CBC MONKSTOWN
FIFTH YEAR SUBJECT
CHOICE for TY students
Leaving Certificate
2017
Monday 9th March 2015
Procedure for Subject Choice
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Subject Options Form:
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What five subjects? Rank them 1-5 in
order of preference
Consider these choices carefully
Supports with subject choice
process
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Teachers explain to students how
subject will develop
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Ms O’Connor meets students
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CAT4 results – strengths and
difficulties
Criteria for Choosing Subjects
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INTERESTED IN THE SUBJECTS
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BEST AT THESE SUBJECTS – POINTS
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COLLEGE / CAREER REQUIREMENTS
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SPECIFIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Interest in Subjects
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GENUINELY INTERESTED IN THESE SUBJECTS
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READ THE CONTENT OF THE LEAVING CERT
SYLLABUS FOR THESE SUBJECTS
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www.careersportal.ie, www.skoool.ie –
subject information
SPEAK WITH THE SUBJECT TEACHERS
Choices should not be based on what friends
are doing
Best at These Subjects
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NECESSARY TO MAXIMISE POINTS
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SHOULD KNOW THIS YOURSELF
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CHECK GRADES IN THESE SUBJECTS FROM
JC RESULTS
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ASK TEACHERS OPINIONS IF NECESSARY
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TALK TO PARENTS/OLDER SIBLINGS
Junior Cert / Leaving Cert
LINK-UPS
JUNIOR CERT LEAVING CERT
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Business Studies…………………
Science………………………………
Art…………………………………….
French/German……..
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Music………………………........... 
Home Economics……………….. 
TG……………………………………. 
Accounting/Economics/
Business
Chemistry/Physics/Biology
Art
French/German
Music (high practical content)
Home Economics
DCG
Requirements
3
TYPES OF REQUIREMENTS
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COLLEGE Requirements
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FACULTY OR COURSE Requirements
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POINTS
College/Career Requirements
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EACH COLLEGE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
VARY
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CHECK COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS IN
RELATION TO SUBJECT CHOICE
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CHECK COURSE REQUIREMENTS TOO
College Requirements
FOR HONOURS DEGREE (LEVEL 8) COURSES
Varying requirements e.g.
UCD - 6 Subjects including 2 HC’s & pass in
English, Irish and a Language (with the
exception of Engineering, Science and Social
Science)
TCD - 6 Subjects including 3 HC’s pass in
English, Maths and a Language
All Hons Degrees/Level 8 courses require 6 subjects and 2 or 3 at HL C
College Requirements
For Degree (Level 7)/Higher Certificate
(Level 6)
varying requirements e.g.
IADT - 5 subjects including English
DIT - 5 subjects including Maths and
English or Irish
Course Requirement
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There may be a particular course
requirement for many courses at college.
The subjects mainly concerned are the
Languages and the Sciences
There may also be a requirement to
achieve a certain grade and level in
certain subjects for many courses at
college, e.g. OB3/HD3 in LC Maths for
Sports and exercise management, UCD
Languages
Essential for:
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Entry into N.U.I. Universities, e.g. UCD,
UCC, Maynooth, UCG
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Exceptions:
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UCD
DIT - Various Courses in
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Nursing
Engineering, Science, Social Science & Ag Science in
Tourism, Hotel, Leisure, Business with Languages and
Culinary Arts Courses
Cadetships with the Defence Forces
Gardaí – English/Irish AND a third
language
Laboratory Science
(Chemistry, Biology, Physics)
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Essential for:
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Most Level 8 courses in Science,
Engineering, Medical, Para-Medical and
some Technical Courses in Universities and
the DIT
Product Design (NCAD)
Useful for:
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Level 7/ Level 6 Courses in Science and
Engineering
Beauty Therapy
Some Apprenticeships
Science IS Required For
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Forestry and Horticulture (UCD)
Human Nutrition (UCD)
Nursing and Dental Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy (or Hons Maths/Applied Maths)
Optometry (DIT)
Human Nutrition and Dietetics (DIT)
Environmental Health (DCU)
Equine Science (UL)
PE Teacher Training (DCU)
Earth Sciences (TCD)
Clinical Measurement (DIT)
Chemistry
Chemistry is
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essential for:
Veterinary Medicine (UCD)
Dentistry (UCC)
Medicine (5 Year Courses in UCD
and UCC)
Human Nutrition and Dietetics (DIT)
Pharmacy (TCD)
Two Science Subjects
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2HCs
Dentistry, Medicine (UCC)
Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Human Genetics,
Nanoscience (TCD)
*Science, Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Earth Sciences
(TCD)
However
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*Hons Maths/App Maths = 1 Science for
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Human Genetics, Physiotherapy and Nanoscience (TCD)
*Hons Maths/App Maths or Hons Geog = 1 Science for
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Science, Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry,Earth Sciences
(TCD)
Science is NOT required for
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Social Science
Arts – up to thirty subjects in this
area
Law
Business
Primary Teaching
Many Computer Science Degree
Courses
Foundation Maths
Foundation Maths WILL fulfil the Maths
requirement for ENTRY to Universities
and Institutes of Technology.
But WILL NOT satisfy SPECIFIC course
requirements, e.g.
Honours Maths
Honours Maths
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is required for:
Honours Engineering Degree Courses
Actuarial Studies (UCD & DCU)
Mathematical Sciences
Stastistics – BA Joint Hons (UCD)
Computer Science (TCD & UCD)
Management Science (TCD)
Economics and Finance (UCD)
Honours Maths – Bonus
Points
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Bonus points for Honours Maths was
introduced for 2012 entry to college
Students will be awarded an extra 25
points for all awards from A1 to D3
The extra 25 points will be awarded
before total points are calculated from
the best six results for the student
For example, a student who is achieves
D3 in Honours Maths will be awarded
45 + 25 points for this result, i.e. 70
points
Points
HIGHER LEVEL
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A1 = 100
A2 = 90
B1 = 85
B2 = 80
B3 = 75
C1 = 70
C2 = 65
C3 = 60
D1 = 55
D2 = 50
D3 = 45
ORDINARY LEVEL
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A1 = 60
A2 = 50
B1 = 45
B2 = 40
B3 = 35
C1 = 30
C2 = 25
C3 = 20
D1 = 15
D2 = 10
D3 = 5
Points Implications
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Study 7/8 SUBJECTS for Leaving Certificate
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Points are based on BEST 6 RESULTS obtained in
ONE SITTING
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ALL SUBJECTS carry equal points (except
Honours Maths)
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The points for every course are based on supply
and demand each year, e.g.. The popularity of a
course
Other Requirements
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Entrance to certain courses may
depend on other requirements such as:
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PORTFOLIO – Art, Film, etc
APTITUDE TEST – Medicine, HPAT
AUDITION – Drama
INTERVIEW – Art, etc
In these cases points may be allotted
for these assessments.
Curriculum Information
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www.careersportal.ie has
information on the Leaving Certificate
subjects
Open the ‘What to study’
Under ‘school subject choices’ click on
‘Leaving Cert Subjects’
Menu of all subjects available
There are further links to course
content, exam layout, etc.
Conclusion
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Choose subjects most interested in
studying.
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Choose subjects likely to succeed at.
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Be aware of college/course requirements
(Languages and Sciences)
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The majority of courses in college do not
have specific subject requirements.