Senior Cycle Subject Choice Class 2017 - 18 19/09/2018 Senior Cycle Subject Choice Class 2017 - 18

Leaving Certificate Programme 19/09/2018 Leaving Certificate Programme Leaving Certificate is a 2 year programme. Full time commitment required over 2 years. 5th year is very important especially for those hoping to gain entry to high points courses. Usually a maximum of 7 subjects are taken for the Leaving Certificate. An 8th Extra subject? Applied Maths, Music, Ag. Sc., Religion Almost all subjects are of equal importance. 25 extra points will be awarded by the universities and ITs for a score above a H6 Maths (> 40%)

Points System *** new LC 2017 19/09/2018 Points System *** new LC 2017 Honours Points Honours Grade % Bands Ordinary Grade Ordinary Points 100 H1 90 - 100 O1 56 88 H2 80 - 89 O2 46 77 H3 70 - 79 O3 37 66 H4 60 - 69 O4 28 H5 50 - 59 O5 20 H6 40 - 49 O6 12 H7 30 - 39 O7 H8 0 - 29 O8 LCVP POINTS

19/09/2018 Points System *** new 2017 Bonus points H6 or above in Maths  Extra 25 points LCVP points Distinction 66 Merit 46 Pass 28 LCVP POINTS

Sample Calculation Paul Subject Level Grade Score Irish H 3 77 English 1 56 Maths 2 88+25=113 Geography 88 Biology Physics 46 French LCVP C Merit Add the 6 best scores shown in RED Points = 499

Leaving Certificate Programme 19/09/2018 Leaving Certificate Programme Highly Desirable Subjects Unless there is a substantial reason otherwise, all students should definitely consider choosing: a modern language (NUI/UL/TCD) a science subject. Subject Levels Higher and Ordinary level  all subjects. Foundation level Mathematics & Irish. Particular care needs to be taken with Mathematics. Failure in this subject can be detrimental to overall L.C. LC subject selection Core subjects: English, Mathematics & Irish* Optional subjects: Usually 4 other subjects are chosen Business Given the rapidly changing world of business, this subject deals with current day-to-day reality of Business itself. It is a very interesting subject, but requires constant attention to the business pages of the quality newspapers. It looks at how organisations are formed, financed and run. It also explores the services that support businesses such as insurance, banking, transport, marketing and public service bodies such as the IDA, Fáilte Ireland etc. Economics. Economics has a mathematical slant and has a lot of graphic and theoretical work. It explores the inner working of companies, and how they measure their success and progress. At a macro level it examines International Trade, the role of Government and the EU in controlling the economy, competition and markets. This is a good subject for the analytical student. Accounting Students who enjoy the book keeping part of Junior Certificate Business should consider taking Accounting. At Leaving Certificate level, analysis and interpretation of accounts is the core activity. For those with strong numeracy and reasoning skills this can be a very enjoyable and successful subject. Religious Education Religious Education was examined for the first time in 2005, with high grades achieved by the small number of candidates taking this subject. Students are introduced to the dialogue between science and religious in the exploration of meaning and values in our societies. The programme introduces students to both Philosophy and Psychology. Twenty percent of the marks in this subject are awarded for the student’s journal, which is pre-submitted prior to the examination.  Music & Art. Not subjects to be dipped into for the first time at this level. Most students taking either option will be following on from Junior Certificate level. At Leaving Certificate level, Art involves a lot of work on the History and appreciation of Art alongside the normal design and craftwork. Construction Studies, Engineering, Technical Drawing. These practical subjects where available, give students hands on experience working with tools, machinery and physical things like plastics, wood and metal. Students who enjoy working with their hands get to design and make products. Students also have to undertake quite an amount of theoretical and background work for their final examinations.

Optional Subjects (4 from 15) 19/09/2018 Optional Subjects (4 from 15) BUSINESS Business 47 Accountancy 34 Economics 45 SCIENCE Biology 71 Physics 41 Chemistry 31 LANGUAGES French 66 German 50 APPLIED SCIENCES Home Economics 17 Construction Studies 40 Design and Communication Graphics 30 SOCIAL STUDIES History 27 Geography 53 Music 16 Art 35 History. This year is the first time students will be examined in the new curriculum. The balance of the course has moved away from a predominant political emphasis, to encompass both social and cultural history. The identification of evidence and primary sources is central to studying history. Students can now secure up to 20% of the overall marks by pre-submitting a research paper on a selected topic, from a range set out by the State Examinations Commission. Essay writing is central to the programme. Students have to present three essays in their Higher Leaving Certificate paper, plus a documents question. Ordinary level students should benefit from the opportunity to prepare a research question under the revised curriculum. Geography. This subject studies the interrelationship between human activity and the physical environment. It is an extremely wide curriculum, with students having the opportunity to undertake a geographic investigation, which is allocated 20% of the overall marks in the final examination, and is pre-submitted by the end of April in the year of the students leaving certificate. For both Science and Pharmacy at TCD, geography is accepted as a science subject for entry requirements. Continental Languages. The three main elements of the study of modern languages are comprehension, oral and written presentation. Be mindful of the Aural and Oral requirements. There is a strong emphasis now is on the ability to comprehend and converse in the language studied, and this is reflected in the fact, that a third of the final marks awarded, are for Aural and Oral work. Studying a continental language today requires you to culturally immerse yourself in the spoken, written world of its users. Applied Math’s. A very suitable subject for the student taking higher-level Math’s and Physics. Physics. Physics has a strong Maths element and requires the learning off of many formulae. It develops students understanding of many of the ordinary things that surround us such as heat, light, electricity and magnetism. Students must maintain a laboratory book, as there are twenty-seven mandatory experiments, of which four are offered on the leaving certificate paper, with three to be presented. Chemistry Students taking Chemistry, have to learn off the chemical components of a series of prescribed experiments. They will be required to present the elements of four such experiments in their examination. Again, students studying chemistry, develop an understanding of key elements of the world we live in, such as water as well as everything we use wear or consume. Biology Students studying Biology explore the world of all living things from micro-organisms to humans. As with the other science subjects, students undertake twenty-four mandatory experiments, the details of which they record in their laboratory book. It is often perceived as an easier subject than Physics and chemistry, but this is not so, as shown by the high failure rates at ordinary level. Social & Scientific. A combination of Cooking, Home Economics some Biology and a bit of Business. A very interesting subject, but not the easy honours that some imagine. Twenty percent of the marks are awarded for a course work journal, done within normal class time, and pre-submitted in October of 6th year, prior to the written examination. The study of Food Science is a central part of this subject. Students also have the option of studying one of Social Studies, Textiles or Home Design. Information on LC subjects is on the college website under academic, on curriculumonline.ie and careersportal.ie

19/09/2018 Entry Requirements When choosing Leaving Certificate subjects great care must be taken as the choices of subjects made now may determine 3rd level and career options in 2 years time. Why? Regardless of how many points you get in your LC, you will be ineligible to even apply for a course if you have not met it’s “Course Entry Requirements” Meet Entry Requirements  Qualified Applicant for Course

Minimum Entry Requirements of major CAO Colleges Institution Minimum grades Required subjects NUI Colleges: UCD, MU, NUIG, UCC. (RCSI, Shannon) 2H5 + 4O6 O6/H7 in English, Irish & Modern Language*. Trinity College Dublin 3H5 + 3O6 O6/H7 in Maths, English & another Language Dublin City University O6/H7 in Maths, English or Irish University of Limerick O6/H7 in Maths, Eng. & Irish or another Lang. Dublin Institute of Technology 2H5 + 4O6 (H.D.) 5O6 (O.D. or H.C.) O6/H7 in Maths, Eng or Irish Regional Institutes of Technology (DK*)

Specific Course Requirements 19/09/2018 Specific Course Requirements Specific L.C. subjects / grades required for entry to particular courses. They tend to be in the following subject areas: Science subjects Languages Mathematics E.g. Veterinary Medicine in UCD Entry Requirements: 2H5 + 4O6, O6/H7 in English, Irish, Modern Language & Mathematics, H5 in Chemistry. If a student really hates a subject, it is unlikely that they are suddenly going to like it at third level. E.g. a language/science subject.

Sample Requirements Irish French A Language Primary Teaching – H4 Irish & Journalism (DCU) – H4 Early and Modern Irish (TCD) – H4 Gno & Gaeilge (DCU) – O1/H4 French Law with French Law (UCD) – H3 Bus. Studies and French (TCD) – H3 Law and French (TCD) – H3 A Language Many courses require a language but may not specify a particular one: International Tourism & Languages (DIT) – H3 in Ge, Sp, Ir, It, Ch or Fr. Applied Languages (DCU) – H4 in Fr or Ge or Sp. Speech and Language Therapy (TCD) – H4 in En, Fr, Ge, Ir, It, Ru or Sp. Cadet School – O6/H7 in a modern Language.

Sample Requirements Honours Engineering – H4 19/09/2018 Sample Requirements Mathematics Honours Engineering – H4 Business Studies (DCU) – O4/H6 Optometry (DIT) - O3/H7 Economics & Finance (UCD) – H4 Business (TCD) – O4/H6 Science (UCD) – O3/H6 Commerce (UCD) – O3/H6 Economics and Maths Sciences (UL) – H3 Science Particular care needs to be taken with science subjects. Many courses require any one science subject Some courses require 2 science subjects, particularly TCD and UCC. UCAS courses Nursing – O6/H7 in a Lab. Sc. Medical/Para medical courses Chemistry Pharmacy – H4 TCD, H5 UCC Human Nutrition, Veterinary Medicine, Medicine & Dentistry (UCC) – H4 Chemistry not required for Pharmacy in RCSI

Specific Course Requirements Unlikely that you will know exactly, which courses you wish to pursue at this stage. But from looking at your interests, abilities and aptitudes you may be able to identify broad areas of interest and hence check potential course entry requirements. Course Entry Requirements can be accessed: In the college’s prospectuses On the college’s websites Directory of LC Entry Requirements – Careers Office www.qualifax.ie - Subject Requirements It is only when all course entry requirements are met that students are qualified to apply for a course.

General Advice If a you are not really sure what you want to do in the future: Pick a broad range of subjects in order to keep options open Many students will change their minds about their future a number of times in the next 2 years E.g. one language one science one business one humanities / applied science. This combination would allow access into a broad range of courses/careers.

Choosing a Subject DECISION A wise choice of subjects requires: RESEARCH DISCUSSION REFLECTION DECISION L.C. Books, Guidance Classes, Other Students Subject Teachers, Web, TY Prog., Publications Guidance Counsellors, Current Teachers Parents, Friends Consider all the information, views and opinions Then, ultimately each student must make up their own mind.

Choosing a Subject Key Questions What subjects is the school offering? If I’m interested in a particular course/career area, what subjects are essential? ( Course Entry Requirements) If not essential, what subjects would be useful/helpful for this course/career area? (useful vs. points) What subjects do I like? (motivation) (not the teacher) What subjects am I relatively good at? (DATs) (JC)

Important Points DCG/Construction Studies are not needed to do Engineering. Maths and Physics are more important. Art is generally not needed for Art and Design courses. A portfolio is however. For Business courses, Maths is generally a requirement rather than Business subjects. Every student is a unique bundle of interests, abilities and aptitudes, hence they should choose subjects based on these and not current friendships or the opinions of others. Learning vs. understanding subjects. Students should be aware of balancing subjects which help maximise points vs. subjects which may be of benefit to them in the future.

Consequences of poor Subject Choice Student may be quite unhappy in the subject for 2 years and hence motivation will be a recurring issue. Student may not do well in subject and the overall grade may be impacted on. Student may end up not having a subject they need for a particular career/college course they are interested in. In 5th year student may want to change to another subject. We will try to facilitate this where we think it is the best option, however, we may not always be able to do this. Changing a subject 6/8/10 weeks into 5th year has a lot of disadvantages and should be avoided if at all possible.

Newbridge College Draft Subject Options GEOGRAPHY BIOLOGY HOME ECON. MUSIC FRENCH   PHYSICS   ART ECONOMICS DCG CHEMISTRY GERMAN BUSINESS CONS. STUDIES HISTORY  ACCOUNTING

Timetable of Events January – DATs 3rd years 19/09/2018 Timetable of Events January – DATs 3rd years January 30th – Parents Night. February 5th to 9th – Subject Choice Week February 19th – Subject Choice Interviews begin March 2nd – Deadline for submission of application forms for TY. March 22nd – Deadline for final subject choices and commitment to TY. March 26th – Generation of classes begins. After March 22nd deadline there is no guarantee that students will get their selection of subjects.

Procedure During subject choice interview a set of subjects are agreed with student. (on lines and/or preferred) Note brought home to parent outlining agreed subjects. Parents must review, sign and return to G.C. asap. A change may be made to agreed subjects before March 22nd by written request from parents to G.C. After March 22nd changes will only be facilitated if vacancies exist in classes. Important that parents know what subjects their son/daughter is choosing so changes should be accompanied by note from home.