SUBJECT CHOICE FOR
LEAVING CERT 2012
St Mogues College
This Information is intended for the use of
parents and students of St. Mogues College only
Core Subjects
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In this school you must take:
Irish (unless exempt)
English
Mathematics
That leaves you with a choice of
four other subjects from the
following list
How Do You Choose?
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To choose the rest of your subjects first
read through the information on the
following pages.
Pay particular attention to the information
on LCVP, on why you should do it and what
subjects combinations you need.
Carefully read the information on colleges
and courses that require French or Science
subjects.
How Do You Choose Cont’d?
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Consider what subjects you are good at?
What courses or careers are you interested in
after you do your Leaving Cert?
What subjects do you need to get into those
courses or careers?
What subjects would be useful if not
necessary for such courses and careers?
What subjects do you like?
Use the Scoring Sheets for each Option.
Now choose one subject from each Option.
The Four Options 1,2,3,4
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Choose just one subject from each Option
Group A:
Agricultural Science or French
Group B:
Biology or Geography or
Physics & Chemistry
Group C:
Business or Construction Studies
Group D:
Design & Communications Graphics
or History or Home Economics
LEAVING CERTIFICATE SUBJECT CHOICE
Preliminary Choice
Group A: (Ag. Science/French)
___________________
Group B: (Biology/Phys+Chem/Geog.)
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Group C: (Bus/ Const. St.)
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Group D: (Design CG/History/Home Ec.)
___________________
Signed:
__________________
(Students Name)
Date:
___________
The completed form should be given to the Principal not
later than Friday 23rd April 2010
Do I Need to Take French in My
Leaving Cert
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I want to go to University College
Dublin(UCD), University College
Cork(UCC), NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth,
Pontifical University Maynooth, Royal
College of Surgeons, Shannon College of
Hotel Management.
I want to do a course that requires
French.
I want to join the Cadets
What Can I Do Without French
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French is not required for entry to:
Nursing
DCU, Trinity College, University of Limerick,
Primary Teacher Training
The Institutes of Technology e.g. Sligo
Most Engineering, Agriculture, Science or
Actuarial Courses in NUI Galway, NUI
Maynooth, UCC and UCD (See Exceptions)
A pass in Polish, Lithuanian etc., at Leaving
Cert can be substituted for French
Do I need a Science Subject
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I want to do a course that requires a science
subject (Engineering, Nursing, Forensics
etc.,)
I want to do Science at College
I want to train as a primary teacher in the
U.K.
I want to do Beauty Therapy etc., in Cavan
Institute
There is a growing scarcity of qualified
scientists
Why should I do LCVP?
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The Leaving Cert Vocational Programme
(LCVP) provides:
Enterprise Education
Careers Education
Work Experience
Interview Skills
Can be substituted for points instead of your
subject with the lowest grade.
What do I need for LCVP?
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For Leaving Cert Vocational Programme
(LCVP) you need:
At least 5 Leaving Cert subjects including
Irish.
Two subjects from a list of Vocational
Subject Optionings (VSG’s).
Study either French or ab initio French or
Spanish to Leaving Cert.
Vocational Subject Groupings
2009/2010
1
Biology or
Business or
Construction Studies or
Design & Communication
Graphics or
Home Economics
and
Agricultural Science
2
Physics & Chemistry
and
Biology
and
Design & Communication Graphics
and
Home Economics
3
4
Business or
Construction Studies
Biology or Business
Science Subjects
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AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
– Applies Biology, Physics & Chemistry to agriculture.
– Very good for careers in agriculture and science.
BIOLOGY
– Science of living things.
– Very good for careers in science, sport, nursing, hairdressing
and beauty care.
PHYSICS & CHEMISTRY
– Science of chemicals, materials, heat, light, electricity and
motion.
– Very good for science, engineering, practical careers and
apprenticeships e.g. fitting, plumbing and electrical etc.,
Technology Subjects
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CONSTRUCTION
– Follows on from Materials Technology wood.
– Deals with all aspects of construction, building design and
building theory and regulations.
– Very good for all Construction, Engineering, Design, practical
careers and apprenticeships.
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DESIGN & COMMUNICATION GRAPHICS
– Used to be known as Technical Drawing.
– Follows on from Technical Graphics.
– Very good for all Construction, Engineering, Design, practical
careers and apprenticeships.
Business, Geography, History,
Home Economics
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Follow on from the Junior Courses of the same names
very good for social, personal and academic
development
Business: very good for all business careers
and self-employed.
History & Geography: very good for all
careers in social, travel, tourism, international
trading, communications, policy-making or
teaching.
Home Economics: very good subject for any
career in food, hotel, catering, travel, tourism,
social work, nursing or caring areas.
Seven Things That Are Not Relevant to
Subject Selection
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Only swots and licks do that subject.
Only girls/boys do that subject.
None of my friends are doing that subject.
I don’t like the teacher.
I will do it because it’s a doss.
I hate the subject but I’ll do it anyway in case I
want to do a course I might need it for.
If I don’t do it for the Leaving Cert. then I won’t be
able to do any course that it is part of at college.
Points & Courses
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There are over 3,000 courses available at Third
Level, 1,335 in the CAO system and 1,871 in
Further Education
Here are a small sample of the best known CAO
courses
Over 40% of all courses had points
requirements of less than 300 in 20098
For a full listing of every Third Level and
Further Education course in Ireland log onto
www.qualifax.ie
For more information on careers log onto
www.careersportal.ie
Sample Points & Courses 2009
Course
Course Provider
Qualification Points
For a full listing of every Third Level and Further Education
course in Ireland log onto www.qualifax.ie
For more information on careers log onto www.careersportal.ie
% Band
LC Grades
Higher Level
Points
Ordinary Level Points
Bonus*
90 -100
A1
100
60
40
85 - 89
A2
90
50
35
80 - 84
B1
85
45
30
75 - 79
B2
80
40
25
70 - 74
B3
75
35
20
65 - 69
C1
70
30
15
60 - 64
C2
65
25
10
55 - 59
C3
60
20
5
50 - 54
D1
55
15
*Higher
Maths in
UL
45 - 49
D2
50
10
40 - 44
D3
45
5
LCVP
Distinction
Merit
Pass
70 points
50 points
30 points
Important Information
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All the information given on subject
requirements is the most up to date
available at this time (April 2010) and
is based on www.qualifax.ie
The information given on LCVP subject
requirements is the most up to date
available at this time (April 2010) and
is based on DESC Circular 13/2009
Exceptions
Specific Subject Required
Code
Course
CK405 Genetics
Human
TR056 Health &
Disease
College
UCC
Trinity
3rd Language Required
Specific
Subject
DN096
Science Health &
performance
UCD
DN037
Science –
Biomedical,
Health & Life
UCD
GY 304
B.Sc. in
NUIG
Biotechnology
HC3 in
Biology
HC3 in
Biology &
HC3 in
Physics &
Chemistry