1. Presentation on Subject Choice for Leaving Certificate
Clonakilty Community College
Ger Murphy
Guidance Counsellor

2. Compulsory Subjects All Three Subjects (3)
Irish (Except for those with exemptions)
English
Maths

3. Optional Subjects – Choose 4
French
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Agricultural Science
Art
Geography
History
Business
Accounting
Construction Studies (known as Woodwork for JC)
Engineering (known as Metalwork for JC)
Design and Communication Graphics (known as Tech Graph for JC)
LCVP (Link Modules)

4. IN LCVP, STUDY in CLASS WILL INCLUDE
PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD OF WORK
Students will research and investigate local employment opportunities, develop job seeking skills such as letter writing, CV presentation, interview techniques; gain valuable practical experience of the world of work; interview and work shadow a person in a career area that interests them.
ENTERPRISE EDUCATION
Students will be involved in organising visits to local business and community enterprises; meet and interview enterprising people on site and in the classroom; plan and undertake interesting activities that will build self–confidence, creativity, initiative and develop teamwork, communication and computer skills.
STUDENTS ALSO TYPE UP A PORTFOLIO TO INCLUDE,
Curriculum Vitae – Career Investigation – Enterprise/Action Plan – Summary Report – Diary of Work Experience – Recorded Interview
WRITTEN EXAM 40% (MAY), PORTFOLIO 60%

5. LCVP Points:
Points from LCVP accepted in INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY and UNIVERSITIES since 2004
In 2017 the LCVP will be worth:
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points

6. New Leaving Cert Grades 2017

7. New CAO Points System 2017

8. Leaving Certificate Programme
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.
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.

9. Pick a broad range of subjects in order to keep options open
General Advice
If students are not really sure what they 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.

10. FACTORS INFLUENCING SUBJECT CHOICE
WHAT SUBJECTS DO STUDENTS ENJOY
(THEY WILL WORK BEST AT
THESE SUBJECTS)
ABILITY AND APTITUDE IN THE
SUBJECT
IS THE SUBJECT NECESSARY FOR A
COURSE ENTRY AT THIRD LEVEL?
FRIENDS/ PARENTS/SIBLINGS, ETC
PERCEIVED AS ‘EASY’ OR ‘HARD’
LIKES/DISLIKES THE TEACHER (NOT A GOOD REASON)

11. Ensuring Good Subject Choice
Discuss subject choice with your son/daughter
Students are advised and shown how to do as much research as possible – not all do
Do as much research yourself – excellent resources available
Be realistic – if a student did not like or excel at a subject at JC why would that change at LC

12. Optional Subjects
It is highly desirable that if a student picks a subject for LC that they have taken it to JC, if they have not studied it previously they may be at a considerable disadvantage
If a subject has not been taken to JC it may not be possible to do it for LC – it depends on the subject.

13. How to tell us your subject choice
Go to
Click on VSware icon
Go to Student Options
Click on the box next to each number below and a drop down menu of subjects will appear.
Choose 6 in order of preference
When complete – Options Completed will appear.

14. The National Qualifications Framework

15. ROUTES AFTER SCHOOL
APPLY TO POST LEAVING CERT COURSES (YOU APPLY DIRECTLY TO COLLEGE) eg. ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE, COLLEGE OF COMMERCE, KINSALE COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION
APPLY TO COURSES THROUGH THE CAO (CENTRAL APPLICATIONS OFFICE) UNIVERSITIES AND INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY eg. UCC, CIT, UL, TRINITY, ETC

16. Options after Leaving Cert Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s)
45 Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) covering Universities, Institutes of Technology (IoT’s), Art Colleges, Specialist Colleges and some Private Colleges (Colleges not covered by the Free Fees Scheme)
Applications administered by CAO
Examples are UCC, CIT, UL, WIT
There are approx courses on offer

17. 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.
Students can make the mistake when choosing their subjects of not picking subjects they may specifically need later
Good subject choice allows students to keep options open when other factors have been taken into account such as interest, ability, likelihood of wanting to pursue a course after school
Regardless of how many points a student gets in the LC, they will be ineligible to even apply for a course if they have not met it’s “Course Entry Requirements”

18. Entry to HEI 3 Factors Minimum Entry Requirements
Specific Entry Requirements (may also involve interviews, portfolios etc)
Points

19. Minimum Entry Requirements
There are Minimum Entry Requirements to be met for all HEIs.
Most of these revolve around the core subjects of Irish, English, Maths and a modern continental language
Even within HEIs these differ, so it is important to check them out on the college websites
For example, generally for universities and honours degrees elsewhere, you need 2 H5 (that is at least two subjects over 50% in Higher Level papers) and at least 4 O6/H7 (that is at least 4 40% in Ordinary Level papers) to in some cases include Irish, English, Maths and another language.

20. CONTINENTAL LANGUAGE (French)
SUBJECT REQUIRED FOR ENTRY INTO NUI COLLEGES
(EXEMPTIONS)
NOT REQUIRED FOR NURSING IN ANY OF THE UNIVERSITIES.
NOT REQUIRED FOR ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE DEGREES
IoT’s (LEVEL 6 and 7) DO NOT GENERALLY REQUIRE CONTINENTAL LANGUAGE
UL WILL ACCEPT IRISH AND OR CONTINENTAL LANGUAGE

21. Minimum Entry Requirements of major CAO Colleges
Institution
Minimum grades
Required subjects
NUI Colleges: UCD, NUIM, NUIG, RCSI,
2 H5 + 4 O6/H7
O6 in English, Irish & Modern Language*.
UCC
2 H5 + 4O6/H7
O6 in English, Irish & Modern language*
Trinity College Dublin
3 H5 + 3 O6
O6 in Maths, English & another Language
Dublin City University
O6 in Maths, English or Irish
University of Limerick
O6 in Maths, English & Irish or another Lang.
Cork Institute of Technology
2 H5 + 4 O6/H7 (H.D.)
5 O6 (O.D. or H.C.)
Institutes of Technology (L 8)
(L6/7)

22. SCIENCE SUBJECTS
ONE LABORATORY SCIENCE SUBJECT NEEDED FOR MOST SCIENCE/HEALTHCARE RELATED COURSES
MUST BE BIOLOGY FOR
HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE (TCD)
GENETICS (UCC)
BEAUTY THERAPY (PLC COURSES)
ADVISABLE FOR NURSING
MUST BE CHEMISTRY FOR
DENTISTRY (UCC)
HUMAN NUTRITION AND DIETETICS (DIT)
MEDICINE (UCC)
PHARMACY (UCC and TCD)
VETERINARY MEDICINE (UCD)
ADVISABLE FOR ALL MEDICINE

23. Appliance of Science

24. OTHER SUBJECTS SPECIFIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
BUSINESS, ACCOUNTING, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, DCG, ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE – Generally NOT REQUIRED for basic ENTRY for most courses BUT DESIRABLE if intending to study at Third Level
CHECK THEM OUT on (useful tools - minimum entry –subjects)
ART AND MUSIC- Again generally NOT REQUIRED as basic entry requirement even if intending to study at Third Level BUT PORTFOLIO (ART) or COMPETENCE TEST (MUSIC) required for entry to Third Level Courses

25. The Points System
Only when the Minimum and Specific Entry Requirements have been met do points accumulated in the Leaving Cert come into play to decide who gets a place on a course
The best SIX results in one sitting of the Leaving Cert Exam will be counted for points purposes

26. Important Points
Technical Drawing/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 needed however.
For Business courses, Maths is generally a requirement rather than Business subjects.
Music courses require an audition, not the subject
General subjects like History, Geography can be studied without doing for LC

27. Resources to assist in Subject Choice
(click on students, then subject choice, then on minimum requirements and also choosing a career)
(very comprehensive)
Any of the college websites such as ,etc.
The above and such other sites will give specific information on Third Level courses
Last years Points can be found in these websites also or also on
Information on the % of grades awarded in each subject is available on and gives access to past exam papers
(allows you to see what is involved in the LC subject)

28. Procedures around Subject Choice
TY students/parents/guardians can now indicate what 6 subjects they wish to choose.(4 plus 2 extra) via VSware icon
These subjects should be given in order of preference
The purpose of the open choice is to try to ensure that as many students as possible get as many of their preferred subjects as possible
The school tries to ensure that as many students as possible get their choices but students and parents need to be aware there is no guarantee of getting all their preferred subjects

29. Advice on Subject Choice
Do the research – this is hugely important
Remember that ultimately everyone wants the student to get the best possible results in their Leaving Cert so bear this in mind
Be realistic about ability and possible future course and career choice
Closing date for options is March 31st 2017
Once Y5 begins, students should try and stick with a subject and give it their best as too much uncertainty and indecision may be detrimental in the long term