Subject Choice And

The Leaving Certificate

A Time to Choose…

Remember

Things that are important when choosing a subject:

1. Aptitude/Ability&

2. Interest

National Framework Of qualifications The framework is a structure of

levels, designed to bring an increased clarity to the meaning of each type of qualification, allowing qualifications to be compared easily

The framework comprises TEN levels

National Framework of Qualifications

Post-Leaving Certificate Qualifications PLC- Certificate Higher

Certificate Ordinary

Degree Honours

Degree Postgraduate

Diploma Masters Doctorate

1 yr- level 5 2 yrs- level 6

3 yrs- level 7

3-4 yrs- level 8

2 yrs- level 9 1-2 yrs- level 9 Up to 5 yrs-

level 10

Grading System Changes in Senior CycleJunior CertificateGrade % A 85-100 B 70-84 C 55-69 D 40-54

Leaving CertificateGrade % A1 90-100 A2 85-89 B1 80-84 B2 75-79 B3 70-74 C1 65-69 C2 60-64 C3 55-59 D1 50-54 D2 45-49 D3 40-44

Points Allocation Grade Higher Ordinary Bonus H Maths

Higher Level Mathematics

From 2012 to 2015 inclusive 25 bonus points will be awarded to students who achieve a D3 or above in Higher Level Mathematics

This means that the maximum Leaving Cert points will then be 625.

Minimum Entry Requirements

These are the basic grades a student needs to achieve in certain subjects in their Leaving Certificate

Different universities have different minimum entry requirements

Colleges of NUI

UCD UCC NUI Maynooth NUI Galway

NUI Colleges Minimum Entry Requirements to Degree

Courses Level 8 (NUI) 2HC3 and passes

in four additional Subjects

Passes in Irish

English Mathematics

Second Language And two additional

subjects

TCD Colleges Minimum Entry Requirements to Degree

Courses For all Level 8 Degrees at Trinity

College 3HC3 + 3 passes which must

include English

Mathematics A Second Language

And three additional Subjects

Dublin City UniversityUniversity of Limerick

& the Institutes of Technology

2HC3 and four passes to include

English/Irish Mathematics

And four additional subjects

Minimum Entry Requirements

Again, different universities have different minimum entry requirements

Students need to check college prospectus

Ordinary Degrees Level 7& Higher Certificate Level 6

Institutes of Technology including Dublin Institute of Technology

Trinity College: Dental Nursing – Level 6 Dental Hygiene- Level 7

Minimum Entry Requirement For Level 6 & 7 are

5 or 6 Passes to include: For most courses

Irish or English Mathematics

And three additional subjects ( Some level 7s require a min

number of points eg 200 for DKIT)

Entry Requirements for Level 5 PLC Courses

5 passes in the Leaving Certificate

Interview (in most cases) Some require samples of work/

further assessments.

Planning on going to College..

Students must satisfy 3 requirements to obtain a place on a third level course

1. Minimum Entry Requirement/ College Requirement

2. Faculty requirement3. The Points Requirement

Faculty Requirement These are certain subjects

and/or grades in subjects you must achieve in the Leaving Certificate in order to pursue a particular course e.g.

HC3 in Irish to study Primary Teaching;

Medicine requires 2 science subjects or 1 science and honours maths in place of physics in TCD

Points Requirement

Once the Minimum Entry Requirement and Faculty Requirement have been satisfied then……

Places Are then awarded on Merit- The Points Requirement

All Subjects are Equal In terms of entry to third level

colleges Almost all subjects count

equally in terms of points (except Honours Maths)

For Example an A in Art is worth the same points as an A in Physics, for engineering!

One might be more useful but they both score the same

Why seven subjects?

CAO (Central Application Office) Award points based on the best SIX subjects The Seventh subject can be a safety

net &

Timetable is structured on all students studying seven subjects

Why Irish, English, Maths and a Language?

The NUI (National University of Ireland) has a specific requirement that each student must have a minimum 2HC3 and four additional passes.

They must have passes in Irish, English, Mathematics and a foreign language (except for Science/ engineering / Ag Science courses)

Therefore, Loreto College, offer these subjects as Core

Core SubjectsAll students will study the following core subjects

Irish English Mathematics French or Spanish Physical Education Non-exam Religious Education I.T.

Senior Cycle Modules

Careers Study Skills Drama R.S.E. (Relationship & Sexuality

Education)

Geography History Design &

Communication Graphics

Home Economics

Art

Music Biology Chemistry Physics Accounting Business Religious

Education

In addition they must choose 4 subjects from the following list- 3 given

Different subject areas

LanguagesFrench (Core) & Spanish (Core)

Students must have studied a language for Junior Certificate if they wish to study it for the

Leaving Certificate.

Science Subjects

Chemistry Biology Physics

Business Studies Subjects

Accounting Business

Applied Science Subjects

Design & Communication Graphics

Home Economics

Social Studies Subjects

History Geography Religious

Education Music Art

Science Requirement Most colleges requiring a

science subject only require one

Trinity College, UCC and DIT have specific requirements

Physiotherapy in TCD need two science subjects

Pharmacy Level 8

Pharmacy in TCD requires a HC3 in Chemistry and a HC3 in another science subject or maths or geography

Pharmacy in RCSI requires a HB3 in a Science Subject

Engineering Level 8UCD HC3 Mathematics A Science Subject – min

HD3Nursing Nursing requires a science

subject

Closing Doors

Not choosing a science subject can close doors at this stage.

Find out the specific requirements needed for your area of interest.

Qualifax – www.qualifax.ie

www.careersportal.ie

www.careersportal.ie

www.careersportal.ie

Common Questions?

Accounting

Do I need to study Accounting in order to be an Accountant?

Languages

Do I Need to have previously studied Spanish to take it in College?

No. Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian and Chinese can all be taken at beginners level

A minimum level is required for most other language courses

For example; Business and French in DCU requires HC3 in French.

Architect

Do I need Design and Communications Graphics to study Architecture?

No and a laboratory Science Subject is no longer required for UCD (since 2011)

Remember

What is important when choosing a subject:

1. Aptitude/Ability

&

2. Interest

But most importantly….

Choose subjects that you ENJOY

If you enjoy the subject the POINTS will come

What should I do next?

Check out college Prospectuses or job descriptions before making your choice.

Visit relevant websites www.cao.ie www.qualifax.ie www.careersportal.ie www.loretoswords.ie

What to do next….

Research Subject Choice forms need to

be into the general office of the school by Friday 21st March

Questions?