1. Subject Choice Information
Portlaoise College

2. Agenda Introduction Leaving Certificate Applied Transition Year
Established Leaving Certificate
Book list 18/19
Subject choice fair

3. Senior Cycle Leaving Cert: Established Leaving Cert Transition Year
Senior Cycle Options
Portlaoise College offers three Senior Cycle programmes:
Leaving Cert:
Established Leaving Cert
Transition Year
Leaving Cert. Applied (LCA)

4. Information

5. INTRODUCTION TO LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED

6. What Is LCA? LCA = Leaving Cert Applied
Two-year programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life
Marked differently than Established Leaving Certificate
Rewarded for project work

7. Students Reasons for Choosing LCA?
I chose LCA because it seemed like an interesting course to do.
I liked the idea of doing a variety of different subjects.
I chose it because it prepares you for adult life.

8. Students Reasons for Choosing LCA?
I prefer practical work to theory work
I prefer project work to exams
It gives you the opportunity to do work experience

9. What subjects do you study in LCA?
Vocational Preparation and Guidance (VPG)
Social Ed
Craft and design
Hotel, Catering and Tourism
Languages
Music
English
Maths
Office Administration
Engineering

10. What are credits?
Credits are marks that are given to the student after completing a key assignment or homework
Each subject has Modules (topics)
Each module has 4 Key Assignments
Each module is worth 2 Credits
You need credits to pass each subject
There are 200 credits overall in LCA

11. What are student tasks? There are 7 student tasks
These are big projects and are worth 10 Credits
You do 3 Tasks in 5th Year
You do 4 Tasks in 6th Year

12. How is LCA marked? At the end of the two years in LCA you get:
Distinction (170 Credits +)
Merit (140 – 170 Credits)
Pass (120 – 140 Credits)
IF you would like to go to University or an IT after LCA you must first do a PLC Course
A PLC Course usually takes 1 year

13. All students are required to have have 90% attendance for LCA.

14. Established Leaving Certificate
Two-year programme
Study 7 subjects
7 subjects divided up as follows:
Irish
English
Maths
4 Options
Option of an 8th Subject:
LCVP

15. Subject Choice Pick 4 of the following:
- History - Geography - Ag. Science
- Music - Art - Politics & Society
- Physics/Chemistry - Biology
- Business - French - German
- Engineering - Construction Studies
- Home Ec. - DCG

16. Factors to Consider Pick your subjects based on the following:
What subjects am I most interested in?
What subjects am I best at?
What subjects do I need? (e.g. third language, a science, LCVP combination)

17. Importance of Subject Choice
Certain subjects + levels required for 3rd level courses
Important to get advice:
Make appt. with Guidance Counsellor
Talk to subject teachers

18. 
LC Grade & Points

19. Subject Choice: Third Language
3rd language required by the NUI colleges
NUI Colleges are:
University College Dublin (UCD)
Maynooth University
NUI Galway
University College Cork (UCC)
Some Exceptions:
Engineering + Science in Maynooth and UCD
Students with SLD’S

20. Subject Choice: Science
Science / 3 at Senior Cycle:
(i) Physics/Chemistry
(ii) Biology (iii)Agricultural Science
A minimum of one science subject is required for the following fields:
Nursing, Medicine, Science, Engineering

21. Higher Level Maths: Bonus Points
Maximum Points score with HL Maths = 625

22. Subject Choice & Careers
1#Subjects & Career Choice

23. Subject Choice & Careers
1#Subjects & Career Choice

24. LCVP LCVP is an Additional Subject Points can be extremely valuable:
LCVP is an 8th Leaving Cert Subject
Students must have Subject Combinations
Points can be extremely valuable:
Distinction = 66 points (H4)
Merit = 46 points
Pass = 28 points

25. LCVP Subject Combo’s

26. What do you Study in LCVP?
Portfolio of continuous work (Total = 240 Marks)
Core Items
CV (25)
Career Investigation (40)
Enterprise/Action Plan (35)
Summary Report (40)
Diary of Work Experience (50)
Recorded Interview/Presentation (50)

27. What do you Study in LCVP?
Written Exam (Total = 160 Marks)
Answer questions on the following:
Section A - Audio Visual
Video sequence of an enterprise
Section B - Case Study
Received 4 weeks in advance
Section C - General Questions
Choice of 4 questions from 6

28. NB Remember Pick your subjects based on the following:
What subjects am I most interested in?
What subjects am I best at?
What subjects do I need? (e.g. third language or a science)
If you cannot decide then pick:
A language + 1 Science + any 2 others

30. Websites Portlaoise College on Facebook & Twitter
Contains information on every third level course in Ireland
Fantastic Careers website
Click on ‘What to study’
Click on ‘Guide to Subject Choice’

31. 5th Year Book Scheme 2018/19 Administered from the local book shop.
Significantly reduce cost for parents
Greater ownership for Parents and Students
Allow Parents /Students to plan earlier
Greater independence and responsibility from students.
New Books required for the Ebook Tablet
Procedure
Parents and book shop will be issued with the schools book lists in April/May and Book Voucher.
Books purchased (new or second hand)from the designated book shop will be subject to a
30% price reduction.

32. Cost Example 7 new books retail price €260 30% reduction - €78 = €182
Students now own their books and can return them to the bookshop Approx value €60
Total cost at the end of L Cert is €182 - €60 = €122

33. Total cost of 5th year and 6th year
Admin fee with subject options €50
Mock exams
2 Homework journal
Locker
Student study workshop
All other Admin Costs
Subject text books €122
Total €172