1. Presentation Secondary School
~ ~ ~
Welcome you to
Subject Choices
for
Second Years
Miltown, Co. Kerry

2. Compulsory Subjects
English
Maths
Irish
Religious Education
Science
Spanish
P.E.
S.P.H.E. / Life Skills
Option Subjects
French / German
Business
Technical Graphics
Art
Music
Woodwork
Home Economics
History
Geography

3. Choices To Be Made Option Block Subject  Option 1 French German
German
Business 2
History
Geography 3
Music
Technical Graphics
Home Economics
Woodwork
Art 4

4. Business Assessment Junior Certificate: 100% Examination Paper
Leaving Certificate: 100% Examination Paper
Business divides into 3 subjects at Leaving Certificate
1. Accounting Business Economics
Students will be permitted to take up any of the three Business subjects as a new subject at Leaving Certifcate.
Business is not required for entry to any course at third level, including Business, Accounting or Economic courses.

5. French / German Assessment Junior Certificate: 100% Examination Paper
Junior Certificate: % Examination Paper
Leaving Certificate: 25% Oral Examination (20% at Ordinary Level)
Written Examination Paper
55% Reading Comprehension/Written Production
20% Aural - Listening Comprehension

6. History Assessment Junior Certificate: 100% Examination Paper
Leaving Certificate: 20% Research Study
~ Topic of Students Choice (submitted before exam)

7. Geography Assessment Junior Certificate: 100% Examination Paper
Junior Certificate: % Examination Paper
Leaving Certificate: 20% Geographical Investigation Report
~ Field Trip

8. Art Subject Description : Junior Certificate: 100% practical
Leaving Certificate: 60% practical
An Art Portfolio is required for particular careers. They include:
Art & Design Courses
Computer Graphic Design Courses
Architecture in two colleges(UL & DIT)
Interior DIT
DIT and Dun Laoghaire( DLIADT)

9. Music Assessment Junior Certificate Practical 25%
Leaving Certificate Practical 50%
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For entrance to music based courses both a written entrance examination and a performance may apply.

10. WoodWork (Construction St.)
Assessment
Junior Certificate: 50% Practical
Leaving Certificate: 40% Practical
Required for ....
Furniture Design Courses at Letterfrack Galway-Mayo IT.
Construction GMIT
(Only 1 of Construction Studies or Technical Drawing required)

11. Technical Graphics (Design Communication Graphics)
Assessment
Junior Certificate 100% Drawings (Exam)
Leaving Certificate 40% Practical
60% Drawings (Exam)
Students should be mathematical/logical.
Required for entry to Furniture making GMIT
Construction GMIT
(Only 1 of Construction Studies or Technical Drawing required)

12. Home Economics Assessment Junior Certifcate 50% practical
Leaving Certificate 20% practical
Can take Home Economics up in 5th Year, even if didn’t study for Junior Certificate.
Home Economics St. Angelas’ College, Sligo
(Science will also be accepted )

13. Some Common Myths
The following are unhelpful myths and therefore they are not true:
I need Technical Graphics/Construction to be an Engineer or
Architect
Art Portfolio is required for many architecture course.
I need Home Economics to study Childcare or Nursing
I can’t do Business if I don’t have a Business subject.
The above are NOT TRUE

14. 3 Core Subjects
At the end of First year students will be divided into higher and ordinary classes in 3 subjects based on their results.
These subjects are 1. Irish
2. English
3. Maths
Often students fall into a trap of only doing homework and they will probably study at ordinary level.
I will often be told by students that they were very good at one of these core subjects in primary but they may not have applied a revision schedule in first year.

15. Changes in Second Year
Students are no longer the newcomers in the school.
This may be the most important year for students personally in determining the type of student they become – they often feel there is less focus on them and more space for them to define themselves.

16. Homework Vs Revision
One of the major differences between primary and secondary is the expectation at secondary level that a student is largely responsible for their own preparation for end of year examinations. In primary school spelling and other tests were on material covered during the week.

17. Homework Vs Revision In second level the student must do:
Written homework – ideally from their head and not using the book. All exams test material from the head and not transcribing answers from the book.
Learning homework – students’ learning capacity is less than 10 minutes and therefore learning should be mixed throughout written.
Revision/ Study – students need to revise material learned one week later, one month later and before exams.

18. Getting Ready For The Junior Cert
Revision should form part of homework every night – 2nd year material won’t be revised before the Junior Cert mock exams.
Homework and Revision should take approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours
By the end of 2nd year students need to have all material summarised in the form of mind maps/ flash cards/ definitions copy/ notes folder.

19. How Can A Parent Help With Revision ?
Each student needs a system and you could discuss this with them:
1. Where? Quiet place with no noise and definitely no technology.
2. Get a Revision Notes copy for each subject that they will keep for the
three years. Some people prefer to use a folder system or postcards.
3. Reduce information by summarising, using mind maps, creating
songs, postcards, mini white boards.
4. How much time? Add 10 minutes per subject per night or choose 4
subjects x 15 minutes per night.

20. Generation 21
To enable student to flourish in 21st century - to find myself.
To know my strengths or particular intelligence.
Social Entrepreneurs
Our children live in a most stimulating Age.
"A new form of slavery is to pith children into reaching maximum points for highest points course while wiping their imaginative capacities" (Dom Mark Patrick Hederman, Glenstal Abbey)

21. Thank You