By Emily O’Flaherty
This year’s Ordinary Level Paper 1 was a student-friendly exam centred on the theme of “Childhood”. The three Question A tasks were accessible and offered students ample opportunity to demonstrate their comprehension and writing skills.
While a typographical error in the subheading of Text 3 may have caused some initial confusion, it was unlikely to have significantly affected students’ responses.
The Question B section featured a varied range of practical writing tasks, including delivering a talk to final-year students, composing an email to a local business, and creating a short dialogue between a parent and child. These tasks catered to a range of interests and abilities.
The composition section provided further opportunities for personal reflection and creativity. The personal essays, particularly those on the importance of independence and experiences of challenging jobs, were among the most popular choices. Students could also choose from two short stories, a magazine article, a speech, and an opinion piece on being an active and valuable citizen in today’s world.
Overall, it was a highly accessible paper that allowed students to engage confidently and perform to their strengths.
