SENIOR CYCLE SUBJECT CHOICE CLASS 2017

SENIOR CYCLE SUBJECT CHOICE CLASS 2017 - 18

Leaving Certificate Programme • Leaving Certificate is a 2 year programme. • Full time commitment required over 2 years. • 5 th year is very important especially for those hoping to gain entry to high points courses. • Usually a maximum of 7 subjects are taken for the Leaving Certificate. • An 8 th Extra subject? Applied Maths, Music, Ag. Sc. , Religion • Almost all subjects are of equal importance. • 25 extra points will be awarded by the universities and ITs for a score above a H 6 Maths (> 40%)

Points System *** new LC 2017 Honours Points Honours Grade % Bands Ordinary Grade Ordinary Points 100 H 1 90 - 100 O 1 56 88 H 2 80 - 89 O 2 46 77 H 3 70 - 79 O 3 37 66 H 4 60 - 69 O 4 28 56 H 5 50 - 59 O 5 20 46 H 6 40 - 49 O 6 12 37 H 7 30 - 39 O 7 0 0 H 8 0 - 29 O 8 0

Points System *** new 2017 Bonus points LCVP points H 6 or above in Maths Extra 25 points Distinction 66 Merit 46 Pass 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

Leaving Certificate Programme • Highly Desirable Subjects • Unless there is a substantial reason otherwise, all students should definitely consider choosing: 1. a modern language (NUI/UL/TCD) 2. a science subject. • 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. • LC subject selection • Core subjects: English, Mathematics & Irish* • Optional subjects: Usually 4 other subjects are chosen

Optional Subjects (4 from 15) BUSINESS APPLIED SCIENCES • Business 47 • Home Economics 17 • Accountancy 34 • Construction Studies 40 • Economics 45 • Design and Communication SCIENCE • Biology 71 • Physics 41 • Chemistry 31 LANGUAGES • French 66 • German 50 Graphics 30 SOCIAL STUDIES • History 27 • Geography 53 • Music 16 • Art 35 Information on LC subjects is on the college website under academic, on curriculumonline. ie and careersportal. ie

Entry Requirements • When choosing Leaving Certificate subjects great care must be taken as the choices of subjects made now may determine 3 rd 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 “Course Entry Requirements” • Meet Entry Requirements Qualified Applicant for Course

Minimum Entry Requirements of major CAO Colleges Institution NUI Colleges: UCD, MU, Minimum grades Required subjects 2 H 5 + 4 O 6 O 6/H 7 in English, Irish & Modern Language*. Trinity College Dublin 3 H 5 + 3 O 6 O 6/H 7 in Maths, English & another Language Dublin City University 2 H 5 + 4 O 6 O 6/H 7 in Maths, English or Irish University of Limerick 2 H 5 + 4 O 6 O 6/H 7 in Maths, Eng. & Irish or another Lang. Dublin Institute of Technology 2 H 5 + 4 O 6 (H. D. ) 5 O 6 (O. D. or H. C. ) O 6/H 7 in Maths, Eng or Irish Regional Institutes of Technology (DK*) 2 H 5 + 4 O 6 (H. D. ) 5 O 6 (O. D. or H. C. ) O 6/H 7 in Maths, Eng or Irish NUIG, UCC. (RCSI, Shannon)

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: • 2 H 5 + 4 O 6, O 6/H 7 in English, Irish, Modern Language & Mathematics, H 5 in Chemistry.

Sample Requirements Irish • Primary Teaching – H 4 • Irish & Journalism (DCU) – H 4 A Language • Many courses require a language but may not specify a particular one: • Early and Modern Irish (TCD) – H 4 • Gno & Gaeilge (DCU) – O 1/H 4 French • Law with French Law (UCD) – H 3 • Bus. Studies and French (TCD) – H 3 • Law and French (TCD) – H 3 • International Tourism & Languages (DIT) – H 3 in Ge, Sp, Ir, It, Ch or Fr. • Applied Languages (DCU) – H 4 in Fr or Ge or Sp. • Speech and Language Therapy (TCD) – H 4 in En, Fr, Ge, Ir, It, Ru or Sp. • Cadet School – O 6/H 7 in a modern Language.

Sample Requirements Mathematics • Honours Engineering – H 4 • Business Studies (DCU) – • • • O 4/H 6 Optometry (DIT) - O 3/H 7 Economics & Finance (UCD) – H 4 Business (TCD) – O 4/H 6 Science (UCD) – O 3/H 6 Commerce (UCD) – O 3/H 6 Economics and Maths Sciences (UL) – H 3 • • • Science 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. UCAS courses Nursing – O 6/H 7 in a Lab. Sc. Medical/Para medical courses Chemistry • Pharmacy – H 4 TCD, H 5 UCC • Human Nutrition, Veterinary Medicine, Medicine & Dentistry (UCC) – H 4

Specific Course Requirements • Unlikely that you will know exactly, which courses you wish to pursue at this stage. • But from looking at your interests, abilities and aptitudes you may be able to identify broad areas of interest and hence check potential course entry requirements. • Course Entry Requirements can be accessed: a) b) On the college’s websites c) Directory of LC Entry Requirements – Careers Office d) • In the college’s prospectuses www. qualifax. ie - Subject Requirements It is only when all course entry requirements are met that students are qualified to apply for a course.

General Advice If a you are not really sure what you want to do in the future: Pick a broad range of subjects in order to keep options open • E. g. • one language • one science • one business • one humanities / applied science. • This combination would Many students will change their minds about their future a number of times in the next 2 years allow access into a broad range of courses/careers.

Choosing a Subject A wise choice of subjects requires: L. C. Books, Guidance Classes, Other Students RESEARCH Subject Teachers, Web, TY Prog. , Publications Guidance Counsellors, Current Teachers DISCUSSION Parents, Friends Consider all the information, views and opinions REFLECTION DECISION Then, ultimately each student must make up their own mind.

Choosing a Subject Key Questions 1. What subjects is the school offering? 2. If I’m interested in a particular course/career area, what subjects are essential? ( Course Entry Requirements) 3. If not essential, what subjects would be useful/helpful for this course/career area? (useful vs. points) 4. What subjects do I like? (motivation) (not the teacher) 5. What subjects am I relatively good at? (DATs) (JC)

Important Points • DCG/Construction Studies are not needed to do Engineering. Maths and Physics 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. • Every student is a unique bundle of interests, abilities and aptitudes, hence they should choose subjects based on these and not current friendships or the opinions of others. • Learning vs. 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.

Consequences of poor Subject Choice • Student may be quite unhappy in the subject for 2 years and hence motivation will be a recurring issue. • Student may not do well in subject and the overall grade may be impacted on. • Student may end up not having a subject they need for a particular career/college course they are interested in. • In 5 th year student may want to change to another subject. We will try to facilitate this where we think it is the best option, however, we may not always be able to do this. • Changing a subject 6/8/10 weeks into 5 th year has a lot of disadvantages and should be avoided if at all possible.

Newbridge College Draft Subject Options GEOGRAPHY BIOLOGY HOME ECON. MUSIC FRENCH PHYSICS GEOGRAPHY BIOLOGY ART ECONOMICS DCG CHEMISTRY GERMAN BUSINESS ART CONS. STUDIES FRENCH HISTORY DCG GERMAN BUSINESS ECONOMICS CONS. STUDIES FRENCH ACCOUNTING

Timetable of Events January – DATs 3 rd years January 30 th – Parents Night. February 5 th to 9 th – Subject Choice Week February 19 th – Subject Choice Interviews begin 5. March 2 nd – Deadline for submission of application forms for TY. 6. March 22 nd – Deadline for final subject choices and commitment to TY. 7. March 26 th – Generation of classes begins. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Procedure 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. During subject choice interview a set of subjects are agreed with student. (on lines and/or preferred) Note brought home to parent outlining agreed subjects. Parents must review, sign and return to G. C. asap. A change may be made to agreed subjects before March 22 nd by written request from parents to G. C. After March 22 nd changes will only be facilitated if vacancies exist in classes. Important that parents know what subjects their son/daughter is choosing so changes should be accompanied by note from home.

SENIOR CYCLE SUBJECT CHOICE CLASS 2017 — 18