INFORMATION NIGHT
MONDAY 26THTH JAN 2015
DEIRDRE GRIFFIN
GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR
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GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF EXAMS AT SECOND
LEVEL
TO GIVE A BRIEF OUTLINE OF EACH OPTIONAL
SUBJECT FOR JUNIOR CYCLE.
TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF JUNIOR CYCLE
SUBJECT CHOICE UPON FUTURE CHOICES AT
SENIOR CYCLE.
TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF SUBJECT LEVEL ON
FUTURE ATTAINMENT.
TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF SUBJECT CHOICE FOR
JUNIOR CYCLE IN KCS
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JUNIOR CERT
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THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH SENIOR CYCLE
IS BUILT
11 SUBJECTS EXAMINED – BROAD STUDY
ENGLISH, IRISH, MATHS AT HIGHER,
ORDINARY, FOUNDATION LEVEL
ALL OTHER SUBJECTS AT HIGHER OR
ORDINARY LEVEL
CSPE (Civic, Social and Political Education)
COMMON PAPER
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Percentage Range
Grade
85 or over
A
70 but less than 85
B
55 but less than 70
C
40 but less than 55
D
25 but less than 40
E
10 but less than 25
F
Less than 10
No Grade
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Applied
1 Yr
2 Yr
3 Yr
LCA1
LCA2
LC1
LC2
4 Yr
Established
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LEAVING CERT EST.
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7 SUBJECTS STUDIED/EXAMINED
MORE INDEPTH STUDY
IRISH AND MATHS AT HIGHER, ORDINARY,
FOUNDATION LEVEL
ALL OTHER SUBJECTS HIGHER OR ORDINARY
LEVEL
6 BEST RESULTS ADDED FOR POINTS FOR
ENTRY TO THIRD LEVEL
POINTS PLUS SPECIFIC COURSE ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS = ENTRY IN TO COURSE
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PERCENTAGE RANGE
GRADE
90% - 100%
A1
85% - 89%
A2
80% - 84%
B1
75% - 79%
B2
70% - 74%
B3
65% - 69%
C1
60% - 64%
C2
55% - 59%
C3
50% - 54%
D1
45% - 49%
D2
40% - 44%
D3
25% - 39%
E
10% - 24%
F
Less than 10%
NO GRADE
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25 bonus points will be added to the points score for Leaving
Certificate Higher Level Mathematics.
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YES! BECAUSE….
OFFERS STUDENTS BROAD PLATFORM
FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE FOR SENIOR
CYCLE
INLUENCES CHOICE OF PROGRAMME (LCA
OR LEAVING CERT ESTABLISHED )
INFLUENCES SUBJECT CHOICES FOR
LEAVING CERT
INFLUENCES SUBJECT LEVELS FOR LEAVING
CERT
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ENGLISH
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IRISH (unless DES exempt)
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MATHS
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EUROPEAN LANGUAGE:
FRENCH/GERMAN
(unless DES exempt)
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HISTORY
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GEOGRAPHY
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RELIGION
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SCIENCE
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C.S.P.E.
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P.E. (NON-EXAM)
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S.P.H.E. (NON-EXAM)
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IRISH,ENGLISH AND MATHS ARE DIVIDED
NEXT YEAR INTO HIGHER LEVEL (HL) AND
ORDINARY LEVEL (OL) CLASSES
FRENCH/GERMAN ALSO DIVIDED INTO
LEVELS
ALL OTHER SUBJECTS ARE TAUGHT IN
MIXED-ABILITY CLASSES
ALL SUBJECTS AVAILABLE AT ORDINARY AND
HIGHER LEVEL (CSPE- COMMON)
STUDENTS TO STUDY SUBJECTS AT THE
HIGHEST LEVEL THAT THEY CAN
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BUSINESS STUDIES
TECHNICAL GRAPHICS
WOODWORK
METALWORK
MUSIC
ART
HOME ECONOMICS
WHEN FILLING OUT OPTIONS FORM, LIST THREE
SUBJECTS IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE &
WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO ALLOW YOU TO STUDY 2 OF
THE SUBJECTS YOU HAVE CHOSEN.
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JUNIOR CERT SCIENCE
SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT
BIOLOGY
CHEMISTRY
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AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCE
PHYSICS
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ONE LAB SCIENCE COURSE NEEDED FOR ENTRY INTO MOST
SCIENCE AND HEALTH RELATED COURSES
SCIENCE ESSENTIAL FOR THE FOLLOWING SCIENCE RELATED
DEGREES
ENGINEERING (UNI)
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
SPORTS SCIENCE
SPEECH THERAPY
GENETICS
DIETETICS
OPTOMETRY
NURSING
DENTISTRY
VETERINARY
PHARMACY
PHYSIOTHERAPY
RADIOGRAPHY
BEAUTY THERAPY
POST LEAVING CERT COLLEGE COURSES – BASIC SCIENTIFIC
KNOWLEDGE FOR COURSES LIKE, PHARMACY ASSISTANT,
VETERINARY NURSING, ANIMAL CARE, MOTOR MECHANICS, FOOD
SCIENCE ETC,
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JUNIOR CERT BUSINESS
SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT
ACCOUNTING
ECONOMICS
BUSINESS
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1) ACCOUNTING
2) BUSINESS
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JUNIOR CERT BUSINESS
AN ADVANTAGE.
NEEDS TO HAVE AN
APTITUDE FOR MATHS.
USEFUL FOR ALL
BUSINESS CAREERS.
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JUNIOR CERT AN
ADVANTAGE.
INVOLVES LEARNING
ABOUT GENERAL
BUSINESS /ECONOMICS
PRINCIPLES.
USEFUL FOR ALL
GENERAL BUSINESS
CAREERS.
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AT JUNIOR CERT THIS SUBJECT
 INVOLVES LEARNING ABOUT THE WORLD OF
WORK/BUSINESS
 COMMUNICATION SKILLS/ REPORT WRITING ETC
 LEARN HOW TO COLLECT/ORGANISE/RECORD
DATA
 BASIC ACCOUNTING
 RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE WORKPLACE
 CALCULATING WAGES / BENEFITS OF SAVING ETC
 SOME ECONOMICS- MEMBERSHIP OF EU ETC
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AT JC LEVEL THIS SUBJECT INVOLVES LEARNING
HOW TO PRODUCE DRAWINGS USING COMPUTERS
(CAD), CREATE 3D MODELS, LEARN HOW TO
READ AND INTERPRET DRAWINGS AND
DIAGRAMS, LEARN HOW GRAPHICS RELATE TO
THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCTS
APTITUDE NEEDED
FOR LC, TECH GRAPHICS BECOMES DESIGN &
COMMUNICATION GRAPHICS WITH 60% FOR A 3
HR EXAM AND 40% FOR A CAD PROJECT
COMPLETED BY FEB OF Y6.
GOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION, GRAPHIC DESIGN,
ARCHITECTURE, GENERAL DESIGN AND
ENGINEERING CAREERS, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
ETC
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IN WOODWORK STUDENTS LEARN THE SKILLS
REQUIRED TO USE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO
DESIGN AND PRODUCE WOOD PRODUCTS.
STUDENTS ALSO LEARN ABOUT WOOD AS A
MATERIAL AND HOW IT IS PRODUCED.
PRACTICAL APTITUDE IS NEEDED.
FOR LC (CONSTRUCTION STUDIES) IT IS A BIG
ADVANTAGE TO HAVE IT STUDIED TO JC LEVEL.
AT LC 25% GIVEN FOR A PROJECT, 25% GIVEN FOR
A 4 HR PRACTICAL, AND 50% GIVEN FOR AN EXAM
COMPRISING OF WRITING AND DRAWING.
USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN CARPENTRY,
ENGINEERING, QUANTITY SURVEYING,
CONSTRUCTION, AND TRADES.
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IN THIS SUBJECT AT JC LEVEL STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO
USE A WIDE VARIETY OF TOOLS AND MACHINES TO
SHAPE, CUT AND JOIN METAL MATERIALS. THEY LEARN
HOW TO READ AND FOLLOW TECHNICAL DRAWINGS
CORRECTLY WHILE ALSO LEARNING ABOUT THE
PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT METALS.
APTITUDE IS NEEDED.
AT LC METALWORK IS KNOWN AS ENGINEERING AND IT
IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO HAVE COMPLETED JC
METALWORK.
AT LC 50% GIVEN FOR WRITTEN EXAM, 25 % FOR THE
PROJECT, 25% FOR 6 HR PRACTICAL.
USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN ENGINEERING, MECHANICS,
APPRENTICESHIPS, INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND ALL
TECHNOLOGY RELATED CAREERS.
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APTITUDE IS NEEDED INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO
LEARN TO READ MUSIC.
NEED TO BE INTERESTED.
FOR LC IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE JC MUSIC
STANDARD.
FOR LC 50% GIVEN FOR PRACTICAL (PLAY 8 PIECES)
AND 50% FOR WRITTEN.
USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN ENTERTAINMENT,
PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHING, MULTIMEDIA.
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AT JC LEVEL STUDENTS WILL LEARN A VARIETY OF
NEW CRAFTS INCLUDING LEARNING TO WORK IN 3D E.G. SCULPTURE OR CLAY WORK. ALSO SOME ART
HISTORY.
AN APTITUDE IS NEEDED – IMPORTANT NOT TAKEN
AS AN ‘EASY’ SUBJECT.
AT LC LEVEL IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO HAVE ART
TO JC AND IS A DEMANDING LC SUBJECT.
AT LC LEVEL 38% GIVEN FOR WRITTEN PAPER (ART
HISTORY) AND 62% GIVEN FOR 3 PRACTICAL EXAMS
ON STILL LIFE, CRAFTWORK AND LIFE DRAWING.
USEFUL FOR FASHION, ADVERTISING, MEDIA,
ARCHITECTURE, AND DESIGN CAREERS.
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AT JC LEVEL STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT BIOLOGY, HEALTH
AND NUTRITION, FOOD PREPERATION AND COOKERY,
MANAGING MONEY AND HOME AND CONSUMER
RIGHTS. THEY WILL CARRY OUT A PROJECT IN ONE OF
THE FOLLOWING -DESIGN AND CRAFTWORK, CHILD
DEVELOPMENT, TEXTILES
BE AWARE OF GENDER BIAS AS HOME ECONOMICS IS A
USEFUL AND PRACTICAL SUBJECT.
FOR LC IT IS AN ADVANTAGE TO HAVE JC HOME
ECONOMICS COMPLETED.
AT LC 20% GIVEN FOR PRACTICAL COOKERY AND 80%
FOR WRITTEN EXAM.
SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN HOME MANAGEMENT,
COOKING AND CRAFTS, BIOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY
USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN CULINARY ARTS, TOURIST
INDUSTRY, CHILDCARE, SOCIAL SCIENCES. FASHION
AND SOCIAL CARE/WORK CAREERS.
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CHOOSE SUBJECTS IN WHICH
THEY HAVE A NATURAL
APTITUDE
CHOOSE SUBJECTS THEY CAN
STUDY BEST
CHOOSE SUBJECTS THEY ENJOY
MOST
KEEP OPTIONS OPEN – AN
AWARENESS OF FUTURE OPTIONS
AVOID GENDER BIAS OR
STEREOTYPES.
BE AWARE OF OTHER / PEER
INFLUENCES.
ULTIMATE AIM IS TO ENSURE
STUDENTS ARE HAPPY, SUCCEED
AND REACH THEIR ACADEMIC
POTENTIAL
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LOOK AT SUBJECT DESCRIPTIONS ON NATIONAL
COUNCIL FOR CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT
WEBSITE www.ncca.ie
MAY BE USEFUL TO LOOK AT CHOICE SUBJECTS
EXAM PAPERS - CAN BE ACCESSED AT
www.examinations.ie
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTIONS OF
SUBJECTS AT BOTH JC AND LC LOOK AT
www.curriculumonline.ie
VERY USEFUL WEBSITE CONTAINING
INFORMATION ON SUBJECT CHOICE, CAO
COURSES ETC. www.careerportal.ie
SPEAK TO SUBJECT TEACHERS
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WHAT HAPPENS NOW
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STUDENTS AND PARENTS INDICATE THEIR
PREFERENCES BY Mon 2ND FEB – FORM HANDED TO
OFFICE OF DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - MS. K O’ BRIEN
BLOCKS OF SUBJECTS ARE ORGANISED INTO
GROUPS TAKING CLASHES INTO ACCOUNT. THE
SCHOOL TRIES TO ENSURE AS MANY STUDENTS GET
THEIR TWO PREFERENCES.
ONCE FINALISED STUDENTS PRESENTED TO
STUDENTS IN MARCH/APRIL
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IF CAREFUL CONSIDERATION GIVEN NOW THEN
CHANGE IS LESS LIKELY. IF A STUDENT OR PARENT
HAS QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK ME OR THE RELEVANT
SUBJECT TEACHERS.
ALWAYS WELCOME TO CONTACT ME (FRIDAY
MORNING GOOD TIME) OR M.BOWEN (MON, TUES,
THURS) AT SCHOOL OR AT
deirdreguidance@gmail.com
berbowen@gmail.com
CHANGE IS ALLOWED (END OF SEPT) PROVIDED
THERE IS SPACE IN CLASSES (NUMBERS ARE LIMITED
IN PRACTICAL CLASSES OWING TO HEALTH &
SAFETY) AND THE TEACHER IS SATISFIED THE
STUDENT WILL SUCCEED.
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