1. St Paul’s Secondary School
15/11/2018
St Paul’s Secondary School
Traditional Leaving Certificate
Subject Choice

2. Leaving Certificate Programme
15/11/2018
Leaving Certificate Programme
Leaving Certificate is a 2 year programme.
Full time commitment required over 2 years.
5th year is very important especially for those hoping to gain entry to high points courses.
Usually a maximum of 7 subjects are taken for the Leaving Certificate.
An extra (8th) subject? – need to think very carefully about this as each LC subject is extensive and requires a lot of work. Big jump in standard from J.C.
Other subjects could suffer if workload is too great.
For points purposes best 6 subjects are counted.
All subjects are of equal importance.
Extra points will be awarded in all HEIs for honours Mathematics in LC

3. Points System *** new 2017 New Grades % Marks H1 / O1 90-100 H2 / O2
15/11/2018
Points System *** new 2017
New Grades
% Marks
 H1 / O1
90-100
 H2 / O2
80<90
 H3 / O3
70<80
 H4 / O4
60<70
 H5 / O5
50<60
 H6 / O6
40<50
 H7 / O7
30<40
 H8 / O8
0<30
LCVP POINTS

4. Points System *** new 2017 Higher Ordinary Grade Points H1 100 H2 88
15/11/2018
Points System *** new 2017
Higher
Ordinary
Grade
Points
 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
LCVP POINTS

5. 15/11/2018
Points System *** new 2017
Bonus points H6 or above in Maths  Extra 25 points
LCVP points Distinction 66 Merit 46 Pass 28
LCVP POINTS

6. Sample Calculation Paul Subject Level Grade Score Irish H 3 77 English1 56
Maths 2
88+25=113
Geography 88
Biology
Physics 46
French
LCVP C
Merit
Add the 6 best scores shown in RED
Points = 499

7. Leaving Certificate Programme
15/11/2018
Leaving Certificate Programme
Highly Desirable Subjects
Unless there is a substantial reason otherwise, all students should definitely consider choosing:
a modern language (NUI*)
a science subject.
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.
LC subject selection
Core subjects: English, Mathematics & Irish*
Optional subjects: 4 other timetabled subjects are chosen
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.
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 andTechnical 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.

8. STAGE ONE
French or no French????
Subject requirement

9. 15/11/2018
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.
Why? Regardless of how many points you get in your LC, you will be ineligible to even apply for a course if you have not met it’s “Course Entry Requirements”
Meet Entry Requirements --> Qualified Applicant for Course

10. Language - French Third Language
Most students will study a continental language. This is a good choice as a third language is a requirement for matriculation for the vast majority of courses in the NUI colleges. If you want to keep all your options open stick with the language studies.

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

12. Specific Course Requirements
15/11/2018
Specific Course Requirements
Specific L.C. subjects / grades required for entry to particular courses.
They tend to be in the following subject areas:
Science subjects
Languages
Mathematics
E.g. Veterinary Medicine in UCD
Entry Requirements:
2H5 + 4O6/H7, O6/H7 in English, Irish, Modern Language & Mathematics, H5 in Chemistry.
If a student really hates a subject, it is unlikely that they are suddenly going to like it at third level. E.g. a language/science subject.

13. Sample Requirements A Language Irish
Primary Teaching – H5
Journalism & Irish (DCU) – O1/H4
Early and Modern Irish (TCD) – H4
Gno & Gaeilge (DCU) – O1/H4
French
Law with French Law (UCD) – H3
Bus. Studies and French (TCD) – H3
Law and French (TCD) – H3
A Language
Many courses require a language but may not specify a particular one:
English Studies & Languages (DIT) – H4 in Ge, Sp or Fr.
Applied Languages (DCU) – H4 in Fr or Ge or Sp.
Speech and Language Therapy (TCD) – H4 in En, Fr, Ge, Ir, It, Ru or Sp.
Cadet School – O6/H7 in a modern Language.

14. Sample Requirements Honours Engineering – H4
15/11/2018
Sample Requirements
Mathematics
Honours Engineering – H4
Business Studies (DCU) – O4/H6
Optometry (DIT) - O3/H7
Economics & Finance (UCD) – H4
Business (TCD) – O4/H6
Science (UCD) – O3/H6
Commerce (UCD) – O3/H6
Economics and Maths Sciences (UL) – H3
Chemistry not required for Pharmacy in RCSI

15. Specific Course Requirements
Unlikely that 3rd/TY students will know exactly, which courses/careers they wish to pursue at this stage.
But they may be able to identify broad areas of interest and hence check potential course entry requirements.
Course Entry Requirements can be accessed:
In the college’s prospectuses
On the college’s websites
Directory of LC Entry Requirements (Library)
– Subject Requirements
It is only when all course entry requirements are met that students are qualified to apply for a course.

16. STAGE 2 SCIENCE Science subject? Which one? Perhaps two?
Particular care needs to be taken with science subjects.
Many courses require any one science subject
Some courses require 2 science subjects, particularly TCD and UCC. Be aware that some medical courses require two science subjects e.g. courses in Dentistry and Medicine. Chemistry is a requirement for Pharmacy (TCD, RCSI, UCC), Veterinary Science (UCD), Dentistry (UCC) Medicine(UCC), Medical and Health Sciences (UCC), Human Nutrition and Dietetics(DIT)
Nursing – O6/H7 in a Lab. Sc.
Medical/Para medical course

17. STAGE THREE Do what you enjoy ( practical subjects and projects)
Pick subjects that you liked at junior
cycle,
DATS ( information to be found under academic tab on school website)

18. Choosing a Subject DECISION Successful subject choice requires:
RESEARCH
DISCUSSION
REFLECTION
DECISION
Subject Teachers, Guidance Classes, TY Programme
L.C. Books, Publications, Other Students
Guidance Counsellors, Current Teachers
Family, Friends
Consider all the information, views and opinions
Then, ultimately each student must make up their own mind.

19. General Advice
If a student is not really sure what he/she wants 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.

20. Optional Subjects (4) BUSINESS Business Accountancy SCIENCE Biology
15/11/2018
Optional Subjects (4)
BUSINESS
Business
Accountancy
SCIENCE
Biology
Chemistry
Agricultural Science
LANGUAGES
French
APPLIED SCIENCES
Home Economics
Construction Studies
Design and Communication Graphics
SOCIAL STUDIES
History
Geography
Art
Music
History. The balance of the course has moved away from a predominant political emphasis, to encompass both social and cultural history. The identification of evidence and primary sources is central to studying history. Students can now secure up to 20% of the overall marks by pre-submitting a research paper on a selected topic, from a range set out by the State Examinations Commission. Essay writing is central to the programme. Students have to present three essays in their Higher Leaving Certificate paper, plus a documents question. Ordinary level students should benefit from the opportunity to prepare a research question under the revised curriculum.
Geography. This subject studies the interrelationship between human activity and the physical environment. It is an extremely wide curriculum, with students having the opportunity to undertake a geographic investigation, which is allocated 20% of the overall marks in the final examination, and is pre-submitted by the end of April in the year of the students leaving certificate. For both Science and Pharmacy at TCD, geography is accepted as a science subject for entry requirements.
Continental Languages. The three main elements of the study of modern languages are comprehension, oral and written presentation. Be mindful of the Aural and Oral requirements. There is a strong emphasis now is on the ability to comprehend and converse in the language studied, and this is reflected in the fact, that a third of the final marks awarded, are for Aural and Oral work. Studying a continental language today requires you to culturally immerse yourself in the spoken, written world
Chemistry Students taking Chemistry, have to learn off the chemical components of a series of prescribed experiments. They will be required to present the elements of four such experiments in their examination. Again, students studying chemistry, develop an understanding of key elements of the world we live in, such as water as well as everything we use wear or consume.
Biology Students studying Biology explore the world of all living things from micro-organisms to humans. As with the other science subjects, students undertake twenty-four mandatory experiments, the details of which they record in their laboratory book. It is often perceived as an easier subject than Physics and chemistry, but this is not so, as shown by the high failure rates at ordinary level.
Social & Scientific. A combination of Cooking, Home Economics some Biology and a bit of Business. A very interesting subject, but not the easy honours that some imagine. Twenty percent of the marks are awarded for a course work journal, done within normal class time, and pre-submitted in October of 6th year, prior to the written examination. The study of Food Science is a central part of this subject. Students also have the option of studying one of Social Studies, Textiles or Home Design.
Information about LC subjects can be found at &

21. Key Questions What subjects is the school offering?
If I’m interested in a particular course/career area, what subjects are essential? ( Course Entry Requirements)
If not essential, what subjects would be useful/helpful for this course/career area?
What subjects do I like? (motivation) (not the teacher)
What subjects am I relatively good at? (DATs) (JC)

22. Important Points
DCG/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 however.
For Business courses, Maths is generally a requirement rather than Business subjects.
Students should be careful to try pick a balance between learning and understanding subjects.
Students should be aware of balancing subjects which help maximise points vs. subjects which may be of benefit to them in the future.