Mr. Aidan Farrell:

I will respond first, after which I will ask Dr. Desmond will contribute. As I indicated to Senator Kelleher, a significant level of media coverage and interest is shown in the lead-up to the State examinations and in their conduct every year. All the main broadsheet newspapers and other newspapers provide daily feedback on how the various examinations went, how students responded to them and what their experience was. If individual candidates or their parents and teachers have concerns, the State Examinations Commission hear about them because the structures we have in place invite feedback.

Dr. Desmond referred to candidates attempting questions in the English examination. The average number of marks awarded in questions on the English paper was not lower for question No. 10 when compared with question No. 1. In other words, candidates scored as strongly at the end of the examination as they did at the start. There is no evidence to show that candidates flagged in any way.