St Joseph s College Junior Certificate Cycle 2018 Information Evening

St Joseph’s College Junior Certificate/Cycle 2018 Information Evening for Parents Thursday 19 th October 2017

Purpose of Evening Overview of JC Exam Requirements Practical components Exam preparation Revising

Subjects Examined All subjects will be examined except PE & SPHE English*, Maths, Science Irish, Religion History, Geography, CSPE French, German, Italian, Spanish Music, Art, Home Economics, Business Most students taking 11 subjects

Subject Levels Irish & Maths have different examination papers at three levels. 1. Higher 2. Ordinary 3. Foundation

Subject Levels All other subjects have two levels Higher & Ordinary …. . Except CSPE - Common Paper

Which Level for my Daughter? Aim high! Advice of teachers Previous reports Implications for Senior Cycle

Percentage Range Grade 85 or over A 70 – 84 B 55 – 69 C 40 – 54 D 25 – 39 E 10 – 24 F Less than 10 No Grade *Different for English

Exam Entry SEC sends form to school Pupils confirm subjects & levels Forms returned to SEC end March Junior Certificate pupils are not permitted to change levels after this They should not change on the day of the exam.

Examination Fees SEC sets exam fee each year Fee – € 109 approximately (not decided yet by SEC) Medical Card - no fee but form must be returned Bank giro form Pay in bank & return stamped form to school Mock Fees - € 140. Parents pay € 90

When is the exam? Wednesday 6 th June 2018 Timetable not yet issued Will be sent in the Post to you from school Results issue on 2 nd Wednesday in September

Practical Elements Science Home Economics Art Music Religion CSPE

SCIENCE § 2 Experiments/Investigations 25% This is done in school over six weeks 30 Mandatory experiments 10% § Done over three years in school § Students & teachers keep record § Teacher must sign off on them

Science Exam booklet written up in Hall in April Report on the two investigations Written Exam in June 65%

HOME ECONOMICS Cookery Practical Exam April ~ 35% H Craftwork or Childcare Project Done in 3 rd Year 45% O 15% Written Exam 50% H 40% O

Craft Project Make a craft item e. g. cushion Produce a folder outlining the process in designing & producing the final piece

Cookery Exam 90 min exam in March Task given two weeks in advance Practise at home and in class Do task on the day External examiner

ART Project - 75% Drawing Exam - 25%

Project – 8 items Start early October Finish early May Research and sketching to be done at home each week Deadlines – please note Level decided at Christmas

ART PROJECT DEADLINES Deadline 1: December 2017 (25%) Ms Garvey – Painting/Graphic Design Ms Lynch – 3 D Deadline 2: March 2018 (25%) Ms Garvey – 3 D Ms Lynch – Painting/Graphic Design Deadline 3: Early May 2018 (25%) Completed Option & Prep Sheet

Drawing Exam May 1. 1. Still Life - 1 hour Choose on object from exam paper week before Life drawing – 1 ½ hours Draw a seated model – details given in advance

MUSIC Practical exam after Easter Higher Level 25% Ordinary Level 20% Higher level students prepare 4 pieces Ordinary level prepare 2 pieces Written paper in June – Listening and composing

RELIGION Religion Journal 20% Written Exam in June 80%

Journal 20% List of topics sent to schools Reflections, observations etc Pupils write it, teachers correct and comment Must be pupil’s own work In May written into official journal

CSPE Written exam in June 40% Action Project 60%

Action Project 60% Usually done in 2 nd Year/3 rd Year Special Olympics, Anti Litter Day, Visit Dail, Volunteering etc Report on Action Project (RAP) Teacher advises on draft work In April RAP is completed in school

Tracking progress. . Reflecting on My Progress Booklets School journal – section to write in grades Term report Mock exams – 29 th January to 9 th February Parent Teacher Meeting – 18 th December

On Wednesday 6 th June…. Check timetable Be on time, allow for traffic Materials - Maths set, pens, pencils Lunch JC students not allowed leave during lunch unless a parent collects

Homework Vs Re -Vision 88% of material is gone after 6 weeks if not revised Revision checklist for each subject Use exam paper structure Revision - weekly basis Time for revision = amount of marks Testing memory & practising skills Revision session should have specific goals

Different subjects call for different styles of studying Maths – spend time doing calculations History – read text, make mind map, test yourself

Identify Sources of Help Teacher of a subject Maths help desk Reliable friend who understands the subject well Siblings/family members Learning support Online study tools e. g. Study planners, video and audio resources, flashcards, study quizzes

Use Examination Papers Know exam papers for each subject very well Know marking schemes very well – www. examinations. ie Note trends and patterns in questions/topics Link revision to past exam paper questions Timed testing

How can I help my daughter… Time table for study Set goals with your daughter e. g. grades for Term Exam/mocks. Pin it up! Dedicated study space at home Supervised study/Easter study Attendance at school

Junior Cycle English A dual approach to assessment, involving classroom-based assessment across the three years and a final externallyassessed, state-certified examination enables the appropriate balance between preparing students for examinations and also facilitating creative thinking, engaged learning and better outcomes for students. (jct. ie)

Overview of Assessment Classroom Based Assessment (CBA) - corrected by teacher Assessment Task + Final Assessment - corrected by State Examinations Commission

CBA Grades Exceptional Above Expectations In Line with Expectations Yet to Meet Expectations **Features of Quality set by SEC

CBA Correction Process Two CBA’s to be completed Completed in class Corrected by teacher Marking process 1. All English teachers select work from students that reflects different features of quality 2. Teachers meet at a SLAR (Subject Learning and Assessment Review) 3. Teachers then correct students work 4. Result recorded on Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement

SEC Assessment Two Components: 1. Assessment Task completed in class (Dec). 10% of SEC grade. 2. Final Assessment in June 2018. 90% of SEC grade. Junior Cycle Results % Grade Descriptor 90 -100 Distinction 75 -89 Higher Merit 55 -74 Merit 40 -54 Achieved 20 -39 Partially Achieved 0 -19 Not Graded