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
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PLC- Certificate
Higher
Certificate
Ordinary
Degree
Honours
Degree
Postgraduate
Diploma
Masters
Doctorate

1 yr- level 5
2 yrs- level 6

3 yrs- level 7
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3-4 yrs- level 8
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2 yrs- level 9
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1-2 yrs- level 9
Up to 5 yrslevel 10
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Grading System Changes in
Senior Cycle
Junior Certificate
Grade %
 A
85-100
 B
70-84
 C
55-69
 D
40-54
Leaving Certificate
Grade %
 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
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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
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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
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UCD
UCC
NUI Maynooth
NUI Galway
NUI Colleges Minimum Entry
Requirements to Degree
Courses

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Passes in
 Irish
 English
 Mathematics
Second Language
And two additional
subjects

Level 8 (NUI)
2HC3 and passes
in four additional
Subjects
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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 University
University of Limerick
& the Institutes of Technology
2HC3 and four passes to
include
 English/Irish
 Mathematics
And four additional subjects
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Minimum Entry Requirements
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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
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5 passes in the Leaving
Certificate
Interview (in most cases)
Some require samples of work/
further assessments.
Planning on going to College..
3
Students must satisfy
requirements to
obtain a place on a third level course
1. Minimum Entry Requirement/
College Requirement
2. Faculty requirement
3. The Points Requirement
Faculty Requirement
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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
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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
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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?
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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 Subjects
All students will study the
following core subjects
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Irish
English
Mathematics
French or Spanish
Physical Education
Non-exam Religious Education
I.T.
Senior Cycle Modules
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Careers
Study Skills
Drama
R.S.E. (Relationship & Sexuality
Education)
In addition they must choose 4 subjects
from the following list- 3 given
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Geography
History
Design &
Communication
Graphics
Home
Economics
Art
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Music
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Accounting
Business
Religious
Education
Different subject areas
Languages
French (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
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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
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Pharmacy Level 8
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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 8
UCD
 HC3 Mathematics
 A Science Subject – min
HD3
Nursing
 Nursing requires a science
subject
Closing Doors
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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
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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….

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Choose subjects that you
ENJOY
If you enjoy the subject the
POINTS will come
What should I do next?
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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….
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Research
Subject Choice forms need to
be into the general office of the
school by Friday 21st March
Questions?