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Junior Cycle Music: Writing a melody

How often Writing a melody comes up on the Music papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

CL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Common Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Writing a melody, Common Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Writing a melody.

(a)In a major key, which note should a melody end on so that it sounds finished?
  1. Soh, the fifth note
  2. Doh, the keynote
  3. Te, the seventh note
(b)Why should a well-written melody mix steps with a few leaps?
  1. Because steps are not allowed at cadences
  2. To make every bar sound exactly alike
  3. For interest, while staying singable
(c)When writing an answering phrase, a good way to connect it to the opening phrase is to…
  1. Reuse its rhythm or opening idea
  2. Use as many big leaps as possible
  3. Change key and tempo straight away
Show the answers

(a) Doh, the keynote

(b) For interest, while staying singable

(c) Reuse its rhythm or opening idea

Your turn: Common Level questions on Writing a melody.

Common Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Common Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q5c
2025Q4e
2024Q5c
2023Q5c
2022Q4b

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

Other Music topics

All of Junior Cycle Music