Choosing Leaving Certificate Subjects
Learn about the Leaving Certificate programme, subject selection tips, subject levels, points system, and bonus points to make informed decisions for your academic future. Gain insights on the importance of specific subjects and how to maximize your points potential.
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St Pauls Secondary School Traditional Leaving Certificate Subject Choice
Leaving cert programme and points system How to research LC subjects How to choose your LC subjects
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. All subjects are of equal importance. Extra points will be awarded in all HEIs for honours Mathematics in LC.
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. For points purposes best 6 subjects are counted.
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. Core subjects: English, Mathematics & Irish* Optional subjects: 4 other timetabled subjects are chosen
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. https://careersportal.ie/school/subject_explorer.php
Points System *** new 2017 New Grades H1 / O1 % Marks 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
Points System *** new 2017 Higher Ordinary Grade Grade H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8 Points 100 88 77 66 56 46 37 0 Points O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O8 56 46 37 28 20 12 0 0
Points System *** new 2017 Bonus points LCVP points H6 or above in Maths ? Extra 25 points Distinction 66 Merit Pass 46 28
Sample Calculation Paul Subject Level Grade Score Irish H 3 77 English O 1 56 Maths H 2 88+25=113 Geography H 2 88 Biology H 3 77 Physics O 2 46 French H 2 88 LCVP C Merit 46 Add the 6 best scores shown in RED Points = 499
Subject Picking Do what you enjoy. Research the subject content and exam structure on www.careersportal.ie Pick subjects that you liked at junior cycle. Grade them with a percentage interest. Choose a combination of practical and theory? Choose subjects that would maximise your points and help you at third level Meet minimum requirements and subject specific requirements
Choosing a Subject Successful subject choice requires: RESEARCH ( taught in classroom) Subject Teachers, Guidance Classes, TY Programme (work exp) L.C. Books, Publications, Other Students Guidance Counsellors, Current Teachers Family, Friends DISCUSSION (with current 6thyears) Consider all the information, views and opinions Then, ultimately each student must make up their own mind. REFLECTION DECISION
Optional Subjects (4) APPLIED SCIENCES Home Economics Construction Studies Design and Communication Graphics BUSINESS Business Accountancy SCIENCE Biology Chemistry Agricultural Science SOCIAL STUDIES History Geography Art Music LANGUAGES French Spanish Information about LC subjects can be found at https://careersportal.ie/school/subject_explorer.php & Leaving Cert text books.
https://careersportal.ie/school/s ubject_explorer_more.php?par ent=2034&ed_sub_cat_id=393 &menu_parent_id= https://careersportal.ie/school/s ubject_explorer.php
College entry requirements 1. General college requirements Level 8 Honours Degree Level 7 Ordinary Degree Level 6 Higher Certificate 1. Specific course requirements 2. Points 3. other - garda vetting, portfolio
STAGE ONE understanding subject req 1. General college requirements 2. Specific course requirements
Minimum Entry Requirements of major CAO Colleges Institution Minimum grades Required subjects 2H5 + 4O6 O6/H7 in English, Irish & Modern Language*. NUI Colleges: UCD, NUIM, NUIG, UCC. (RCSI, Shannon, Miltown) Level 8 courses 3H5 + 3O6 O6/H7 in Maths, English & another Language O6/H7 in Maths, English or Irish Trinity College Dublin Level 8 courses 2H5 + 4O6 Level 8 courses Dublin City University 2H5 + 4O6 Level 8 courses O6/H7 in Maths, Eng. & Irish or another Lang. University of Limerick 2H5 + 4O6 (H.D.) Level 8 5O6 (O.D. or H.C.) Level 6/7 2H5 + 4O6 (H.D.) level O6/H7 in Maths, Eng or O6/H7 in Maths, Eng or Irish Dublin Institute of Technology Regional Institutes of
French or no French???? Spanish Minimum entry requirements
Language - French/ Spanish Third Language - If you want to keep all your options open stick with the language studies.
Higher Education Institutions (HEI S) NUI Colleges -NUIM, UCC, UCD, NUIG RCSI, - 06/H7 in English, Maths, Irish and a third language/ foreign lang ( 3rd lang mainly required for medical, business, humanities courses) Not needed for Science, Nursing and Technology courses)
DCU, Trinity, UL - (Non NUI colleges) O6/H7 English, Maths, foreign lang (Irish can be used here) Technological University - Institute of Technology - O6/H7 in Maths and English or Irish
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 Minimum Entry Requirements https://www.qualifax.ie/index.php?option=com_wrappe r&view=wrapper&Itemid=77
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.
Sample Requirements A Language 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. Many courses require a language but may not specify a particular one:
Irish French Primary Teaching H4 Journalism & Irish (DCU) O1/H4 Early and Modern Irish (TCD) H4 Gno & Gaeilge (DCU) O1/H4 Law with French Law (UCD) H3 Bus. Studies and French (TCD) H3 Law and French (TCD) H3
Sample Requirements Mathematics Business (TCD) O4/H6 Science (UCD) O3/H6 Commerce (UCD) O3/H6 Economics and Maths Sciences (UL) H3 Honours Engineering H4 Business Studies (DCU) O4/H6 Optometry (DIT) - O3/H7 Economics & Finance (UCD) H4
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: a) In the college s prospectuses b) On the college s websites c) www.qualifax.ie Subject Requirements https://www.qualifax.ie/index.php?option=com_wrapp er&view=wrapper&Itemid=77 It is only when all course entry requirements are met that students are qualified to apply for a course.
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. Nursing O6/H7 in a Lab. Sc. Medical/Para medical courses
Lab Science Subjects Chemistry Biology Ag Science
Chemistry If you are going for medical ,para medical; or a science career you will need one and possible two sciences in your leaving cert. Chemistry need for https://www.qualifax.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view= article&id=23&Itemid=23 Pharmacy H4 Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Veterinary Medicine, Medicine & Dentistry (UCC) H4
Biology is needed for: https://www.qualifax.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=ar ticle&id=23&Itemid=23 Health Science with Dietetics Studies LYIT Human Health & Disease TCD Genetics UCC Health Science with Occupational Therapy Studies LYIT Health Science with Physiotherapy Studies
So to do Science or not to do Science? Best advice If you are unsure but like science a bit or you think that you might want to work in the Science/ Medical area then pick your favourite one and do it. If you hate Science now you will hate it at 3rd level so don t pick it.
General Advice If a student is not really sure what he/she wants to do in the future: E.g. one language one science one business one humanities / applied science. This combination would allow access into a broad range of courses/careers. 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
Key Questions 1.What subjects do I like? (motivation) (not the teacher) 1. What subjects am I relatively good at? (class tests) (JC) 1. If I m interested in a particular course/career area, what subjects are essential? ( Course Entry Requirements) 2. If not essential, what subjects would be useful/helpful for this course/career area?
Important Points DCG/Construction Studies are not needed to do Engineering. Maths and Sciences 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.
Use the key resources www.careersportal.ie and www.qualifax.ie Please do email me if you need additional support. A problem shared is a problem halved. I will return an email with a phone call. Thank you for listening to me.. d.garrett@stpaulsmonasterevin.ie Goodnight, stay safe, stay well.
