Some students who began the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Northern Region have expressed optimism about the papers.

According to them, Monday's papers were not as difficult as they had anticipated.

Candidates who spoke with JoyNews after the second paper said they are confident they will excel if the subsequent papers follow a similar trend.

The excited students said they received pep talks from their teachers ahead of the examination and that served as motivation for them believing that they will make their teachers and parents proud.

Students from Good Shepherd School Complex said the papers fell short of what they had expected adding that their school mocks were tougher than what they wrote.

They said initially they felt nervous about the exams but concluded that is just like any other school exam. after the second paper.

Others from the Tamale Presby JHS said they looked forward to difficult questions but it turned out the opposite, reiterating their optimism they will excel.