Leaving Cert Maths Paper 2 contained 'some curveballs' for higher level

Kenneth Fox

The Higher Level Maths Paper 2 "contained some curveballs" according to Studyclix subject expert Stephen Begley, Head of Maths at Dundalk Grammar School, Co Louth.

He called it “A very fair and decent Higher Level Maths Paper 2 – though it did have some curve balls to get students thinking.

"Whilst Higher Level will always contain some challenge, the questions did not mix topics, and provided good guidance and direction to students on how to start their answers.

“The opening parts to most questions were accessible and students will have gained good marks on these, while latter parts would have certainly stretched student’s ability to problem solve. Those looking to get by in the exam and those also looking for a top grade will certainly be content overall with this paper.

“There was a decent array of questions available in Section A, each focusing on only one topic. Question 1 on Coordinate Geometry of the Line was a lovely opener. Question 2 on The Circle was very fair, with some easy marks available in part (a). Question 3 on Probability was a walk in the park for any Higher Level student.

“Looking a little out of place in the paper given the usually higher complexity of question, Question 4 on Statistics looked at the easier side of Statistics, which may have even been overlooked by students in their revision, though hopefully they ed their Junior Cycle Statistics to get through a very undemanding question.

“Question 5 on Geometry saw a routine congruence proof followed by a question on enlargements that would have been puzzle like for students to figure out. Many may have avoided this.

"Closing the short questions was a lovely Trigonometry question on Trigonometric Equations and a Cosine Rule question, though I imagine the heavily predicted Trig Function question threw many due to its unusual appearance within a modulus function which would have caused some trouble.

“Section B tasked students with answering any three of the four long questions across the usual topics of Area and Volume, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry, Probability, and Statistics. Students would have been delighted to see a Tree Diagram in Question 9 on Probability, which had a lovely part (a) and (b), but certainly got trickier with some abstract combinations in parts (c) and (d).

"The closing question on Statistics took a different format from the usual text heavy and comprehension style question and presented the fan favourites Empirical Rule, Z Scores, Confidence Interval, Hypothesis Test and P-Value, hitting all the main aspects of Statistics.

“Those who prepared for a typical Paper 2 would have been content with this paper which enabled students to showcase their knowledge of the usual core topics in a range of questions. Whilst not without challenging parts of course, the examiner was generous with their questioning style which contained clear instruction and even provided formulas or methods at times.

“As a tale of two halves, the two Maths papers were well balanced in of difficulty, with neither being dominated by challenge. All in all, it’s been a pretty good, fair, and accessible set of exams for Leaving Cert Higher Level Maths students in 2025.”

Leaving Cert Maths Paper 2 (Ordinary)

Commenting on the paper, Studyclix subject expert Stephen Begley said: “The Ordinary Level paper presented a very typical and manageable set of questions spanning the usual suspects of Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry, Statistics, Probability and Area and Volume.

“The short questions in Section A were each focused on a single topic of Statistics, Trigonometry, The Circle, The Line, Geometry and Statistics, while the long questions in Section B focused on Probability, Statistics, Constructions & Enlargements, Trigonometry, and some parts of Area and Volume.

“While the paper was particularly Statistics heavy, those who prepared this regularly featured topic would have been well rewarded with all elements of the area being examined across multiple question.

"Particularly, the Empirical Rule in Q6, Tree Diagram in Question 7, Pie Chart in Question 8 and decent Trigonometry question in Question 10 would have given students plenty of marks to boost their confidence in the exam.

“Whilst the tail end of questions were not without their stings, the opening parts provided good space for students to gather marks. Overall, students could play to their strengths topic wise in this rather fair and approachable Paper 2.”