Leaving Certificate Art: Students hoping for a precise question on the Impressionists got a surprise yesterday as the most popular question on the Leaving Cert Art exam was asked indirectly.

Students looking for the words Monet, Renoir or Degas were instead asked to discuss the innovations in painting in the second half of the 19th century. The question's wording confused many.

Art, which has a high honours rate, is popular in the Leaving with some 10,610 sitting yesterday's exam. It appeals to students that 75 per cent of the marks are awarded before the June exam.

Despite concerns about one question, the overall verdict on yesterday's Art-history and appreciation exam was positive. Teachers said it was a decent paper and easier than previous years.

Jane Campbell of the Asti said ; "A question on galleries was predicted and came up - this accounted for a third of the marks it should have pleased many students."

She said confusion on the Impressionists' question was regrettable but many students did not associate the period mentioned on the paper with the movement.

Yesterdays's written examination involved three sections one each on Irish, European and Art Appreciation in two and half hours.

The majority of art students are still female, but the gap is reported to be narrowing

The modes of assessment include three practical examinations carried out in May.

These are: Life Sketching; Still Life or Imaginative or Abstract Composition/Design or Craftwork.

Yesterdays's written featured three sections: one each on Irish Art, European Art and Art Appreciation in 2½ hours.

Ordinary level, taken by one in four students, was regarded as "routine" except for a a question on Picasso's symbolic war painting Guernica, which would normally appear on the higher paper.