St. Mary’s Guidance and Counselling Service Subject Choice St. Mary’s Guidance and Counselling Service

How many subjects do students do for the Leaving Certificate? 7 subjects & possibly LCVP 3 of these subjects are English Irish Mathematics St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

How many subjects do students do for the Leaving Certificate? Students choose the remaining 4 subjects St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

St. Mary’s offers 17 subjects What 4 to choose from the available 17 subjects? St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service Subject Groupings Business Studies Group Business, Accounting, Economics Science Group Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agricultural Science Language Group French, Spanish Practical Group Design and Communication Graphics, Construction Studies Arts/Humanities Group Music, Geography, History, Art, Religious Education, Classical Studies St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

What do I need to keep in mind when choosing my subjects? Do I like the subject? Am I good at the subject? Will the subject be useful to me? Is the subject essential for the college I might want to go to or the course I might like to do? St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

Higher Certificate (Level 6) THE THIRD LEVEL LADDER 4 WORK 3 3 WORK 2 2 2 1 1 1 Ordinary Degree (Level 7) Higher Certificate (Level 6) Honours Degree (Level 8) St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service Subject Choice and College Entry 1. Basic Entry Requirements ·   3rd language? 2. Specific Course Requirements ·   Sciences? Language? 3. Selection System · Aptitude Tests, portfolio, audition ·  Leaving Certificate points system St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service Business Studies Group Business, Accounting, Economics Science Group Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agricultural Science Language Group French, Spanish Practical Group Design and Communication Graphics, Construction Studies Arts/Humanities Group Music, Geography, History, Art, Religious Education, Classical Studies St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service The Business Group Business Accounting Economics These subjects are generally not essential for any course You don’t need to have studied one of the Business subjects to go on to study Business/Commerce in college An exception (Accounting is essential for Business-Accounting in NUI, Galway) St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service The Science Group Biology Chemistry Physics Agricultural Science (cannot be presented with Biology as a separate science subject) Geography is accepted as a science subject in TCD & UCD in a limited way St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service The Science Group Science Essential to Maximise Choice in: Medicine Dentistry Veterinary Pharmacy Physiotherapy Radiography Nursing Dietetics (Chemistry essential) Occupational Therapy Speech & Language Therapy Architecture Sports Science Science Engineering Optometry Naval Cadets St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service The Language Group French or 3 languages: Colleges of The National University of Ireland: UCD. , UCC.; NUI, Galway; Maynooth; Shannon College of Hotel Management; NCAD, RCSI. 1 language: DCU; All ITs; TUD,NCI; Private Colleges; Spanish 2 languages: University of Limerick; Trinity College, Dublin; NCAD (once the student has Art for LC). St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service The Practical Group Construction Studies Design and Communication Graphics (nb to have studied Tech graphics for JC) Not essential for any course or college Very useful for Teacher Training for the above subjects, for Architecture and courses related to construction. St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

The Arts/Humanities Group Geography (accepted as a Science subject in TCD & UCD) History Art Classical Studies Religious Education Music St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

Tools to help you pick your subject www.qualifax.ie Minimum subject module http://www.qualifax.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=131&Itemid =213 www.careersportal.ie With this tool you can search each subject to see if it is essential for your chosen college and course interest assessment This is a great site for watching career videos Read about subjects St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service What happens next? Do an interest assessment on www.careersportal.ie or www.qualifax.ie ) Ask your teachers questions Talk to your parents about picking your subjects Use the minimum subject module on www.Qualifax.ie to find out if the subject is an essential subject. Talk to Ms.Deering about your options careers exploration evening What happens next? VSWARE St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS! Do I like the subject? Am I good at the subject? Will the subject be useful to me? Is the subject essential for the college I might want to go to or the course I might like to do? St. Mary's Diocesan School Guidance and Counselling Service

Link Modules/LCVP It is a Leaving Cert subject which combines academic study with a focus on enterprise, further educational opportunities and the world of work. Irish and a course in a modern European Language (unless exempted). Must do a certain combination of other L.C. subjects. Can be used for points in L.C.

Link Modules Assessment The Link Modules are assessed by written examination and portfolio Both Portfolio and written exam completed in May of 6th year before rest of L.C. subjects

Portfolio of Coursework Written Examination Section A - Audio Visual Video sequence of an enterprise Section B - Case Study Received 4 weeks in advance Section C - General Questions Choice of 4 questions from 6 21

Recognised by Universities, DIT and Institutes of Technology Grades Distinction 80 – 100% Merit 65 – 79% Pass 50 – 64% Points Distinction 66 points Merit 46 points Pass 26 points Recognised by Universities, DIT and Institutes of Technology 66 points = H4 60%- 69% on Higher paper 46 points = H6 40%- 49% on Higher paper 46 points = O2 80%- 89% on Ordinary paper 28 points = O4 60%-69% on Ordinary paper 66 points is greater than any grade on Ordinary paper (max 56 points) 22

Available as 8th extra subject Must be taking a Leaving Cert language Class outside timetable so will not interfere with other L.C. subjects Student attempting to maximise points for Third level course Students with suitable combinations will be offered opportunity to do the Link Modules.

ADVANTAGES OF Link Modules Leaving Cert Points Exam early May 60% for portfolio CV, Interviews, Work Experience, Career/course research, Entrepreneurs Education for employability 24