St. Jarlath’s College 2012/2013

Subject Choices for Leaving Cert

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SUBJECTSDO DON’TTake into account your own abilities & choose subjects for which you have an aptitude.

Pick a subject because your friend is doing it.

Chose subjects you like. Take your Junior Cert. grade into account.

Focus on subjects suited to one career only. You may change your mind over the next 2 yrs!

Be aware of essential subjects needed for particular college courses.

Panic! Because you don’t know what you want to be. This will emerge over the next 2 yrs.

Get info from friends, parents, teachers, guidance counsellor, older brothers & sisters. Look at textbooks, exam papers & the internet (www.quliafx.ie)

Pick a subject because you heard it was ‘easy or hard’. This may not be so for you!

HOW MANY SUBJECTS?

Gaeilge English Maths French/?+ + +

1. Physics 6. Accounting 10. Art2. Biology 7. Business 11. Music

3. Agricultural Science

4. Chemistry 8. Geography 12. Design & Comm. Graphics

5. Applied Maths 9. History 13. Construction Studies

4 + 3 = 7

Third Level Courses

LEVEL 8 - Honours DegreesMinimum 3 years, most 4 years

Universities and ITs

LEVEL 7 – Ordinary Degrees3 years

Institutes of Technologies only LEVEL 6 - Higher Certificates2 yearsInstitutes of Technologies only

Progression

THE FRAMEWORK – AWARDING BODIES

HETAC = Higher Education and Training Awards Council

DIT = Dublin Institute of Technology

& IoT

IoT = Institutes of Technology

HETAC = Higher Education and Training Awards Council

DIT = Dublin Institute of Technology

IoT = Institutes of Technology

Getting into CollegeThere Are Three Hurdles To College Entry:

1. Matriculation Requirements: Particular subjects & no.’s of honours/passes required to apply to college/ uni.

2. Subject Requirements: Certain additional subjects/grades may be required to gain entry to specific courses; e.g.- Primary School Teaching: HC3 in Irish

3. Points: 6 best subjects are counted. Max: 625. Change on yearly basis due to supply & demand

NO. & LEVEL OF SUBJECTS REQUIRED

FACULTY REQUIREMENTSSome faculties and courses require specific grades and subjectsEnglish

Higher B in English for Journalism in DCUOrdinary D for Nursing, Gardaí, Cadet

Defence Forces

IrishHigher C for Primary teachingOrdinary D for Nursing, Cadets

SOME OTHER SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS

MathsHigher C in Maths for Level 8 Engineering coursesOrdinary D most courses in ITs, Cadets, Nursing

Foreign LanguageOrdinary D in a Foreign Language for some courses

in NUI Colleges for example ARTS, LAW and COMMERCE

Not needed for Nursing, Engineering, most Science course

No Foreign Language for ITs, TCD, UL, DCU

COURSES THAT NEED A SCIENCE SUBJECT

SCIENCEENGINEERINGMEDICINEDENTISTRYVETERINARY*PHARMACY*PHYSIOTHERAPYRADIOGRAPHYNURSING

ARCHITECTUREOCCUP. THERAPYSPEECH THERAPYSPORTS SCIENCEMED LAB SCIENCEDIETETICS*OPTOMETRYHUMAN NUTRITIONINDUSTRIAL DESIGNINFO. TECHNOLOGY

* Denotes that chemistry is needed for these coursesAll other courses can be applied for with ANY other lab. science

subject

LCVPLink Module 1-Preparation for world of work.Link Module 2-Enterprise Education.Portfolio: 60% Exam: 40% (in May)Recognised for points for IT college &

universities.Participants in the programme are encouraged to

develop skills and competencies fundamental to both academic and vocational success.

Used by 80% of students for points

DISTINCTION: 70 PTS MERIT: 50 PTS PASS: 30PTS

Subject Combination for LCVP

IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE LINK MODULES STUDENTS MUST BE TAKING ANY OF THESE COMBINATIONS:

Vocational Subject Grouping 2012/2013

1. Construction Studies; Engineering; DCG; Technology - Any Two 2. Physics and Construction Studies or Engineering or Technology or DCG 3. Agricultural Science and Construction Studies or Engineering or Technology or DCG 4. Agricultural Science and Chemistry or Physics or Physics/Chemistry 5. Home Ec; Agricultural Science; Biology - Any Two 6. Home Ec and Art 7. Accounting; Business; Economics - Any two 8. Physics and Chemistry 9. Biology and Chemistry or Physics or Physics/Chemistry 10. Biology and Agricultural Science 11. Art and Design & Communication Graphics 12.Engineering or Technology or Construction Studies or DCG and Accounting or Business or Economics 13. Home Ec and Accounting or Business or Economics 14. Agricultural Science and Accounting or Business or Economics 15. Art and Accounting or Business or Economics 16. Music and Accounting or Business or Economics

Leaving Cert Grade

Higher Paper

Lower Paper

Honours Maths

A1 100 60 125A2 90 50 115B1 85 45 110B2 80 40 105B3 75 35 100C1 70 30 95C2 65 25 90C3 60 20 85D1 55 15 80D2 50 10 75D3 45 5 70

* At University of Limerick for Higher Maths

Points and Grades

LCVP-

POINTS! Six best subjects are added

Subject Level Grade Points 1. Irish Higher A2 90 2. English Higher B1 85 3. Maths Higher D1 55 & 25= 80 4. French Higher B3 75 5. Geography Higher C1 70 6. LCVP Common Distinction 70 7. History Ordinary A1 60 8. Biology Ordinary B1 45

This student scored 470 points

How to find out more informationTalk to guidance counsellor/subject teachers

& students doing the subjectLook through textbooks & exam papersCheck in prospectuses for essential

subjects/levelsUse the internet:

www.curriculumonline.iewww.qualifax.iewww.careersportal.iewww.careerdirections.ie

4 QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED

What does the student like and what is the student good at?

What is essential for a possible career?Is there a balance between Arts,

Sciences, Creative & Business?What may be desirable for a possible

career?