Junior Cert music:The Junior Cert music papers yesterday received "a very positive response" from students and teachers.

Almost 9,500 students sat the exam, and more than three-quarters of the candidates took the subject at higher level.

Over two-thirds of those sitting the exam were female.

Music students had already accounted for 25 per cent of their overall grade with a performance exam earlier in the year. Yesterday's exam tested the listening and composing skills of candidates.

Mary McFadden, ASTI subject representative and a teacher in Loreto, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, said: "The papers were very much along expected lines, and the composing section was very fair. Well-prepared students were happy overall with the paper; it struck the right chord with them."

Well-prepared students were said to have found questions one and two on set songs and set works straightforward yet comprehensive.

"The pictures of Irish instruments in the ordinary level paper were an excellent addition to the paper for students at this level. Indeed, the ordinary level paper was very student-friendly and gave these students a positive experience of the subject," said Ms McFadden.