Mr. Tony Donohoe:

I am not sure I fully agree that exam questions have a right and wrong answer. In mathematics, for example, marks are attributed with an emphasis on showing your working out and how far you take the question. Marks are assigned for that. We have mentioned the humanities, history, English etc. In those subjects, it is around how the arguments are developed. The answer might be wrong but critical thought processes may be demonstrated. Dr. Freeman has mentioned problem-solving in science. If you have demonstrated an ability to think critically in your answer, you should and in some instances do get marks assigned for that, rather than for ending up with the right or wrong answer.

I do not want that to sound like a defence of terminal exams, though I think they have a value. The problem with the leaving certificate system is that it is predominantly about the terminal exam, which skews the system. That does not apply to all subjects. History has projects. I always thought home economics was a really good subject at leaving certificate level with multiple methods of assessment. Still, the system generally is skewed by this one, high-stakes exam, which, I would argue, is more stressful than continuous assessment.