If they'd been asked to spell - as in shirts - students sitting yesterday's higher-level Junior Cert French paper might have been in with a chance. Unfortunately, they had to spell the surname - a name that was less familiar to them.

It was the first time students had been required to spell a word in French in the aural exam and it came as a bit of a surprise according to Ms Mary Costelloe, the TUI's subject representative, who teaches at Shannon Comprehensive School, Co Clare.

While the aural tape was difficult and hard to hear in parts, the rest of the higher and ordinary-level French papers were fine, she reported. They were clear, well laid out and very student-friendly. At ordinary level, however, "students had a lot of material to go through," she noted.

Ms Margaret Le Lu, the ASTI subject convenor, who teaches at Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght, Co Dublin, welcomed the fact that the long passage on the aural tape had been put back to section D. This would prevent weaker students being discouraged at an early stage, she said.

The higher paper was a good one, though difficult in parts, she said. At ordinary level, Ms Le Lu had some quibbles. Section 2, question 5, for example, included the back and front view of a museum ticket. The fact that it resembled one side of a ticket could confuse some students. Question 9 in the same section was more difficult than expected.

Ms Le Lu expressed concern that an increasing number of students were walking out of exams early. "They lack persistence and don't do themselves justice," she said.