St. Augustine’s College
Leaving Certificate
Subject Choices 2015/16
Email:guidance@staugustines.ie
Twitter: @GuidanceMoore
RESEARCH NEEDED
CAREER AREA & ESSENTIAL
SUBJECTS
After choosing career area, the student must research:
•Essential subject required
•Minimum grade specified.
For example :
• A Third language is essential for the National University of
Ireland i.e. NUIC, NUIG, NUID, NUIM.
If in doubt seek advice from the Career Counsellor
SCHOOL DECISIONS
The School must:
•Match the numbers taking various subjects with available
staff
•Take class size into account
Sometimes not enough students opt for a certain subject so
a class cannot be formed.
Therefore, it is important to have a substitute choice that
you have researched and that you are happy with should
one of your choices prove not to be feasible.
Choosing subjects does not necessarily mean that you will
be able to study them for the Leaving Certificate.
HOW TO CHOOSE SUBJECT LEVEL
Look at:
• Junior Certificate results
• Career area
• Essential subjects & level requirements
Advice:
• Start at the higher level and keep the head down.
• It is easier to drop to a lower level.
Subject choice should not depend on:
• Teacher
• Rumours about ‘easy’ subjects
We would like to see students working to their full potential.
Subject Choice 2015/16
To help students pick subjects each TY class will have
careers classes before they pick their subjects.
Careers Class Online Profile
(E-learning)
Careers Book
Multiple Intelligence Test
Personality Test
Exam Targets
Career Interest Tests
Occupational Interest Test (OII)
Aims, Ambitions, Career Interest
Test, Personality Test
STUDENTS STUDY SEVEN SUBJECTS
Three of the Seven Subjects are
Core/Obligatory Subjects
•Gaeilge
•English
•Mathematics
Remaining Four Subjects come from a Choice of 16 Subjects (Preference Form)
Rank subject in order of preference 1,2,3, etc to number 6
Subject
Preference
French
German
Accounting
Agricultural Science
Art, Craft, Design
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Construction Studies
Design & Communication Graphics (DCG)
Economics
Geography
History
Scientific and Social Home Economics (S & S)
Music
Physics
1
2
3
4
5
6
10 Easiest Subjects
Irish Times Article
1. Music
2. Irish
3. Technology
4. Spanish
5. Maths
6. Design and communications
7. Art
8. German
9. History
10. Accounting
LCVP
Co-ordinator= Ms. N.Sheehan
Preparation for the World of
Work
• Introduction to Working Life
• Job-seeking Skills
Enterprise Education
• Enterprise Skills
• Local Business Enterprise
• Local Voluntary
• Career Investigation
• Work Placement
Organisations / Community
Enterprise
• An Enterprise Activity
LCVP Vocational Subject Groupings
You must be studying one of the following combinations to do LCVP:
Specialist Groupings:
1. Construction Studies, Engineering, DCG (ANY TWO)
2. Physics AND Construction Studies OR Engineering OR Technology OR DCG
3. Home Economics AND Biology
4. Home Economics AND Art...design option or craft option.
5. Accounting and Business
6. Physics AND Chemistry
7. Biology AND Chemistry OR Physics OR Physics/Chemistry
8. Art...Design Option or Craft Option AND DCG.
9. Engineering OR Technology OR Construction Studies OR DCG AND Accounting OR
Business
10. Home Economics AND Accounting OR Business
11. Art Design or Craft Option AND Accounting OR Business
12. Music AND Accounting OR Business
LCVP Assessment
LCVP is assessed by a (40%) written examination in May of
the LC year and a (60%) portfolio submitted before the LC.
Entry to Universities and Institutes of Technology.
LCVP is a qualifying subject for points.
Distinction 80% - 100%
Merit
65% - 79%
Pass
50% - 64%
70 Points
50 Points
30 Points
Points Scheme
Grade
Higher
Ordinary
A1
100
60
A2
90
50 Merit
B1
85
45
B2
80
40
B3
75
35
C1
70Distinction
30 Pass
C2
65
25
C3
60
20
D1
55
15
D2
50 Merit
10
D3
45
5
USEFUL WEBSITES
FOR SUBJECT CHOICE
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www.careersportal.ie (all about jobs, courses and more)
www.cao.ie (3rd level courses in Ireland)
www.qualifax.ie (look up courses)
www.careerdirections.ie (Job Descriptions)
www.skoool.ie (look up senior cycle subjects)
www.nursingcareers.ie (all about nursing)
www.science.ie (all about Science & Engineering)
www.examinations.ie (all about exams)
www.skillsireland.ie (all about jobs in the future)
www.fas.ie (all about apprenticeships)
www.ucas.co.uk (3rd level courses in the UK)