Mr. Denis Callaghan, Ms. Ita Danaher -- Guidance Counsellors




Leaving Certificate is a 2 year programme.


Full time commitment required over 2 years.
5th year is very important especially for those hoping to gain entry to high points courses.
Usually a maximum of 7 subjects are taken for the
Leaving Certificate.
 An extra (8 th ) subject? – need to think very carefully about this as each LC subject is extensive and requires a lot of work. Big jump in standard from J.C.


Other subjects could suffer if workload is too great.
For points purposes best 6 subjects are counted.
Almost all subjects are of equal importance.


Extra points will be awarded in all universities and ITs for honours Mathematics in LC 2012 to 2015
Extra points are awarded in DT021 for honours in certain science subjects.

B1
B2
B3
C1
C2
C3
Grade
A1
A2
D1
D2
D3
85
80
75
70
65
60
Honours
100
90
55
50
45
45
40
35
30
25
20
Ordinary
60
50
15
10
5
25 Extra Points For D3
Or Greater In Higher
Level Maths




Highly Desirable Subjects
 Unless there is a substantial reason otherwise, all students should definitely consider choosing:
1.
2.
a modern language (NUI*) a science subject.
Subject Levels


Higher and Ordinary level  all subjects.
Foundation level  Mathematics & Irish.
 Particular care needs to be taken with Mathematics.
Failure in this subject can be detrimental to overall L.C.
LC subject selection


Core subjects: English, Mathematics & Irish*
Optional subjects: Usually 4 other subjects are chosen

BUSINESS


 Economics
SCIENCE




Business
Accountancy
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Agricultural Science
APPLIED SCIENCES
 Home Economics



Construction Studies
Engineering
Design and Communication
Graphics
SOCIAL STUDIES
 History



Geography
Music
Art
LANGUAGES
 French
Information about LC subjects can be found on the
 German college website: www.crescentsj.ie
and the NCCA
 Spanish website: www.ncca.ie






When choosing Leaving Certificate subjects great care must be taken as the choices of subjects made now may determine 3rd level and career options in 2 years time.
Why? Regardless of how many points you get in your LC, you will be ineligible to even apply for a course if you have not met it’s “Course Entry Requirements”
Generally there are 2 sets of ‘Entry Requirements’ which must be met before ‘points’ can be considered.
A) Minimum Entry Requirements
 Particular subjects and minimum no. of honours / passes in the L.C. required to apply to an individual college.
B) Specific Course Requirements
 Particular subjects and/or levels required to gain entry to specific faculties or courses.

Institution Minimum grades
NUI Colleges: UCD, NUIM,
NUIG, UCC. (RCSI, Shannon,
Miltown)
2HC3 + 4OD3
Trinity College Dublin 3HC3 + 3OD3
Dublin City University
University of Limerick
Dublin Institute of
Technology
Regional Institutes of
Technology (DK*)
Required subjects
OD3 in English, Irish &
Modern Language*.
2HC3 + 4OD3
2HC3 + 4OD3
2HC3 + 4OD3 (H.D.)
5OD3 (O.D. or H.C.)
2HC3 + 4OD3 (H.D.)
5OD3 (O.D. or H.C.)
OD3 in Maths, English
& another Language
OD3 in Maths, English or Irish
OD3 in Maths, English
& Irish or another Lang.
OD3 in Maths, English or Irish
OD3 in Maths, English or Irish





These requirements are in addition to Minimum
Entry Requirements.
They are specific L.C. subjects / grades required for entry to particular courses.
They tend to be in the following subject areas:
 Science subjects


Languages
Mathematics
E.g. Veterinary Medicine in UCD
Entry Requirements:
 2HC3 + 4OD3, OD3 in English, Irish, Modern Language &
Mathematics, HC3 in Chemistry.





Irish
Primary Teaching – HC3
Journalism & Irish (DCU) –
HB1
Comp. Sc., Linguistics &
Irish (TCD) – HB3
Gno & Gaeilge (DCU) –
OA2/HC3



French
Law with French Law
– HB3
Commerce with French
(UCD) – HC3
Law and French (TCD) –
HC1

A Language
Many courses require a language but may not specify a particular one :




Film & Broadcasting with a language (DIT) – HC3 in Ir or Fr.
Applied Languages (DCU)
– HC3 in Fr, Ge, Ir or Sp.
Speech and Language
Therapy (TCD) – HC3 in
En, Fr, Ge, Ir, It, Ru or Sp.
Cadet School – OD3 in a modern Language.









Mathematics
Honours Engineering –
HC3
Business Studies (DCU) –
OC3/HD3
Optometry (DIT) - OB3
Economics & Finance
(UCD) – HC3
Business (TCD) – OC/HD
Science (UCD)
–
OB3/HD3
Commerce (UCD) –
OB3/HD3
Law and Accounting (UL)
– OC3/HD3







Science
Particular care needs to be taken with science subjects.
Many courses require any one science subject
Some courses require 2 science subjects, particularly TCD and
UCC.
UCAS courses
Nursing – OD3 in a Lab. Sc.
Medical/Para medical courses
Chemistry
Pharmacy*, Human Nutrition,
Veterinary Medicine, Medicine &
Dentistry (UCC) – HC3

COLLEGE SUBJECTS
Biology
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Horticulture
Agriculture Marine Biology
CHEMICAL SCIENCES
Chemistry Biochemistry
Chem. Engineering Medicinal Chem.
PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Physics Astronomy
Electronics Computing
ENGINEERING
Mechanical Civil
Aeronautical Electrical
MEDICAL SCIENCES
Pharmacy Nursing
Opthalmic Optics Nutrition
MEDICINE / DENTISTRY
Medicine Dentistry
Vet. Medicine
Leaving Certificate Science Subjects in order of importance to college subject
1
Biology
2
Chemistry
3
Mathematics
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Chemistry Physics Biology
British Association for the Advancement of Science





Unlikely that 3rd/TY students will know exactly, which courses/careers they wish to pursue at this stage.
But from looking at their interests, abilities and aptitudes they may be able to identify broad areas of interest and hence check potential course entry requirements.
a) b)
Course Entry Requirements can be accessed:
In the college’s prospectuses
On the college’s websites c) d)
Directory of LC Entry Requirements www.qualifax.ie
– Subject Requirements
It is only when all course entry requirements are met that students are qualified to apply for a course.

If a student is not really sure what he/she wants to do in the future:

Pick a broad range of subjects in order to keep options open
Many students will change their minds about their future a number of times in the next 2 years

E.g.

 one language one science

 one business one humanities / applied science .
This combination would allow access into a broad range of courses/careers.

A wise choice of subjects requires:
Subject Teachers,
Guidance Classes, TY
Programme
Guidance Counsellors,
Current Teachers
Consider all the information, views and opinions
RESEARCH
DISCUSSION
REFLECTION
L.C. Books, Publications,
Other Students
Family, Friends
Then, ultimately each student must make up their own mind.

Key Questions
1.
2.
4.
5.
3.
What subjects is the school offering?
If I’m interested in a particular course/career area, what subjects are essential?
( Course Entry Requirements)
If not essential, what subjects would be useful/helpful for this course/career area?
What subjects do I like?
(motivation) (not the teacher)
What subjects am I relatively good at?
(DATs) (JC)








DCG/Construction Studies are not needed to do Engineering.
Maths and Physics are more important.
Art is generally not needed for Art and Design courses. A portfolio is however.
For Business courses, Maths is generally a requirement rather than Business subjects.
No subjects are gender specific.
Every student is unique (interests, abilities and aptitudes), hence they should choose subjects based on these and not current friendships or the opinions of others.
Students should be careful to try pick a balance between learning and understanding subjects.
Students should be aware of balancing subjects which help maximise points vs. subjects which may be of benefit to them in the future.

1.
February 1 st – Parents Night 5 th year options.
2.
February – Class presentations continue.
3.
February 8 th – Deadline for submission of application forms for subject preferences.
4.
April 1st – Generation of classes begins.