A "TRADITIONAL" paper decided the final 25 per cent of the grade for this year's Junior Cert metalwork students.

Almost 8,000 students sat yesterday's higher and ordinary level papers, deemed to be "standard" by teachers.

"This paper only amounts to a quarter of the grade for metalwork, as students have completed a practical exam and a project already," said Eamonn McAleer of the TUI. "Higher level students designed part of a quad bike earlier in the year, and ordinary level students designed a tractor."

Students with a predilection for design found question two of the higher paper "limiting", but overall the students were happy.

"This paper determines whether students get an A or a B," said Mr McAleer. "Students hoping for the top grade should have had no difficulty getting a straight A out of this."

More than one in four students sat ordinary level. "Extra effort went into the presentation of the ordinary level paper," said Mr McAleer. "There were pictures instead of line drawings, which made the exam more interesting."