LEAVING CERT ART HISTORY AND APPRECIATION HIGHER AND LOWER LEVEL:ARTISTIC LICENCE was not an option yesterday as students were confronted with a "very specific and narrowly focused" Leaving Certificate art exam.

The paper, which examined art history and appreciation, counted for just under 40 per cent of the overall art grade.

The art syllabus is almost 40 years old so there is little scope left for surprises, but many students complained that yesterday’s paper didn’t give them an opportunity to show what they knew.

“There was a change in tone from previous years,” said Jane Campbell of ASTI. “Many of the questions sought very specific answers. This course covers art from prehistoric times to the present day.

“That doesn’t give teachers and students much scope to examine specifics.”

Question two asked students to discuss corballing techniques in prehistoric construction.

“Teachers would have mentioned this in class but would not have provided enough information to write about it for 45 minutes,” Ms Campbell added.

More than 11,000 students sat yesterday’s art papers at higher and ordinary levels. More that 60 per cent of the grade has already been awarded for invigilated projects held in May – life drawing, design, craftwork and still life.

Yesterday’s paper offered 20 options from which students could choose three.

Topics included cubism, Georgian architecture and a question examining the visual appeal of the Disney Pixar films, Toy Storyand Up.

The honours rate in 2010 was 80 per cent (40 per cent of candidates got an A or B).

The art syllabus has been reviewed to incorporate more project work but the new course has yet to be implemented.

Maureen Roche of Scoil Aireagail, Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny, said her students were broadly pleased with the higher paper, although some questions “took a little bit of thought”.

The ordinary level paper was fair, Ms Roche added, although Ms Campbell felt that it was “imbalanced” in places.