Choosing the Right Subjects for Leaving Certificate Success

WELCOME

Clonakilty Community College Ger Murphy Guidance Counsellor Presentation on Subject Choice for Leaving Certificate

Subject Choice A good subject choice will Ensure the student has the necessary subjects for entry to relevant 3rdlevel courses Include the subjects at which the student has excelled in Junior Cycle Greatly benefit the chances of an enjoyable Senior Cycle and a successful Leaving Cert for the student.

All Three Subjects (3) Irish (Except for those with exemptions) English Maths

Optional Subjects Choose 4 French Physics Chemistry Biology Agricultural Science Art Geography History Business Accounting Construction Studies (known as Woodwork for JC) Engineering (known as Metalwork for JC) Design and Communication Graphics (known as Tech Graph for JC) PE Music LCVP (Link Modules)

IN LCVP, STUDY in CLASS WILL INCLUDE PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD OF WORK Students will research and investigate local employment opportunities, develop job seeking skills such as letter writing, CV presentation, interview techniques; gain valuable practical experience of the world of work; interview and work shadow a person in a career area that interests them. ENTERPRISE EDUCATION Students will be involved in organising visits to local business and community enterprises; meet and interview enterprising people on site and in the classroom; plan and undertake interesting activities that will build self confidence, creativity, initiative and develop teamwork, communication and computer skills. STUDENTS ALSO TYPE UP A PORTFOLIO TO INCLUDE, Curriculum Vitae Career Investigation Enterprise/Action Plan Summary Report Diary of Work Experience Recorded Interview WRITTEN EXAM 40% (MAY), PORTFOLIO 60%

Leaving Certificate Programme Subject Levels Higher and Ordinary level all subjects. Foundation level Mathematics & Irish.

Higher Or Ordinary??

General Advice Pick a broad range of subjects in order to keep options open Or Chose the subjects the student enjoys and will excel at

FACTORS INFLUENCING SUBJECT CHOICE WHAT SUBJECTS DO STUDENTS ENJOY IS THE SUBJECT NECESSARY FOR A COURSE ENTRY AT THIRD LEVEL? ABILITY AND APTITUDE IN THE SUBJECT (THEY WILL WORK BEST AT THESE SUBJECTS) LIKES/DISLIKES THE TEACHER (NOT A GOOD REASON) FRIENDS/ PARENTS/ SIBLINGS, ETC PERCEIVED AS EASY OR HARD

Ensuring Good Subject Choice Discuss subject choice with your son/daughter Students are advised and shown how to do as much research as possible not all do Do as much research yourself excellent resources available Be realistic if a student did not like or excel at a subject at JC why would that change at LC

It is desirable that, if a student picks a subject for LC they would have taken it to JC. If they have not studied it previously they may be at a considerable disadvantage. However, it can be possible to do it for LC it depends on the subject. The best advice would be to speak to the subject teacher. New Subjects

The National Qualifications Framework

Further Education APPLY TO POST LEAVING CERT COURSES (YOU APPLY DIRECTLY TO COLLEGE) eg. ST. JOHN S COLLEGE, COLLEGE OF COMMERCE, KINSALE COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION APPLY TO COURSES THROUGH THE CAO (CENTRAL APPLICATIONS OFFICE) UNIVERSITIES AND INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY eg. UCC, CIT, UL, TRINITY, ETC

Entry Requirements When choosing Leaving Certificate subjects great care must be taken as the choices of subjects made now may impact 3rd level and career options. Regardless of how many points a student gets in the LC, they will be ineligible to even apply for a course if they have not met it s Course Entry Requirements

Entry to Higher education 3 factors Minimum Entry Requirements Specific Entry Requirements (may also involve interviews, portfolios etc) Points

CONTINENTAL LANGUAGE (French) SUBJECT REQUIRED FOR ENTRY INTO NUI COLLEGES (EXEMPTIONS) NOT REQUIRED FOR NURSING IN ANY OF THE UNIVERSITIES. NOT REQUIRED FOR ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE DEGREES TU s (LEVEL 6 and 7) DO NOT GENERALLY REQUIRE CONTINENTAL LANGUAGE UL WILL ACCEPT IRISH AND OR CONTINENTAL LANGUAGE

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

SCIENCE SUBJECTS ONE LABORATORY SCIENCE SUBJECT NEEDED FOR MOST SCIENCE/HEALTHCARE RELATED COURSES MUST BE BIOLOGY FOR HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE (TCD) GENETICS (UCC) ADVISABLE FOR NURSING MUST BE CHEMISTRY FOR DENTISTRY (UCC) HUMAN NUTRITION AND DIETETICS (DIT) MEDICINE (UCC) PHARMACY (UCC and TCD) VETERINARY MEDICINE (UCD) ADVISABLE FOR ALL MEDICINE

Appliance of Science Leaving Certificate Science Subjects in order of importance to college subject 2 COLLEGE SUBJECTS 1 3 Biology Chemistry Mathematics BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Biology Agriculture Horticulture Marine Biology Chemistry Mathematics Physics CHEMICAL SCIENCES Chemistry Chem. Engineering PHYSICAL SCIENCES Biochemistry Medicinal Chem. Physics Mathematics Chemistry Physics Electronics Astronomy Computing Mathematics Physics Chemistry ENGINEERING Civil Aeronautical Mechanical Electrical Chemistry Biology Physics MEDICAL SCIENCES Pharmacy Opthalmic Optics MEDICINE / DENTISTRY Nursing Nutrition Chemistry Physics Biology Medicine Vet. Medicine Dentistry British Association for the Advancement of Science

BUSINESS, ACCOUNTING, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, DCG, ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE Generally NOT REQUIRED for basic ENTRY for most courses BUT DESIRABLE if intending to study at Third Level OTHER SUBJECTS SPECIFIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS www.qualifax.ie CHECK THEM OUT on www.qualifax.ie (useful tools - minimum entry subjects) ART AND MUSIC- Again generally NOT REQUIRED as basic entry requirement even if intending to study at Third Level BUT PORTFOLIO (ART) or COMPETENCE TEST (MUSIC) required for entry to Third Level Courses

Only when the Minimum and Specific Entry Requirements have been met do points accumulated in the Leaving Cert come into play to decide who gets a place on a course The best SIX results in one sitting of the Leaving Cert Exam will be counted for points purposes The Points System

www.qualifax.ie www.qualifax.ie (click on students, then subject choice, then on minimum requirements and also choosing a career) www.careersportal.ie www.careersportal.ie (very comprehensive) Resources to assist in Subject Choice www.ucc.ie Any of the college websites such as www.ucc.ie www.cit.ie www.ul.ie www.csn.ie ,etc. www.cit.ie www.ul.ie www.csn.ie The above and such other sites will give specific information on Third Level courses www.cao.ie Last years Points can be found in these websites also or also on www.cao.ie Information on the % of grades awarded in each subject is available on www.examinations.ie and gives access to past exam papers www.examinations.ie www.curriculumonline.ie www.curriculumonline.ie (allows you to see what is involved in the LC subject)

Do the research this is hugely important Remember that ultimately everyone wants the student to get the best possible results in their Leaving Cert so bear this in mind Final Advice on Subject Choice Be realistic about ability and possible future course and career choice Closing date for options is April 18th 2024

How to tell us your subject choice Go to www.clonakiltycc.ie Click on VSware icon Go to Student Options Click on the box next to each number below and a drop down menu of subjects will appear. When complete Options Completed will appear.