CARRIGALINE
COMMUNITY SCHOOL
SENIOR OPTIONS
2015 - 2017
WELCOME PARENTS
• 7:00 General choices for 3rd and 4th Years
• 8:15
Transition Year Option (4th Year)
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
• Choosing Subjects at Senior Cycle and the Link to
Studying at Third Level
• Subjects at Senior Cycle
• DATs Aptitude Testing
• How the Subject Choice Process Works and the
Application Form
CHOOSING SUBJECTS
FOR SENIOR CYCLE
PATH THROUGH CCS
Applied
1 Yr
2 Yr
3 Yr
5 Yr
6 Yr
5 Yr
6 Yr
4 Yr
Established
QUESTIONS
• Should I do Transition Year (4th Year)?
• Should I go to 5th Year?
• If 5th Year, should I do LCA or Established LC?
• If Established LC, what subjects?
JUNIOR CERTIFICATE
• Core Subjects
• 2 Options
CORE SUBJECTS AT LEAVING CERT
•Gaeilge
•English
•Mathematics
Core + 4 Option Subjects
Other non-exam subjects:
Guidance
Physical Education
ICT
Religion
SPHE
CHOOSING A SUBJECT...
• 2nd Year Options:
Because you like it
CHOOSING A SUBJECT…
•5th Year Options:
Because you like it
Because you need it
THIRD LEVEL CHOICES
Option
University (UCC)
Qualification
NFQ Level
Hons Degree
8
Institute of
Hons Degree
Technology (CIT) Ord Degree
Higher Cert
8
7
6
Further College Fetac
of Education
Qualification
5 (one year course)
6 (two year course)
(Cork College of
Commerce )
SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS UNIVERSITY
 Minimum Entry Requirements – University
•
Level 8 (honours degree programmes) require a
minimum of 6 subjects to include 2 subjects at
HC3 and a minimum of 4 subjects at OD3.
•
NUI’s (UCC) demand passes in English, Irish, Maths
SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS UNIVERSITY
 Minimum Entry Requirements - University
• Third language required for Arts, Social
Science, Medicine and Health, Law and
Business courses
• Third language is not required for Science,
Engineering and Nursing courses in UCC
SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS –
INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY
 Basic Entry Requirements – Institutes of Technology
•
•
•
•
•
•
Level 8 courses:
at least two Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade C3
minimum (Higher Level) and
a further four subjects at Grade D3 minimum (Ordinary or
Higher Level).
The 6 subjects must include Mathematics and either
English or Irish. Plus other course specific requirements (eg
maths etc).
Level 6/ 7 courses:
a minimum of 5 subjects at least at grade D3 to include
Irish or English and Maths.
SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS AT THIRD LEVEL
• Colleges set subject requirements for certain courses:
• A science degree usually requires a science subject at
Leaving Cert – Science Degree in UCC requires a HC3
in one science subject
• Most engineering degree courses demand higher level
Maths
• HC3 in Chemistry and Biology/Physics for Dentistry,
Medicine and Pharmacy in UCC
• HC3 in Chemistry needed for Veterinary in UCD
• HC3 in Irish for Primary Teaching courses
LANGUAGES
• Specific language requirements for language
based courses
• Commerce International UCC requires HC1 in a foreign
language
• Law and French UCC requires HC1 in French
• Law and Irish UCC requires HC1 in Irish
• Speech and Language UCC requires HC3 in language
other than English
• Third language is not required for Science, Engineering,
Food Science & Nursing courses in UCC.
SCIENCES
• If you want to study Science at third level
you need to have a science subject.
• Many of the medical courses such as
Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry require
Chemistry and either Physics or Biology.
FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES
• Some specific subject requirements for courses in
Further Education Colleges –
• Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa,
• Cork College of Commerce
• St Johns College
RESEARCH
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•
•
•
•
Check college prospectuses
www.careersportal.ie
www.qualifax.ie
www.ucc.ie
www.cit.ie
SUBJECTS AVAILABLE AT
SENIOR CYCLE
SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT
Accounting
Art
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Construction Studies
Design & Communication
Graphics
• Economics
• Engineering
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• French
• Geography
• German
• History
• Home Economics
• Music
• Physics
SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT
Business
• Accounting
• Economics
• Business
Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
Practical
• Construction Studies
• DCG (Technical Graphics)
• Engineering
Languages
• French
• German
Humanities
• Geography
• History
Social
• Home Economics
Creative
• Art
• Music
THE ‘SAFE’ RANGE
• Gaeilge
• English
• Mathematics
• Language
• Science subject
Plus 2 others
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT…
• 100 % Exam Based:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Economics
Business
Accounting
• English
• Maths
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT…
DGC
Project
Project
Exam - Theory
Final ExamFinal
- Theory
Construction Project
Engineering
ART
60%
60%
25%
HL HL
25%
30%
OL OL
30%
Practical
Exam (May)
Practical Exam
(May)
25%
HL HL
25%
30%
OL OL
30%
Final ExamTheory
- Theory
50%
HL HL
50%
40%
OL OL
40%
25%
HL HL
25%
30%
OL OL
30%
Practical
Exam (May)
Practical Exam
(May)
25%
HL HL
25%
30%
OL OL
30%
Exam - Theory
Final ExamFinal
- Theory
50%
HL HL
50%
40%
OL OL
40%
Project
Project
40%
40%
Project
– Art History 35%
Final ExamFinal
– ArtExam
History
37.5%
Craft ExamPractical
25%
Life
Drawing & Still
LifeLife
Imaginative
Composition
& Still
25%
Life Drawing
12.5%
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT…
French & German
Irish
Home Economics
Geography
History
Music
Oral
25 % HL
20% OL
Final Exam
75 % HL
80% OL
Oral
40%
Final Exam
60%
Project
20%
Final Exam
80%
Project
20%
Final Exam
80%
Project
20%
Final Exam
80%
Performance
25%
Listening
25%
Composing
25%
DATS – DIFFERENTIAL APTITUDE TESTS
• All 4th year students given the opportunity to do the
DATs this year in preparation for subject choice and
planning for future careers
• DATs are aptitude tests measuring:
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•
•
•
•
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•
•
Verbal Reasoning
Numerical Reasoning
Abstract Reasoning
Perceptual Speed & Accuracy
Mechanical Reasoning
Space Relations
Spelling
Language Usage
DATS – DIFFERENTIAL APTITUDE TESTS
• Results indicate strengths and weaknesses
• Results can be used to help decide on subjects for
senior cycle
• Remember DATs are just one piece of the picture
• Individual feedback given to all students
HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT SUBJECTS
• Do….
• Select subjects you enjoy
• Select subjects you are good at and performed well in at
Junior Cert
• Do Not…..
• Select a subject because friends are doing it
• Pick a subject because you get on with a particular teacher
THE PROCESS
• Students select their subjects and complete the
application form
• They select their top 6 subjects in order of preference
• Students have a free choice
• There are no restrictions on subject selection
• We then create subject pools based on the
requirements of all the students.
• The majority (98%) of students receive their top 4
choices.
TYPICAL SUBJECT POOLS
• German/ Home Economics/ French/
Business/Physics/Biology / DCG/Geography
• Physics/ Art/ Home Economics/ Biology/Biology/
Geography/ History/Accounting/ French
• Chemistry/Business/Geography/Economics/
Construction/ French/German
• Chemistry/Engineering/Music/Accounting/Biology/
Biology/French/Geography
SUBJECT CHOICE – FINAL TIPS
• Before you take the plunge…..
• Seek advice from older students, siblings
• Look up subject textbooks
• Talk to subject teachers
• Choose subjects you like and are good at
• Check college requirements
• Do some research - check web sites:
• www.careersportal.ie
• www.qualifax.ie
• Speak with Guidance Counsellor
NEXT STEPS…….
• Choice to take TY, LCA or Est. Leaving Cert
• 5th Yr Subjects listed in order of preference from 1-6
• Signed by both parent and student
• Closing Dates: Friday
• Discussion of choices
February 13th
Guidance and Counselling Dept. C.C.S