NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE
Traditional Leaving Certificate
Subject Choice
Leaving Certificate Programme
• 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 (8th) 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.
• All subjects are of equal importance.
• Extra points will be awarded in all HEIs for honours
Mathematics in LC
Points System *** Changes 2017
Grade Hons
Hons + B
Ordinary
A1
A2
100
90
125
115
60
50
B1
B2
B3
C1
C2
C3
85
80
75
70
65
60
110
105
100
95
90
85
45
40
35
30
25
20
D1
D2
D3
55
50
45
80
75
70
15
10
5
Bonus points
HD3 or above in Maths
 Extra 25 points
LCVP points
Distinction
Merit
Pass
70
50
30
Sample Calculation
Paul
Subject
Level
Grade
Score
Irish
H
C2
65
English
O
A1
60
Maths
H
A2
90+25=115
Geography
H
B2
80
Biology
H
C1
70
Physics
O
A1
60
French
H
B3
75
LCVP
M
50
50
Add the 6 best scores shown in RED
Points = 465
Leaving Certificate Programme
•
Highly Desirable Subjects
• Unless there is a substantial reason otherwise, all students
should definitely consider choosing:
1. a modern language (NUI*)
2. 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: 4 other timetabled subjects are chosen
Optional Subjects (4)
BUSINESS
APPLIED SCIENCES
• Business (55)
• Home Economics (12)
• Accountancy (25)
• Construction Studies (25)
• Economics (41)
• Design and (33)
SCIENCE
• Biology (66)
• Physics (41)
• Chemistry (17)
LANGUAGES
• French (67)
• German (45)
Communication Graphics
SOCIAL STUDIES
• History (36)
• Geography (32)
• Music (21)
• Art (15)
Information about LC subjects can be found at:
www.newbridge-college.ie and www.careersportal.ie
& Leaving Cert text books.
Entry Requirements
• 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”
• Meet Entry Requirements  Qualified Applicant for Course
Minimum Entry Requirements of
major CAO Colleges
Institution
Minimum grades
NUI Colleges: UCD, NUIM, 2HC3 + 4OD3
NUIG, UCC. (RCSI, Shannon,
Miltown)
Required subjects
OD3 in English, Irish &
Modern Language*.
Dublin City University
2HC3 + 4OD3
OD3 in Maths, English
or Irish
Trinity College Dublin
3HC3 + 3OD3
OD3 in Maths, English
& another Language
University of Limerick
2HC3 + 4OD3
OD3 in Maths, English
& Irish or another Lang.
Dublin Institute of
Technology
2HC3 + 4OD3 (H.D.)
5OD3 (O.D. or H.C.)
OD3 in Maths, English
or Irish
Regional Institutes of
Technology (DK*)
2HC3 + 4OD3 (H.D.)
5OD3 (O.D. or H.C.)
OD3 in Maths, English
or Irish
Specific Course Requirements
• 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.
Sample Requirements
Irish
• Primary Teaching – HC3
• Journalism & Irish (DCU) – HC3
A Language
• Many courses require a
language but may not specify a
particular one:
• Early and Modern Irish (TCD) –
HC3
• Gno & Gaeilge (DCU) –
OA2/HC3
French
• Law with French Law (UCD) –
HB3
• Bus. Studies and French (TCD) –
HC1
• Law and French (TCD) – HC1
• English Studies & Languages
(DIT) – HC3 in Ge, Sp 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.
Sample Requirements
Mathematics
• Honours Engineering – HC3
• Business Studies (DCU) –
•
•
•
•
•
•
OC3/HD3
Optometry (DIT) - OB3
Quantitative Business
(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
Specific Course Requirements
•
Unlikely that 3rd/TY students will know exactly, which
courses/careers they wish to pursue at this stage.
•
But they may be able to identify broad areas of interest
and hence check potential course entry requirements.
•
Course Entry Requirements can be accessed:
•
a)
In the college’s prospectuses
b)
On the college’s websites
c)
Directory of LC Entry Requirements (Library)
d)
www.qualifax.ie – Subject Requirements
It is only when all course entry requirements are met
that students are qualified to apply for a course.
Eirquest
Eirquest
• Careers Programme designed to:
1. Identify a range of well matched potential career and
higher education course areas.
2. Provide a framework for careers and college research.
3. Provide a focal point for discussion in school and at
home.
4. Provide objective results based on answers to series of
simple questions
• Students Receive:
1. An individual Careers Workbook
2. A copy of The Careers Directory
3. Access to the MyCareersRoom online resource
General Advice
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
• E.g.
• one language
• one science
• one business
• one humanities / applied
science.
• This combination would
Many students will
change their minds about
their future a number of
times in the next 2 years
allow access into a broad
range of courses/careers.
Choosing a Subject
Successful
subject choice
requires:
RESEARCH
L.C. Books, Publications,
Other Students
Guidance Counsellors,
Current Teachers
DISCUSSION
Family, Friends
Consider all the
information, views and
opinions
REFLECTION
Then, ultimately each
student must make up
their own mind.
Subject Teachers,
Guidance Classes, TY
Programme
DECISION
Key Questions
1.
What subjects is the school offering?
2.
If I’m interested in a particular course/career area, what
subjects are essential? ( Course Entry Requirements)
3.
If not essential, what subjects would be useful/helpful for
this course/career area?
4.
What subjects do I like? (motivation) (not the teacher)
5.
What subjects am I relatively good at? (DATs) (JC)
Important Points
• 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.
• 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.
Newbridge College Draft
Subject Options
GEOGRAPHY
BIOLOGY
GEOGRAPHY
BIOLOGY
ART
GERMAN
BUSINESS
GERMAN
BUSINESS
DCG
HOME ECON.
MUSIC
ECONOMICS
DCG
ECONOMICS
FRENCH
PHYSICS
CHEMISTRY
CONS. STUDIES
FRENCH
HISTORY
CONS. STUDIES
FRENCH
ACCOUNTING
Timetable of Events
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
January – DATs 3rd years
January 5th – Class presentations begin (project)
January 27th – Parents Night.
February 9th – Subject Choice Interviews begin
March 13th – Deadline for submission of
application forms for TY.
March 27th – Deadline for final subject choices
and commitment to TY.
Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
During subject choice interview a set of subjects are
agreed with student. (on lines and/or preferred)
Note brought home to parent outlining agreed
subjects. Parents must review, sign and return to
G.C.
A change may be made to agreed subjects before
March 27th by written request from parents to G.C.
From April 1st changes will only be facilitated if
vacancies exist in classes.
Important that parents know what subjects their
son/daughter is choosing so changes should be
accompanied by note from home.