5 th year subject choice. traditional leaving certificate 2 year academic programme high level of...
TRANSCRIPT
Traditional Leaving Certificate 2 year ACADEMIC programme High level of work and commitment
required Over 50% of the Leaving Certificate course
will be covered in 5th Year What are your hopes for these two years? Where do you see yourself in two years
time?
Factors influencing subject choice Interest in the subject – will tend to
work harder in areas of interest Ability/Aptitude in the subject Is the subject necessary for chosen
career? Is the subject desirable for chosen
career?
Minimum Entry Requirements Colleges set minimum entry requirements each
year This is what a student has to have to get into the
course. Usually it is a specific subject (or subjects), and the
grade required in that subject/s It is independent of the points required for the
course e.g. Student with 600 points but no science subject will not get into medicine
To check for specific entry requirements in colleges go to www.skoool.ie/skoool/collegechoice.asp?id=2225
National Framework of Qualifications
Level 1 – Fetac Certificate Level 2 – Fetac Certificate Level 3 – Fetac/Junior
Certificate Level 4 – Fetac/Leaving
Certificate Level 5 – Fetac/Leaving
Certificate
Level 6 – Advanced/Higher Certificate
Level 7 – Ord Bachelor Degree
Level 8 – Hons Bachelor Degree Higher Diploma
Level 9 – Masters Degree Post-Graduate Diploma
Level 10 – Doctoral Degree
General Entry Requirements
University and Level 8 IT Usually require HC3 in 2 subjects and passes in
four others (Trinity requires 3 honours, 3 passes). UCC proposing 4HC3’s and 2 passes. Subjects must include Irish, English, Continental
Language and Maths.
Maths is not required for some Arts Courses Language not required for some Science and Engineering
Courses
General Entry Requirements
Institutes of Technology (IT’s) – Level 6/7 Usually require 5 passes in the Leaving
Certificate including Maths and Irish/English
DIT is an exception being more like university in the types of courses offered and the entry requirements
Subject Choice Students choose 7 subjects from the subjects
available
Availability of subjects may be restricted by timetabling constraints
Points are counted from the best 6 subjects for CAO
For detailed information about each subject check www.curriculumonline.ie www.careersportal.ie www.qualifax.ie
Subjects offered in Colaiste Na Toirbhirte
English Irish Maths French German History Geography Home Economics
Music Art Business Studies Accounting Physics Chemistry Biology
Compulsory
1 Recommended
All students take Religion, P.E., and Computers
English English is assessed by two written papers Paper I consists of linked unseen texts
leading to a range of comprehending and composing tasks
Paper II consists of questions on the prescribed literary texts and on an unseen poem
English Higher Level English is required for
Media Studies, Journalism, English Studies, Clinical Speech (TCD),
Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy (RSCI)
Useful for Law, Speech and Language Therapy, Politics,
Public Relations, UCAS applications
Irish
Irish is assessed by two written papers (50%), an oral exam (40%) and an aural exam (10%).
Students should have achieved a good result in JC Higher Level Irish to study Higher Level at Leaving Certificate and a love of the language.
As course is long, students must be willing to work well from the start of 5th Year
Irish Higher Level Irish is required for
Primary Teaching, Commerce with Irish, Law with Irish, Irish Studies, Gnó agus Cumarsáid, Leann Dúchais
Ordinary level is required for Cadets, Gardaí, Public Sector
Irish is also useful for Law, Secondary Teaching
People with degrees in Irish work for Government Departments, TG4, Radio na Gaeltachta, Údarás Na Gaeltachta
Mathematics Maths is assessed by two papers in LC Successful higher level Maths students
should have had a very good result in higher level Maths at JC
Maths graduates have excellent career opportunities in areas such as Actuary, Engineering, Finance, Business and Research
Mathematics Higher Level Maths is required for
Actuarial Trainee, Actuary courses, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences
Higher Level Maths is useful for Computer Studies (most require HD or OB), Architecture,
Accounting (usually OC or HD)
Pass in Ordinary Level Maths is essential for entry into most University courses and all IT courses
25 bonus points for Higher Level Maths if Maths is being counted for points
Continental Language Each language is assessed by a written
paper (55%), oral exam (25%) and aural exam (20%)
Students should have good communication skills and a love of the language
Language Degrees lead to careers in teaching, lecturing, translating, interpreting, and work with organisations such as EU and UN
Continental Language Necessary for minimum entry requirement
to most university programmes Higher level required for courses with a
language such as French through Arts, Commerce with Spanish, Law with German, European Studies
Students can take Italian and Spanish at beginners level in college but usually need to have HC3 in another language
History History is assessed by a written paper
(80%) and a research study (20%) which is usually completed in 5th year
It is useful to be able to draw conclusions from information provided and to present these conclusions in a clear manner through an essay style answer
History Not required for entry to any specific
course but stands on it’s own merits
Useful for courses in Politics, Law, Tourism, Journalism, Research & Teaching
Essay writing skills gained are valuable in Arts based courses such as Psychology
Geography Geography is assessed by a written exam
(80%) and a geographical investigation (20%) which is completed in October of 6th Year
Geography students should have an interest in the local environment and a curiosity about international issues and cultures
Geography Not required for entry to any specific course
but stands on it’s own merits
Useful for courses in Tourism and Travel, Social Policy, Environment & Earth Sciences, Town Planning, Teaching and work with NGO’s
Home Economics Home Economics is assessed by a written
paper (80%) and a written project (20%) completed in fifth year
There are three main areas of study; Food Studies, Resource Management and Sociology
Students should have an interest in Health and Nutrition
Home Economics This is required for Home Economics
Teaching
It is highly recommended for courses and employment in the Hotel and Catering Industry
It is also useful for careers such as Dietician, Nutritionist, Food Business development, Environmental Health, Social Worker
Music
Music is assessed by exams in Listening (25%), Composing (25%), Performance (25%). The remaining 25% is chosen by the student but most choose Performance
Students should have a strong foundation in both practical (instrument/voice) and theory
It is both a creative and academic subject and develops confidence and teamwork skills
Music Not specifically required for entry to music
courses but students must sit a music entrance exam for which the Leaving Certificate Music course provides an excellent foundation
Music is also a valuable subject for careers in sound engineering, multimedia, music technology, teaching, music therapy, conductor, arts administration and the media
Art Art is assessed by three practical
examinations (60%) carried out in May. These are; Life Sketching Still Life or Imaginative or Abstract Composition Design or Craftwork
A written examination (40%) of Art History and Appreciation occurs in June.
Art Not specifically required for most art
courses, but students must submit a portfolio of work for entry – Leaving Certificate Art course helps to build this portfolio
Art is also a desirable subject for Architecture, and useful for careers in advertising, media, T.V. and video production, fashion design, and visual design
Business Business can be divided into three main
areas People in business Enterprise Environment
Business provides a broad overview of the world of business
Students are required to write essay style answers to explain the principles of business
Accounting Students who enjoy the book-keeping part
of JC Business should enjoy LC Accounting
Analysis and interpretation of accounts is the core activity
It is a subject that suits an organised methodical person who likes definite answers
Business Subjects
Business Studies and Accounting are not specifically required for entry to Business courses
Studying any of these subjects at Leaving Certificate level will provide an excellent base for future study in the Business area
Business courses at third level contain Economics and Accounting
Biology Topics studied in Biology include Ecology,
Physiology, Microbiology, Plant Biology and Genetics
Students should be consistent workers as the course is large and requires learning
Biology is useful for careers in healthcare and in research
Chemistry
Chemistry is assessed by a written paper with short questions, practical questions (on mandatory experiments) and long questions
Students should have a good logical and mathematical ability
Chemistry is useful for careers in healthcare and in research
Physics The course gives an understanding of the
fundamental principles of physics and their application to everyday life.
Problem solving and mathematical ability are very important. Students should choose Physics based on performance in JC Maths
Physics is useful for careers in Engineering, Research, Technology & Health
Science Subjects HC3 Chemistry + HC3 in
Physics/Biology required for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy
HC3 in 1 Science for Engineering (physics recommended), Science, Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Optometry (physics recommended), Radiotherapy (physics or chemistry recommended)
Science Subjects - continued HC3 Chemistry required for Dietetics
HC3 in Biology for Genetics in UCC
1 Science subject is required for Nursing (Ordinary level is accepted)
Biology is also required for Beauty Therapy and Complementary Therapy courses
UK colleges usually require two sciences for healthcare courses
General Advice If students are unsure about subjects, it is a
good idea to select subjects that will keep options open
Students should try to find a balance between learning based subjects and practical or applied subject
Higher Level subjects will have on average 30-40 minutes homework per night
Factors influencing decision Interest in the subject – will tend to
work harder in areas of interest Ability/Aptitude in the subject Is the subject necessary for chosen
career? Is the subject desirable for chosen
career?