The aural-skills question on the listening paper struck a sour note with higher-level music students.

Mr Christopher Kinder, chairman of the Post-Primary Music Teachers Association, said it was worth 20 per cent of the paper and was allocated only six minutes, compared to the Irish music question, worth 25 per cent and allocated 31 minutes. He said there were inaccuracies in notation, with part B written at the wrong pitch, and also inaccuracies in terminology ("glissando" and "slide").

A spokesman for the Department of Education said any association or individual could make a complaint to the chief examiner of the subject. Anything that disadvantaged students would be taken into account in the marking.

Ms Kathryn Fitzgerald, who teaches in Loreto Abbey, Dalkey, Co Dublin, said the listening tape was beautiful, except higher-level question 6. "Students didn't have time to catch a breath, never mind answer a question."

Mr Ben Murray, who teaches in Alexandra College, Dublin, agreed. On the composition paper, students in Alexandra College did question 1, a little more specific than last year, and question 5, quite challenging, he said.

Ms Fitzgerald praised the layout of the paper and said the melody questions were nice if a little challenging. Mr Kinder said the higher-level paper was challenging but fair, while the ordinary-level paper was well pitched.