SUBJECT CHOICE Ramsgrange Community School Factors Advice

SUBJECT CHOICE Ramsgrange Community School

Factors Advice Questions ? ? Requirements Subjects

Decisions decisions…… www. qualifax. ie www. careersportal. ie www. ncca. ie

WHAT FACTORS SHOULD INFLUENCE SUBJECT CHOICE? ERA

Other facts to consider before making subject choice Ability Careers Broad Options

st 1 year options • In 1 st year, students had a “taste” of all the subject options • Three subjects are then chosen and carried to Junior Cert • Descriptions of the subjects are available at www. ncca. ie

Junior Cert – the basics • • • English Irish Maths Geography History CSPE • SPHE, Religion, PE

1 st year Subjects to choose from • • • French/German Business Art Home-Economics Science Music Materials Technology (Wood) Materials Technology (Metal) Technical Graphics

Leaving Cert THE BASICS Students take 7 subjects for the Leaving Certificate English Irish Maths

STUDENTS MUST CHOOSE 4 SUBJECTS • • FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST History • Accounting Geography • Business French • Economics Art • Biology Home Economics • Physics Engineering • Chemistry Design and Communication • Agricultural Science Graphics Construction Studies/Architectural Technology

Onto College…. .

Applying to College

Applying to College • QQI developed a National Framework of Qualifications uniting all qualifications issued by institutions in Ireland • HETAC - HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) comprise of the Institutes of Technology and the Universities/Colleges • FETAC - PLCs (Post Leaving Certificate Courses/Colleges) include all the Colleges of Further Education and similar types of institutions • Both systems mentioned have very different application procedures

www. nfq. ie

Universities and Affiliated Colleges • NUI – UCD, UCC, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, RCSI • Other Universities – Trinity, DCU, and UL • University Affiliated Institutions – Colleges of Education, Theology, Art and Design, Medicine, Hotel Management, NCI and Private Colleges

Institutes of Technology DIT, IT Tallaght, IT Blanchardstown, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology, IT Carlow, Dundalk IT, Athlone IT, Waterford IT, Limerick/ Tipperary IT, Galway/Mayo IT, IT Sligo, Cork IT, IT Tralee, Letterkenny IT

Requirements for College Minimum/ Residence Course / Faculty/ Specific requirements Basic entry requirements / Matriculation Final selection system

Basic / Entry / Matriculation requirements • Each college course has its own matriculation / basic / entry requirements. • These entry requirements will change with the new scale. • Where the requirements are currently 2 higher level C 3 grades and 4 Ordinary D 3 grades, in 2017 these will become 2 H 5 and 4 O 6/H 7 grades. • Where the requirements are currently 5 ordinary level D 3 grades, in 2017 these will become 5 O 6/H 7 grades. • Where the requirements are currently 3 higher level C 3 grades and 3 ordinary level D 3 grades,

No third language requirement • • Trinity College University of Limerick D. C. U. Institutes of Technology – unless it is a specific course requirement. A pass in Irish will suffice. Gardai, Nursing, Apprenticeships & most PLC Courses

No third language requirement • Engineering, Science, Business, Law Accounting and Finance in NUI Maynooth • Engineering, Science, Ag Science & Social Science in UCD (except for DN 037 - Biomedical, Health & Life Sciences) • Engineering, Science & Food Science UCC • Engineering & Science NUI Galway

Foundation Level Maths Universities • Foundation level maths is acceptable in courses where maths is not a specified course requirement, eg. Law, Social science or Arts IT’s • Foundation level maths is not accepted in most courses, it depends on the Institute and the particular course. In general, • Points are allocated depending on the institution and course

Course / Faculty / Specific Entry Requirements • Certain courses require specific requirements upon entry – usually courses in the STEM category, Modern language courses, Art and Music courses • It is essential that the requirements for such courses are researched before chosen (or options kept open) • Any interest in health, science, nutrition, medicine or sport = keep on a science subject!

Science Requirements • 2 science subjects are required for some science based courses in Trinity and UCC(in some cases they require H 2 - H 4, some will accept Maths, Applied Maths, a technical subject and Geography) • 1 science subject is generally required for most science based courses in universities, (levels differ according to course and college) • Examples: A Higher “H 4” in Chemistry is required for Veterinary in UCD, Pharmacy in Trinity, Medicine, Dentistry in UCC, Human Nutrition (dietician) in DIT

NO SCIENCE SUBJECT… • …is required for entry to most of the Science or Engineering certificate courses at the Institutes of Technology or for Arts, Business Studies, Social Science, Law etc. , at Universities. • It is not required for most Post Leaving Cert. Courses for most apprenticeships

Modern Languages • Apart from the basic entry requirements already mentioned, a foreign language is only required if it forms part of the course, eg. Business and Languages, European Studies, Software Development and French, (level differs according to course and college) • A foreign language is needed for entry into the Cadets (Army and Air Corps)

FINAL SELECTION SYSTEM • Individual interviews and/or portfolio or aptitude tests • Points System - points are allocated to the six best grades of an applicant.

Points The points level published for any course in any year will be the points level achieved by the last entrant onto that course for that year

• Points are calculated from the student’s six best results in one sitting of the Leaving Certificate, maximum 600/625 points • All subjects (except higher level maths) count equally for entry to college or university • Entry given to those with the highest points for competitive courses

The New Points Scale • The grades we achieve at both higher and ordinary level are now numbered from 1 – 8.

What does the new scale hope to achieve? • To fairly reward students achievements • To minimise random selection on some courses (in the old system a lot of students achieved the same points, this will be less common on the new scale as the points awarded are no longer multiples of 5) • To encourage more students to take up higher level subjects by awarding points at H 7 grade

The New Points Scale • 25 Bonus Points will be awarded for H 1 – H 6 in Maths.

Sample Calculation Paul Subject Level Old Grade New Grade Old Score New Score Irish H C 2 H 4 65 66 English O A 1 O 1 60 56 Maths H C 3 H 5 60+25=85 56+25=81 Geography H B 2 H 3 80 77 Biology H C 1 H 4 70 66 Physics O A 1 O 1 60 56 French H B 3 H 3 75 77 LCVP C Merit 50 46 Old Points = 435 New Points =423 Add the 6 best scores shown in RED

REMEMBER! • Entry requirements for specific courses change regularly so it is essential to check the college prospectus’ for individual course requirements

PARENTAL ADVICE • When choosing leaving cert. subjects, choose subjects that you think you will do best in subjects in which you have the most interest and which you find easiest! If you know what you want to do, check the college prospectus / website.

Thank you for your attention!!!