Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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552. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason students are now required to answer all the questions on the mathematics paper in the junior certificate examination, and no longer have a choice of questions, and her views and concerns (details supplied) regarding same. [6103/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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There has not been a choice on the Junior Certificate Mathematics examination papers since 2003, when the revised syllabuses (introduced in 2000) were first examined. One of the principles on which assessment of that course was based was that 'full coverage of both knowledge and skills should be encouraged'. Evidence from candidates' scripts under previous examination arrangements indicated that some parts of the course were not being addressed in teaching and learning. The removal of choice in the examinations from 2003 sought to ensure that the whole course was studied. Since the vast majority of students proceed to senior cycle, where almost all study mathematics, it was seen as important that their study of mathematics in the junior cycle would lay an appropriate foundation for progression to subsequent study of the subject at senior cycle.

In the revised syllabuses introduced under the Project Maths initiative, this position was maintained. Given the inter-relatedness of the various syllabus strands and the requirement for students to integrate knowledge and skills from across the syllabus when solving problems – of a mathematical nature, as well as problems set in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts – it is important that all topics on the course are studied by all students, regardless of syllabus level. Furthermore, the absence of choice allows for questions of varying length and complexity to be included in the examination papers and removes the need for all questions to be of equal difficulty in terms of the challenge they present to candidates and the time taken for their completion.