Transcript 5th Year Subject Choice - St. Wolstan`s Community School

Subject
Choice for
Leaving
Certificate
2018
KIERAN CORCORAN & BRID HUGHES
GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS
WHAT IS SUBJECT CHOICE?
Subject choice involves the choosing of a
MEANINGFUL MANAGEABLE
package of subjects for the leaving certificate
examination
It is a very important matter, in that it may
decide career choices on leaving school
Leaving Certificate Subjects
Students study 7 Subjects for Examination

Essential Subjects
English, Irish, Maths,
Language (French, Spanish)

Non Exam Subjects
Religious Education
Physical Education
ECDL 5th yr

Option Subjects x 3
Option Subjects
Business Group
Arts / Social Studies Group
Accounting
Home Economics
Business
Geography
History Early Modern
Science Group
History Late Modern
Physics
Art
Chemistry
Music
Biology
Link Modules
Technology
Leaving Cert Vocational
Programme
Leaving Cert / Junior Cert Link Ups

Students often choose subjects they have
studied for Junior Certificate but not always.

Art must have been done in Junior Cert or a
student has to be able to prove their ability

Music can be done if a student who hasn’t
studied it for JC
 Can read music
 Maybe play an instrument

Business and Home Economics can be taken
from beginning
Preparation of Students in School for
Subject Choice

Career Interest Assessment

Career guidance classes
 How process works and choices on offer
 College / career requirements
 How to decide

Special subject classes where subjects are explained

One to one meeting with Guidance Counsellor

Informal career guidance
What Students Should Do
Research the content
of subjects
Careersportal.ie
Skoool.ie

Borrow books and
notes from senior
students

Talk to senior
students

Talk to teachers
How to Decide

Things to Consider

The content of subjects: does it interest me?

My past performance: will I be good at it?

Whether I prefer to learn things off or work things
out?

What type of careers am I likely to want to do
when I leave school?
Things not to Consider

Doing what I
perceive as ‘easy’

What my friends
are doing

What teacher I
might have or not
have
College / Career
Requirements

Three Types of Requirements

Minimum Entry or Matriculation
Requirements

Faculty or course requirements

Points
Minimum Entry Requirements
(matriculation

For NUI Colleges

for matriculation in 2017 Candidates must obtain
a pass in at least six subjects selected according
to college/faculty requirements with at least
Grade H5 in two subjects on the Higher Course
and at least Grade H7 (Higher Course) or O6
(Ordinary Course) in four subjects.
Faculty or Course
Requirements

Particular LC subjects may be required for
certain college courses

Mostly concerns Maths, Languages and
Science

There may also a requirement to achieve a
certain level in certain subjects
Eg H5 (HC3) in Irish for primary teaching
HC in maths for Level 8 (hons) degree in
Engineering

There are plenty of courses for which there are no
specific subject requirements:
 You
do not need a business subject to
do business in college
 You
do not need technical drawing to
do architecture or engineering
The Points Requirement

Points are given for the best 6 results in one sitting
of the Leaving Certificate

Most subjects carry equal points (LCVP/Maths)

The points for every course are based on supply
and demand each year
The New Grades/Points System
Bonus Points for Higher
Maths

25 bonus points for H6 (D3) or better in Hons Math

Has to be counted as one of best 6 results after
points are allocated
Required Subjects
Science

Physics / Chemistry / Biology

Required for most courses in

Medical

Technical

Scientific
2 required for medicine and therapies in some
Universities
2 Sciences Required


Medicine or Dentistry TCD / Any 2 Sciences
Medicine UCC/ Chem+1 of physics/biol

Dentistry UCC/Chem+1 of physics/biol

Pharmacy TCD/ UCC/Chem+1 of physics/biol

Physiotherapy TCD

Most science courses TCD

1 science with Hons Maths will do for Pharmacy
and Physiotherapy
1 Science Required
but 2 recommended
for
Veterinary UCD
Medicine in other Universities
1 Science Required


Human Nutrition
(dietetics) DIT / Chem
Occupational Therapy
TCD

Radiation Therapy TCD

Physiotherapy

Nursing

Speech and Language
Therapy

Naval Cadets

Sports Science

Engineering

Architecture (only in
UCD)

Agriculture

Optometry

Most Science courses

Industrial Design

Beauty therapy
(recommended)
Chemistry

Chemistry is
required for
 Veterinary
 Pharmacy
 Nutrition
Dietetics
 Dentistry
/
Foundation Subjects

Foundation level is offered only in Maths and
Irish

There are points for foundation level maths.

Foundation maths will fulfill the maths
requirement for entry to Universities and
Institutes of Technology but will not fulfill
specific course requirements or count for
points.

Foundation Irish does not fulfill the Irish
requirement where it is required.
Leaving Cert Vocational
Programme
An enhanced Leaving Certificate with practical approach


LCVP Link Modules:
Preparation for the world of work
Enterprise
Work Experience

Taken as an option subject

Links into other two option subjects.

Practical Programme with 60% on portfolio assessment and
40% on final exam
Preparation for the World of Work
•
•
•
•
•
•
Career Investigation
Awareness of my interests and abilities
Job Application Process
Work experience
Employment Law e.g Health and Safety,
Trade Unions, Other work related issues
Enterprise Education

Starting up new businesses

My Own place: investigation into
my local community

Marketing

Planning

Visits to local industries

Report writing
Why Take LCVP?
Practical programme that suits practical
students
Real preparation for the world of work
Bulk of marks go for portfolio done over 2 yrs
Links with other option subjects enhances
performance in those subjects.
Promotes skills and qualities of self-reliance,
innovation and enterprise.
Subject Combinations Allowed with LCVP
1. Any 2 of Chemistry, Biology, Physics
2. Technology with Physics
3. Technology with Business or Accounting
4. Any 2 of Business, Accounting
5. Art, with Business or Accounting
6. Home Economics with Biology
7. Home Economics with Art
8. Home Economics with Business or Accounting
9. Music with Business or Accounting
Link Modules

Not accepted as one of 6 required subjects
for entry to University

Accepted by some Institutes of Technology
eg Tallaght and PLCs as one of 5/6 required
subjects for matriculation
Counted for points by all colleges
Distinction
Merit
Pass
=
=
=
80% - 100%
65% - 79%
50% - 64%
=
=
=
66 points
46points
28 points
How Subject Choice
Works






For 3rd Years
Option forms given out Thursday 28th Jan
To be returned Tuesday the 2nd Feb
TYs
Option forms given out Friday 5th Feb
To be returned Tuesday 9th Feb

Three bands of subjects will be established
based on students preferences

Not first come first served

Students will be given their desired subjects as far
as possible, one from each band.

Nothing can be guaranteed

Usually approximately 85-90% will get their top
three

The remainder will usually get their top two plus
their fourth
Option Lines

5Opt 1

Hom Ec/ His / Art / Bio / Bio / Chem / Phy

5Opt 2

Home Ec / Art / Mus / Bus / Bio / Chem/ Tech

5Opt 3

Home Ec / His / Geog / LCVP / Bio / Chem

Students who submit their choice form after the
deadline cannot be guaranteed their choices.

You cannot easily change your subject choices
once they are submitted.

If there aren’t enough students who choose a
subject that subject may not go ahead.

While students will be helped to make their
decision, it is ultimately their decision so it is their
responsibility to do their research.
Conclusion

Subject choice for Leaving Cert is important

Each student must make her own mind up

Most students get it right

Hard work is required in every subject
There are no easy subjects
Thank You

Mr Corcoran and Ms Hughes will be happy to
answer any of your questions

Just give us a call

Good night