standard and many of the later stages of Section A could be approached with some common sense.听听听
Having made their way through Section A and potentially feeling a little more assured in their performance, students will open Section B to find a marmite question on soil. Lots of students hate this topic but for those who听don鈥檛, this question was nice and straightforward. This means that for many students the first thing they saw in this section was an immediate skip and a limiting of choice for their preferred four out of six. This is then followed by the synoptic Q14 which required them to combine elements of beef,听grassland听and听the clover experiment to cover all the bases. Q15 harkens back to听Section A鈥檚 tough starts as its question on听tech in cattle reproduction was tricky but gave way to an easy diagram task and an analysis of reproductive cycle dates. The latter half of the section moves into much more comfortable areas and styles of question. Q17 was a nice examination of their beef knowledge and included a nice calculation听for听anyone who practiced their past papers听and Q18听was听an听nice take on Genetics without being too technical.听听听
Overall, this was not a paper that rewarded rushers; those who charge headlong into the paper hoping to gather up marks instantly. The question setter wants the students to be more analytical and considerate before the pen ever moves.听