JUNIOR CERT MUSIC: A badly pitched final question in the Junior Cert music exams hit a bum note with many students after what were fair but testing papers at higher and ordinary level.

General Study, the last question on both the higher and ordinary level papers, allows students to select pieces for individual study within an area of their own interest. The format of the questions has changed this year - teachers said the standard had been completely misjudged for both levels of students.

"The higher level question was very straightforward, but the ordinary level was quite a contrast," Mr Arthur Sealey, of Walton's New School of Music in Dublin, said.

"It was a very demanding question for ordinary level and it just strikes me as odd."

Ordinary level students were asked to imagine they were giving a radio talk about their general study, highlighting features that would attract their listeners' attention. They were also asked how they would introduce one of their pieces. This would be considered "quite demanding" for ordinary level students, Mr Sealey said.

At higher level, students had to elaborate on the statement, "I find the music I have studied interesting because . . ."

Teachers thought this question may have been more appropriate at ordinary level.

Ms Kathryn Fitzgerald, who teaches in Loreto Abbey, Dalkey, also found the final question badly judged. "It was a lot to ask of an ordinary level student."

The higher level question was too general, she said, and may have confused students. "It was a very open question. Students would have been expected to give musical points, not just their own opinions. Kids could get caught out on that."

The rest of the higher level paper was, in general, quite direct, but there were some demanding aspects, Mr Sealey said.

"In question 2c, they were asked to identify tremolo notes; and in 2e, they were asked to refer to musical features. They were difficult aspects to the question."

The format of question 3 was "a bit untidy" he said.

Ms Fitzgerald found questions 2 and 5 testing and said the change in format on question 5 was particularly unhelpful. "Students had a lot of small boxes to tick and the language used was very technical for junior level."

She did, however, like the Irish music question, which was popular with most students, she said.

"All in all, they were good papers, fair but testing. I don't think there'll be any tears over them."