CARRIGALINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL SENIOR OPTIONS 2015 — 2017

CARRIGALINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL SENIOR OPTIONS 2015 - 2017

WELCOME PARENTS • 7: 00 General choices for 3 rd and 4 th Years • 8: 15 Transition Year Option (4 th Year)

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT • Choosing Subjects at Senior Cycle and the Link to Studying at Third Level • Subjects at Senior Cycle • DATs Aptitude Testing • How the Subject Choice Process Works and the Application Form

CHOOSING SUBJECTS FOR SENIOR CYCLE

PATH THROUGH CCS Applied 5 Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 6 Yr 5 Yr 6 Yr 4 Yr Established

QUESTIONS • Should I do Transition Year (4 th Year)? • Should I go to 5 th Year? • If 5 th Year, should I do LCA or Established LC? • If Established LC, what subjects?

JUNIOR CERTIFICATE • Core Subjects • 2 Options

CORE SUBJECTS AT LEAVING CERT • Gaeilge • English • Mathematics Core + 4 Option Subjects Other non-exam subjects: Guidance Physical Education ICT Religion SPHE

CHOOSING A SUBJECT. . . • 2 nd Year Options: Because you like it

CHOOSING A SUBJECT… • 5 th Year Options: Because you like it Because you need it

THIRD LEVEL CHOICES Option University (UCC) Qualification NFQ Level Hons Degree 8 Institute of Hons Degree Technology (CIT) Ord Degree Higher Cert 8 7 6 Further College Fetac of Education Qualification 5 (one year course) 6 (two year course) (Cork College of Commerce )

SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS UNIVERSITY Minimum Entry Requirements – University • Level 8 (honours degree programmes) require a minimum of 6 subjects to include 2 subjects at HC 3 and a minimum of 4 subjects at OD 3. • NUI’s (UCC) demand passes in English, Irish, Maths

SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS UNIVERSITY Minimum Entry Requirements - University • Third language required for Arts, Social Science, Medicine and Health, Law and Business courses • Third language is not required for Science, Engineering and Nursing courses in UCC

SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS – INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY Basic Entry Requirements – Institutes of Technology • • • Level 8 courses: at least two Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade C 3 minimum (Higher Level) and a further four subjects at Grade D 3 minimum (Ordinary or Higher Level). The 6 subjects must include Mathematics and either English or Irish. Plus other course specific requirements (eg maths etc). Level 6/ 7 courses: a minimum of 5 subjects at least at grade D 3 to include Irish or English and Maths.

SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS AT THIRD LEVEL • Colleges set subject requirements for certain courses: • A science degree usually requires a science subject at Leaving Cert – Science Degree in UCC requires a HC 3 in one science subject • Most engineering degree courses demand higher level Maths • HC 3 in Chemistry and Biology/Physics for Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy in UCC • HC 3 in Chemistry needed for Veterinary in UCD • HC 3 in Irish for Primary Teaching courses

LANGUAGES • Specific language requirements for language based courses • Commerce International UCC requires HC 1 in a foreign language • Law and French UCC requires HC 1 in French • Law and Irish UCC requires HC 1 in Irish • Speech and Language UCC requires HC 3 in language other than English • Third language is not required for Science, Engineering, Food Science & Nursing courses in UCC.

SCIENCES • If you want to study Science at third level you need to have a science subject. • Many of the medical courses such as Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry require Chemistry and either Physics or Biology.

FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES • Some specific subject requirements for courses in Further Education Colleges – • Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, • Cork College of Commerce • St Johns College

RESEARCH • • • Check college prospectuses www. careersportal. ie www. qualifax. ie www. ucc. ie www. cit. ie

SUBJECTS AVAILABLE AT SENIOR CYCLE

SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT Accounting Art Biology Business Chemistry Construction Studies Design & Communication Graphics • Economics • Engineering • • French • Geography • German • History • Home Economics • Music • Physics

SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT Business • Accounting • Economics • Business Science • Biology • Chemistry • Physics Practical • Construction Studies • DCG (Technical Graphics) • Engineering Languages • French • German Humanities • Geography • History Social • Home Economics Creative • Art • Music

THE ‘SAFE’ RANGE • Gaeilge • English • Mathematics • Language • Science subject Plus 2 others

GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT… • 100 % Exam Based: • • • Biology Physics Chemistry Economics Business Accounting • English • Maths

GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT… DGC Project Final Exam - Theory Construction Project 60% 30% OL OL 30% 25% HL HL 25% 30% OL OL 30% Final Exam. Theory - Theory 50% HL HL 50% 40% OL OL 40% 25% HL HL 25% 30% OL OL 30% Practical Exam (May) 25% HL HL 25% 30% OL OL 30% Final Exam - Theory ART 25% HL HL 25% Practical Exam (May) Engineering 50% HL HL 50% 40% OL OL 40% Project Final Exam – Art History 35% – Art History 37. 5% Practical Craft Exam 25% Life Drawing & & Still Life Imaginative Composition. Still Life 25% Life Drawing 12. 5%

GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT… French & German Oral 40% 60% Project 20% 80% Project 20% Final Exam Music 80% OL Final Exam History 75 % HL Final Exam Geography 20% OL Final Exam Home Economics 25 % HL Final Exam Irish Oral 80% Performance 25% Listening 25% Composing 25%

DATS – DIFFERENTIAL APTITUDE TESTS • All 4 th year students given the opportunity to do the DATs this year in preparation for subject choice and planning for future careers • DATs are aptitude tests measuring: • • Verbal Reasoning Numerical Reasoning Abstract Reasoning Perceptual Speed & Accuracy Mechanical Reasoning Space Relations Spelling Language Usage

DATS – DIFFERENTIAL APTITUDE TESTS • Results indicate strengths and weaknesses • Results can be used to help decide on subjects for senior cycle • Remember DATs are just one piece of the picture • Individual feedback given to all students

HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT SUBJECTS • Do…. • Select subjects you enjoy • Select subjects you are good at and performed well in at Junior Cert • Do Not…. . • Select a subject because friends are doing it • Pick a subject because you get on with a particular teacher

THE PROCESS • Students select their subjects and complete the application form • They select their top 6 subjects in order of preference • Students have a free choice • There are no restrictions on subject selection • We then create subject pools based on the requirements of all the students. • The majority (98%) of students receive their top 4 choices.

TYPICAL SUBJECT POOLS • German/ Home Economics/ French/ Business/Physics/Biology / DCG/Geography • Physics/ Art/ Home Economics/ Biology/ Geography/ History/Accounting/ French • Chemistry/Business/Geography/Economics/ Construction/ French/German • Chemistry/Engineering/Music/Accounting/Biology/French/Geography

SUBJECT CHOICE – FINAL TIPS • Before you take the plunge…. . • Seek advice from older students, siblings • Look up subject textbooks • Talk to subject teachers • Choose subjects you like and are good at • Check college requirements • Do some research - check web sites: • www. careersportal. ie • www. qualifax. ie • Speak with Guidance Counsellor

NEXT STEPS……. • Choice to take TY, LCA or Est. Leaving Cert • 5 th Yr Subjects listed in order of preference from 1 -6 • Signed by both parent and student • Closing Dates: Friday • Discussion of choices February 13 th

Guidance and Counselling Dept. C. C. S