1. SUBJECT CHOICE FOR SECOND YEAR
INFORMATION NIGHT
TUESDAY FEB 7th 2017
DEIRDRE GRIFFIN
GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR

2. PURPOSE OF TALK GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF EXAMS AT SECOND LEVEL
TO GIVE A BRIEF OUTLINE OF EACH OPTIONAL SUBJECT FOR JUNIOR CYCLE.
TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF JUNIOR CYCLE SUBJECT CHOICE UPON FUTURE CHOICES AT SENIOR CYCLE.
TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF SUBJECT LEVEL ON FUTURE ATTAINMENT.
TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF SUBJECT CHOICE FOR JUNIOR CYCLE IN KCS
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3. OVERVIEW OF SECOND LEVEL
JUNIOR CERT (TRANSITIONAL PERIOD)
THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH SENIOR CYCLE IS BUILT
11 SUBJECTS EXAMINED – BROAD STUDY
SCIENCE, BUSINESS,(REVISED COURSE) ARE TAUGHT AND EXAMINED AT ‘COMMON LEVEL’
ENGLISH (REVISED COURSE) TAUGHT AT COMMON LEVEL (CHOSE H/O PAPER)
IRISH – HIGHER/ORDINARY/FOUNDATION
MATHS AT HIGHER/ORDINARY LEVEL
ALL OTHER SUBJECTS AT HIGHER OR ORDINARY LEVEL
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4. MARKING SYSTEM FOR JUNIOR CERT EXAMINATION GRADES
Percentage Range
Grade
85 or over A
70 but less than 85 B
55 but less than 70 C
40 but less than 55 D
25 but less than 40 E
10 but less than 25 F
Less than 10
No Grade
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5. ROUTES TO LEAVING CERTIFICATE
Applied
LCA1
LCA2
1 Yr
2 Yr
3 Yr
4 Yr
LC1
LC2
Established
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6. SENIOR CYCLE (LCA, LCE) LEAVING CERT EST. 7 SUBJECTS STUDIED/EXAMINED
MORE INDEPTH STUDY
IRISH AND MATHS AT HIGHER, ORDINARY, FOUNDATION LEVEL
ALL OTHER SUBJECTS HIGHER OR ORDINARY LEVEL
6 BEST RESULTS ADDED FOR POINTS FOR ENTRY TO THIRD LEVEL
SPECIFIC COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PLUS POINTS = ENTRY IN TO COURSE
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7. CHANGES TO THE LC GRADING SYSTEM
Higher Level % Grade Ordinary Level % Grade
H1 (90-100) O1 (90-100)
H2 (80 < 90) O2 (80 < 90)
H3 (70 < 80) O3 (70 < 80)
H4 (60 < 70) O4 (60 < 70)
H5 (50 < 60) O5 (50 < 60)
H6 (40 < 50) O6 (40 < 50)
H7 (30 < 40) O7 (30 < 40)
H8 (0 < 30) O8 (0 < 30)

8. NEW COMMON POINTS SCALE
Higher Level Grade
Points
Ordinary Level Grade H1
100 H2 88 H3 77 H4 66 H5 56 O1 H6 46 O2 H7 37 O3 H8 O4 28 O5 20 O6 12 O7 O8
IMPORTANT CHANGE
GRADE H7
(HONS 30%- 40%)
WILL EARN POINTS
IN NEW SYSTEM
HONOURS MATHS
25 BONUS POINTS WILL CONTINUE BE AWARDED IN FOR HIGHER LEVEL MATHEMATICS, AT GRADES H6 AND ABOVE
________________

9. IS THE JUNIOR CERT IMPORTANT?
YES! BECAUSE….
OFFERS STUDENTS BROAD PLATFORM FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE FOR SENIOR CYCLE
INLUENCES CHOICE OF PROGRAMME (LCA OR LEAVING CERT ESTABLISHED )
INFLUENCES SUBJECT CHOICES FOR LEAVING CERT
INFLUENCES SUBJECT LEVELS FOR LEAVING CERT
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10. CORE SUBJECTS IN KCS FOR JC
ENGLISH (REVISED COURSE)
IRISH (unless DES exempt)
MATHS
EUROPEAN LANGUAGE:
FRENCH/GERMAN
(unless DES exempt)
HISTORY
GEOGRAPHY
RELIGION
SCIENCE
C.S.P.E.
P.E.
S.P.H.E.
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11. SUBJECT LEVELS AND CLASSES AT KCS
IRISH, AND MATHS ARE DIVIDED NEXT YEAR INTO HIGHER LEVEL (HL) AND ORDINARY LEVEL (OL) CLASSES
ENGLISH NOT DIVIDED
FRENCH/GERMAN ALSO DIVIDED INTO LEVELS
ALL OTHER SUBJECTS ARE TAUGHT IN MIXED-ABILITY CLASSES
STUDENTS TO STUDY SUBJECTS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL THAT THEY CAN
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12. SCIENCE IN JUNIOR CERT (REVISED)
CLASS BASED ASSESSMENTS (PROJECT IN Y2) WRITTEN EXAM (COMMON LEVEL)
JUNIOR CERT SCIENCE
SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT
BIOLOGY
CHEMISTRY
PHYSICS
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
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13. SCIENCES AND UNIVERSITY/IOT COURSE ENTRY
ONE LAB SCIENCE COURSE NEEDED FOR ENTRY INTO MOST SCIENCE AND HEALTH RELATED COURSES
SCIENCE ESSENTIAL FOR THE FOLLOWING SCIENCE RELATED DEGREES
ENGINEERING (UNI) MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SPORTS SCIENCE
SPEECH THERAPY GENETICS
DIETETICS OPTOMETRY
NURSING DENTISTRY
VETERINARY PHARMACY
PHYSIOTHERAPY RADIOGRAPHY
BEAUTY THERAPY
POST LEAVING CERT COLLEGE COURSES – BASIC SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE FOR COURSES LIKE, PHARMACY ASSISTANT, VETERINARY NURSING, ANIMAL CARE, MOTOR MECHANICS, FOOD SCIENCE, SPORTS COURSES,NUTRITION, HEALTH, SPORTS INJURY ETC
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14. OPTIONAL SUBJECTS AT KCS TWO SUBJECTS FROM LIST BELOW TO BE STUDIED
BUSINESS STUDIES*
IT (CODING/ DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY)*
TECHNICAL GRAPHICS
WOODWORK
METALWORK
MUSIC
ART
HOME ECONOMICS
WHEN FILLING OUT OPTIONS FORM, LIST THREE SUBJECTS IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE &
WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO ALLOW YOU TO STUDY 2 OF THE SUBJECTS YOU HAVE CHOSEN.
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15. BUSINESS STUDIES IN JUNIOR CERT (REVISED) COMMON PAPER EXAM 90%/CLASS BASED ASSESSMENTS 10%
AT JUNIOR CERT THIS SUBJECT
PERSONAL FINANCE – (BASIC ACCOUNTING, LEARN HOW TO COLLECT/ORGANISE/RECORD DATA
ENTERPRISE – UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINANCIAL, MARKETING AND OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS OF AN ORGANISATION, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE WORKPLACE
OUR ECONOMY – UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS, UNDERSTSANDING OF BASIC ECONOMIC CONCEPTS AS THEY RELATE TO PERSONAL FINANCE, ENTERPRISE AND THE IRISH ECONOMY
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16. SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT
JUNIOR CERT BUSINESS
SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT
ACCOUNTING
BUSINESS
ECONOMICS
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17. BUSINESS OPTIONS AT LEAVING CERT
1) ACCOUNTING
JUNIOR CERT BUSINESS AN ADVANTAGE.
NEEDS TO HAVE AN APTITUDE FOR MATHS.
USEFUL FOR ALL BUSINESS CAREERS.
2) BUSINESS
JUNIOR CERT AN ADVANTAGE.
INVOLVES LEARNING ABOUT GENERAL BUSINESS /ECONOMICS PRINCIPLES.
USEFUL FOR ALL GENERAL BUSINESS CAREERS.
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18. TECHNICAL GRAPHICS FOR JUNIOR CERT HL 3HR PAPER/OL 2.5 HR PAPER
AT JC LEVEL THIS SUBJECT INVOLVES LEARNING HOW TO PRODUCE DRAWINGS USING COMPUTERS (CAD), CREATE 3D MODELS, LEARN HOW TO READ AND INTERPRET DRAWINGS AND DIAGRAMS, LEARN HOW GRAPHICS RELATE TO THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCTS
APTITUDE NEEDED
FOR LC, TECH GRAPHICS BECOMES DESIGN & COMMUNICATION GRAPHICS WITH 60% FOR A 3 HR EXAM AND 40% FOR A CAD PROJECT COMPLETED BY FEB OF Y6.
GOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION, GRAPHIC DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, GENERAL DESIGN AND ENGINEERING CAREERS, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ETC
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19. WOODWORK FOR JC 60% FOR PROJECT & 40% FOR WRITTEN PAPER (H/O 2HR PAPER)
IN WOODWORK STUDENTS LEARN THE SKILLS REQUIRED TO USE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO DESIGN AND PRODUCE WOOD PRODUCTS. STUDENTS ALSO LEARN ABOUT WOOD AS A MATERIAL AND HOW IT IS PRODUCED.
PRACTICAL APTITUDE IS NEEDED.
FOR LC (CONSTRUCTION STUDIES) IT IS A BIG ADVANTAGE TO HAVE IT STUDIED TO JC LEVEL.
AT LC 25% GIVEN FOR A PROJECT, 25% GIVEN FOR A 4 HR PRACTICAL, AND 50% GIVEN FOR AN EXAM COMPRISING OF WRITING AND DRAWING.
USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN CARPENTRY, ENGINEERING, QUANTITY SURVEYING, CONSTRUCTION, AND TRADES.
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20. METALWORK FOR JC 25% GIVEN FOR WRITTEN EXAM (OL 1. 5 HR, HL 2HR) 37
METALWORK FOR JC 25% GIVEN FOR WRITTEN EXAM (OL 1.5 HR, HL 2HR) 37.5% FOR PROJECT, 37.5% FOR 3 HOUR PRACTICAL
IN THIS SUBJECT AT JC LEVEL STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO USE A WIDE VARIETY OF TOOLS AND MACHINES TO SHAPE, CUT AND JOIN METAL MATERIALS. THEY LEARN HOW TO READ AND FOLLOW TECHNICAL DRAWINGS CORRECTLY WHILE ALSO LEARNING ABOUT THE PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT METALS.
APTITUDE IS NEEDED.
AT LC METALWORK IS KNOWN AS ENGINEERING AND IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO HAVE COMPLETED JC METALWORK.
AT LC 50% GIVEN FOR WRITTEN EXAM, 25 % FOR THE PROJECT, 25% FOR 6 HR PRACTICAL.
USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN ENGINEERING, MECHANICS, APPRENTICESHIPS, INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND ALL TECHNOLOGY RELATED CAREERS.
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21. MUSIC FOR JC 75% FOR WRITTEN PAPER (OL & HL 2HR) 25% FOR THE PRACTICAL (SING/PLAY 4 PIECES)
APTITUDE IS NEEDED INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO LEARN TO READ MUSIC.
NEED TO BE INTERESTED.
FOR LC IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE JC MUSIC STANDARD.
FOR LC 50% GIVEN FOR PRACTICAL (PLAY 4 PLUS 4 TWO DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS (MUSIC TECHNOLOGY/MUSIC) OR 6 PIECES ON ONE INSTRUMENT) AND 50% FOR WRITTEN.
USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN ENTERTAINMENT, PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHING, MULTIMEDIA, ORCHESTRA ETC.
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22. ART FOR JC NO WRITTEN EXAM BUT A DRAWING EXAM IN EARLY MAY GETS 25% AND PRACTICAL PROJECT (8 PIECES) GETS 75%
AT JC LEVEL STUDENTS WILL LEARN A VARIETY OF NEW CRAFTS INCLUDING LEARNING TO WORK IN 3- D E.G. SCULPTURE OR CLAY WORK. ALSO SOME ART HISTORY.
AN APTITUDE IS NEEDED – IMPORTANT NOT TAKEN AS AN ‘EASY’ SUBJECT.
AT LC LEVEL IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO HAVE ART TO JC AND IS A DEMANDING LC SUBJECT.
AT LC LEVEL 38% GIVEN FOR WRITTEN PAPER (ART HISTORY) AND 62% GIVEN FOR 3 PRACTICAL EXAMS ON STILL LIFE, CRAFTWORK AND LIFE DRAWING.
USEFUL FOR FASHION, ADVERTISING, MEDIA, ARCHITECTURE, AND DESIGN CAREERS.
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23. HOME ECONOMICS FOR JC 15% GIVEN FOR A CRAFT PROJECT, 35% FOR PRACTICAL COOKERY AND 50% FOR WRITTEN EXAM
AT JC LEVEL STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT BIOLOGY, HEALTH AND NUTRITION, FOOD PREPERATION AND COOKERY, MANAGING MONEY AND HOME AND CONSUMER RIGHTS. THEY WILL CARRY OUT A PROJECT IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING -DESIGN AND CRAFTWORK, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, TEXTILES
BE AWARE OF GENDER BIAS AS HOME ECONOMICS IS A USEFUL AND PRACTICAL SUBJECT.
FOR LC IT IS AN ADVANTAGE TO HAVE JC HOME ECONOMICS COMPLETED.
AT LC 20% GIVEN FOR PRACTICAL COOKERY AND 80% FOR WRITTEN EXAM.
SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN HOME MANAGEMENT, COOKING AND CRAFTS, BIOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY
USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN CULINARY ARTS, TOURIST INDUSTRY, CHILDCARE, SOCIAL SCIENCES. FASHION AND SOCIAL CARE/WORK CAREERS.
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24. IT- CODING/ DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY
2 ‘SHORT COURSES’ IS THE EQUIVALENT TO 1 ‘SUBJECT’
2 DOUBLES PER WEEK (SAME TIME AS OTHER OPTIONS)
SAME TEACHER TEACHES BOTH DOUBLES
ROUTE TO COMPUTER SCIENCE AS A LC SUBJECT
MUST HAVE AN INTEREST IN/ APTITUDE FOR IT
1 CLASS ONLY- MAX 30 PUPILS (RANDOM SELECTION IF OVERSUBSCRIBED)
NO TERMINAL ASSESSMENT, CONTINUOUS ONLY
RESULT WILL APPEAR ON THE JC ‘PROFILE OF ACHIEVEMENT’
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25. CODING AT THE NEXT LEVEL – MORE COMPLEX CODING DIGITAL MEDIA LITERCY
COMPUTER SCIENCE INTRO – UNDERSTANDING OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE… LEARNING TO WRITE, TEST AND EVALUATE CODE
GETTING CONNECTED – STORAGE AND MANIPULATION OF DATA,, IDENTIFY, RESEARCH AND PRESENT PROJECT
CODING AT THE NEXT LEVEL – MORE COMPLEX CODING
DIGITAL MEDIA LITERCY
MY DIGITAL WORLD – ETHICAL, LEGAL ISSUES AROUND USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
FOLLOWING MY INTERESTS ONLINE – HOW DIGITAL TEXTS ARE PUBLISHED, DIGITAL IMAGERY
CHECKING THE FACTS – HOW THE CHOICE OF DIGITAL MEDIA USED INFLUENCES CONSUMERS
PUBLISHING MYSELF – ONLINE RISKS AND RIGHTS, LEARNING STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS OF ONLINE SHARING OF MATERIAL
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26. FACTORS INFLUENCING SUBJECT CHOICE
CHOOSE SUBJECTS FOR WHICH THEY HAVE A NATURAL APTITUDE
CHOOSE SUBJECTS THEY CAN STUDY BEST
CHOOSE SUBJECTS THEY ENJOY MOST
KEEP OPTIONS OPEN – AN AWARENESS OF FUTURE OPTIONS
AVOID GENDER BIAS OR STEREOTYPES.
BE AWARE OF OTHER / PEER INFLUENCES.
ULTIMATE AIM IS TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE HAPPY, SUCCEED AND REACH THEIR ACADEMIC POTENTIAL
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27. SOME MORE HELP WITH SUBJECT CHOICE
LOOK AT SUBJECT DESCRIPTIONS ON NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT WEBSITE
MAY BE USEFUL TO LOOK AT CHOICE SUBJECTS EXAM PAPERS - CAN BE ACCESSED AT
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTIONS OF SUBJECTS AT BOTH JC AND LC LOOK AT
VERY USEFUL WEBSITE CONTAINING INFORMATION ON SUBJECT CHOICE, CAO COURSES ETC.
SPEAK TO SUBJECT TEACHERS
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28. WHAT HAPPENS NOW
STUDENTS AND PARENTS INDICATE THEIR PREFERENCES BY Mon 13th FEB – FORM HANDED TO OFFICE OF DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - MS. K O’ BRIEN
BLOCKS OF SUBJECTS ARE ORGANISED INTO GROUPS. THE SCHOOL TRIES TO ENSURE AS MANY STUDENTS GET THEIR TOP TWO PREFERENCES.
ONCE FINALISED SUBJECTS PRESENTED TO STUDENTS IN MARCH/APRIL
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29. CHOICE AND CHANGES
IF CAREFUL CONSIDERATION GIVEN NOW THEN CHANGE IS LESS LIKELY. IF A STUDENT OR PARENT HAS QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK THE RELEVANT SUBJECT TEACHERS. (MR. JOHN CORCORAN FOR IT SHORT COURSE AT
CONTACT GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS AT OR
CHANGE IS ALLOWED (END OF SEPT) PROVIDED THERE IS SPACE IN CLASSES (NUMBERS ARE LIMITED IN PRACTICAL CLASSES OWING TO HEALTH & SAFETY) AND THE TEACHER IS SATISFIED OF STUDENT SUITABILITY
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