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representative of the secondary schools, the technical schools, and the Department did much to ensure that the papers set were of a satisfactory standard and reflected correctly the aspirations of the new programme. The main functions of the Board of Moderators were to assist in the selection of examiners and moderators in the various subjects and to settle differences between the examiners and the moderators in the preparation of the examination papers. There were few problems of any magnitude which had to be decided by the Board of Moderators, and during the initial stages and during the examination itself matters ran smoothly. There was little criticism of the papers set or of their standard, and generally teachers seemed to be well satisfied with the new examination in this, its first year. The system of using supervising examiners, never before in operation in the Department's examinations, proved very successful.. Very largely as a result of this the standard of the marking turned out to be most satisfactory, and even in the case of some subjects in which there were as many as 13 examiners there was a very small range between the highest and the lowest medians returned by different examiners. In only one subject could the range be considered excessive. This satisfactory result can undoubtedly be attributed largely to the good work of the supervising examiners in having preliminary meetings of examiners and in drawing up suitable schemes of marking. I should like here to commend the Examination Branch for the admirable work which it did throughout the whole period of the examination. With the large numbers involved, it is somewhat remarkable and an undoubted tribute to the work of the Examination Branch that no single mistake of any moment was made. The total number of candidates for the examination was 8,300, as compared with 6,693 in 1945. Of these, 200 sat in two subjects for the purposes of University Entrance and 790 sat to complete a partial pass obtained under the old regulations. Of the 4,450 candidates who passed, 632 completed previous partial passes, 50 qualified for Certificates of Attainment only, while 80 others qualified for School Certificates, but were exempt under Regulation 3 (2) of the regulations from taking music and a craft or fine art. For the newly established Special Bursaries Examination there were 200 candidates. Bound up with the new School Certificate Examination is the recognition for this purpose of certain forms in schools not previously recognized for purposes of the School Certificate Examination. This recognition has been granted to Third Forms in those preparatory schools in which provision is made for instruction in the core subjects under the conditions laid down in the Education (Post-primary Instruction) Regulations 1945. (13) Accrediting in University Entrance Accrediting has now completed its third year, although in the first year of operation —l944 —as candidates could qualify for entrance under the old examination, there were comparatively few entries for the new University Entrance Examination —543. Of these, 303 were accredited. The number of entrants has now increased to 3,257, of whom 1,773 were accredited. Of the remainder, 1,443 presented themselves for examination. Of these, 432 passed. With the standard of the new examination one year in advance of that of the old, the large number of candidates for entrance is somewhat surprising and may be taken as an indication not only of an increase in roll numbers, -but also of an increase in the length of the school course. (14) Endorsed and Higher School Certificates The Higher Leaving Certificate was awarded for the last time in 1945, and the Endorsed School Certificate took its place, although, owing to the increased number of subjects on the list for the new School Certificate, many more candidates are in the position to apply for Endorsed School Certificates than were eligible to apply for Higher Leaving Certificates. Air-Endorsed School Certificate is awarded to a candidate who satisfactorily completes a course of instruction of one year in advance of School Certificate. At least two of the subject's which he is presenting must be at an advanced

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