Subject Choice And The Leaving Certificate

A Time to Choose…

Remember Things that are important when choosing a subject: Things that are important when choosing a subject: 1. Aptitude/Ability & 2. Interest

National Framework Of qualifications The framework is a structure of levels, designed to bring an increased clarity to the meaning of each type of qualification, allowing qualifications to be compared easily The framework is a structure of levels, designed to bring an increased clarity to the meaning of each type of qualification, allowing qualifications to be compared easily The framework comprises TEN levels The framework comprises TEN levels

National Framework of Qualifications

Post-Leaving Certificate Qualifications PLC- Certificate PLC- Certificate Higher Certificate Higher Certificate Ordinary Degree Ordinary Degree Honours Degree Honours Degree Postgraduate Diploma Postgraduate Diploma Masters Masters Doctorate Doctorate 1 yr- level 5 1 yr- level 5 2 yrs- level 6 2 yrs- level 6 3 yrs- level 7 3 yrs- level yrs- level yrs- level 8 2 yrs- level 9 2 yrs- level yrs- level yrs- level 9 Up to 5 yrs- level 10 Up to 5 yrs- level 10

Grading System Changes in Senior Cycle Junior Certificate Grade % A A B70-84 B70-84 C55-69 C55-69 D40-54 D40-54 Leaving Certificate Grade % A A A A B B B B B B C C C C C C D D D D D D

Points Allocation GradeHigherOrdinaryBonus GradeHigherOrdinaryBonus H Maths

Higher Level Mathematics From 2012 to 2015 inclusive 25 bonus points will be awarded to students who achieve a D3 or above in Higher Level Mathematics From 2012 to 2015 inclusive 25 bonus points will be awarded to students who achieve a D3 or above in Higher Level Mathematics This means that the maximum Leaving Cert points will then be 625. This means that the maximum Leaving Cert points will then be 625.

Minimum Entry Requirements These are the basic grades a student needs to achieve in certain subjects in their Leaving Certificate These are the basic grades a student needs to achieve in certain subjects in their Leaving Certificate Different universities have different minimum entry requirements Different universities have different minimum entry requirements

Colleges of NUI UCD UCD UCC UCC NUI Maynooth NUI Maynooth NUI Galway NUI Galway

NUI Colleges Minimum Entry Requirements to Degree Courses Level 8 (NUI) Level 8 (NUI) 2HC3 and passes in four additional Subjects 2HC3 and passes in four additional Subjects Passes in Passes in Irish Irish English English Mathematics Mathematics Second Language Second Language And two additional subjects And two additional subjects

TCD Colleges Minimum Entry Requirements to Degree Courses For all Level 8 Degrees at Trinity College For all Level 8 Degrees at Trinity College 3HC3 + 3 passes which must include 3HC3 + 3 passes which must include English English Mathematics Mathematics A Second Language A Second Language And three additional Subjects And three additional Subjects

Dublin City University University of Limerick & the Institutes of Technology 2HC3 and four passes to include 2HC3 and four passes to include English/Irish English/Irish Mathematics Mathematics And four additional subjects And four additional subjects

Minimum Entry Requirements Again, different universities have different minimum entry requirements Again, different universities have different minimum entry requirements Students need to check college prospectus Students need to check college prospectus

Ordinary Degrees Level 7 & Higher Certificate Level 6 Institutes of Technology including Dublin Institute of Technology Institutes of Technology including Dublin Institute of Technology Trinity College: Dental Nursing – Level 6 Dental Nursing – Level 6 Dental Hygiene- Level 7 Dental Hygiene- Level 7

Minimum Entry Requirement For Level 6 & 7 are 5 or 6 Passes to include: For most courses Irish or English Irish or English Mathematics Mathematics And three additional subjects And three additional subjects ( Some level 7s require a min number of points eg 200 for DKIT) ( Some level 7s require a min number of points eg 200 for DKIT)

Entry Requirements for Level 5 PLC Courses 5 passes in the Leaving Certificate 5 passes in the Leaving Certificate Interview (in most cases) Interview (in most cases) Some require samples of work/ further assessments. Some require samples of work/ further assessments.

Planning on going to College.. Students must satisfy 3 requirements to obtain a place on a third level course 1. Minimum Entry Requirement/ College Requirement 2. Faculty requirement 3. The Points Requirement

Faculty Requirement These are certain subjects and/or grades in subjects you must achieve in the Leaving Certificate in order to pursue a particular course e.g. These are certain subjects and/or grades in subjects you must achieve in the Leaving Certificate in order to pursue a particular course e.g. HC3 in Irish to study Primary Teaching; HC3 in Irish to study Primary Teaching; Medicine requires 2 science subjects or 1 science and honours maths in place of physics in TCD Medicine requires 2 science subjects or 1 science and honours maths in place of physics in TCD

Points Requirement Once the Minimum Entry Requirement and Faculty Requirement have been satisfied then…… Once the Minimum Entry Requirement and Faculty Requirement have been satisfied then…… Places Are then awarded on Merit- The Points Requirement Places Are then awarded on Merit- The Points Requirement

All Subjects are Equal In terms of entry to third level colleges In terms of entry to third level colleges Almost all subjects count equally in terms of points (except Honours Maths) Almost all subjects count equally in terms of points (except Honours Maths) For Example an A in Art is worth the same points as an A in Physics, for engineering! For Example an A in Art is worth the same points as an A in Physics, for engineering! One might be more useful but they both score the same One might be more useful but they both score the same

Why seven subjects? CAO (Central Application Office) Award points based on the Award points based on the best SIX subjects best SIX subjects The Seventh subject can be a safety net The Seventh subject can be a safety net& Timetable is structured on all students studying seven subjects Timetable is structured on all students studying seven subjects

Why Irish, English, Maths and a Language? The NUI (National University of Ireland) has a specific requirement that each student must have a minimum 2HC3 and four additional passes. The NUI (National University of Ireland) has a specific requirement that each student must have a minimum 2HC3 and four additional passes. They must have passes in Irish, English, Mathematics and a foreign language (except for Science/ engineering / Ag Science courses) They must have passes in Irish, English, Mathematics and a foreign language (except for Science/ engineering / Ag Science courses) Therefore, Loreto College, offer these subjects as Core Therefore, Loreto College, offer these subjects as Core

Core Subjects All students will study the following core subjects Irish Irish English English Mathematics Mathematics French or Spanish French or Spanish Physical Education Physical Education Non-exam Religious Education Non-exam Religious Education I.T. I.T.

Senior Cycle Modules Careers Careers Study Skills Study Skills Drama Drama R.S.E. (Relationship & Sexuality Education) R.S.E. (Relationship & Sexuality Education)

Geography Geography History History Design & Communication Graphics Design & Communication Graphics Home Economics Home Economics Art Art Music Music Biology Biology Chemistry Chemistry Physics Physics Accounting Accounting Business Business Religious Education Religious Education In addition they must choose 4 subjects from the following list- 3 given

Different subject areas Languages French (Core) & Spanish (Core) Students must have studied a language for Junior Certificate if they wish to study it for the Leaving Certificate.

Science Subjects Chemistry Chemistry Biology Biology Physics Physics

Business Studies Subjects Accounting Accounting Business Business

Applied Science Subjects Design & Communication Graphics Design & Communication Graphics Home Economics Home Economics

Social Studies Subjects History History Geography Geography Religious Education Religious Education Music Music Art Art

Science Requirement Most colleges requiring a science subject only require one Most colleges requiring a science subject only require one Trinity College, UCC and DIT have specific requirements Trinity College, UCC and DIT have specific requirements Physiotherapy in TCD need two science subjects Physiotherapy in TCD need two science subjects

Pharmacy Level 8 Pharmacy in TCD requires a HC3 in Chemistry and a HC3 in another science subject or maths or geography Pharmacy in TCD requires a HC3 in Chemistry and a HC3 in another science subject or maths or geography Pharmacy in RCSI requires a HB3 in a Science Subject Pharmacy in RCSI requires a HB3 in a Science Subject

Engineering Level 8 UCD HC3 Mathematics HC3 Mathematics A Science Subject – min HD3 A Science Subject – min HD3Nursing Nursing requires a science subject Nursing requires a science subject

Closing Doors Not choosing a science subject can close doors at this stage. Not choosing a science subject can close doors at this stage. Find out the specific requirements needed for your area of interest. Find out the specific requirements needed for your area of interest.

Qualifax –

Common Questions? Accounting Accounting Do I need to study Accounting in order to be an Accountant? Do I need to study Accounting in order to be an Accountant?

Languages Do I Need to have previously studied Spanish to take it in College? Do I Need to have previously studied Spanish to take it in College? No. Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian and Chinese can all be taken at beginners level No. Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian and Chinese can all be taken at beginners level A minimum level is required for most other language courses A minimum level is required for most other language courses For example; Business and French in DCU requires HC3 in French. For example; Business and French in DCU requires HC3 in French.

Architect Do I need Design and Communications Graphics to study Architecture? Do I need Design and Communications Graphics to study Architecture? No and a laboratory Science Subject is no longer required for UCD (since 2011) No and a laboratory Science Subject is no longer required for UCD (since 2011)

Remember What is important when choosing a subject: What is important when choosing a subject: 1. Aptitude/Ability & 2. Interest

But most importantly…. Choose subjects that you ENJOY Choose subjects that you ENJOY If you enjoy the subject the POINTS will come If you enjoy the subject the POINTS will come

What should I do next? Check out college Prospectuses or job descriptions before making your choice. Check out college Prospectuses or job descriptions before making your choice. Visit relevant websites Visit relevant websites

What to do next…. Research Research Subject Choice forms need to be into the general office of the school by Friday 21 st March Subject Choice forms need to be into the general office of the school by Friday 21 st March Questions? Questions?