Beyond Junior Cert

4 options:

Leaving Certificate Leaving Cert Vocational Transition Year Leaving Cert Applied

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The Process

Subject information seminars Initial selection 14 January DATs testing results end of Jan Second option form- end Feb Mock J Cert Final decisions - May

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Leaving Cert. Subject Choice

You must take the following:English, Irish, Maths

Choose 4 from the following list:

Art German

Biology Physics

History Accounting

Business Organisation

Home Economics

Engineering Music

Chemistry French

Design Studies Religion

Geography

Construction Studies

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More subjects available

Some subjects change name• Woodwork ---- Construction Studies• Metalwork --- Engineering• Technical Graphics ---- DCG

• Some split up into separate subjectsseparate subjectsScience---- Physics : Chemistry: BiologyBusiness --- Business Organisation:

Accounting

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I don’t know what I want to do after school what subjects are a safe bet?

A foreign language: French or German if you did it for J.Certificate and like it. Needed for entry to a number of universities

1 Science subject is a good idea : Biology, Chemistry, Physics – is needed for a lot of Third Level courses and offers a lot of options later

2 other subjects that you like

Choose what you think you will like or will be good at based on your studies to date and what you read in your booklet and your teachers’ advice

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Consider the possibility..

You might change your mind over the 2 years to L Cert about what you might like to do

Keep options open as long as possible with safe choice of subjects

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Consider also…

Balance in subjects- if you pick 3 or 4 literary subjects - history, religion, geography this will involve a lot of essays and projects. Can you handle this?

Too many practical subjects means you could have three LC practical projects due in around the same time!

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Be aware if you want to study….

Primary teaching- C3 in Higher Irish essential

Dentistry- must have 2 science subjects Nursing – must have a science subject Medicine – at least 1 science and

chemistry will reduce your studies by one year

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Engineering- at university requires higher maths but you can study it at IT level with pass maths

Sports courses: Many require a science subject for entry also very useful for beauty therapy

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Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme

LCVP provides students with a focus for developing vocational skills and exploring their career options

The subjects are divided into 16 groups and students choose two subjects from the groups

An example of the groupings: 1. Construction, Engineering, DCG, Technology - Any

Two 2. Home Economics, Agi. Science, Biology - Any Two 3. Physics and Chemistry 4. Art & DCG

Link Modules

Link Modules Preparation for the World of Work Enterprise Education Work Placement Business and Community visits Mini enterprise

Example

Student A: Irish, English, Maths, Business, German, Home Economics, Biology, Link Modules

Student B: Irish, English, Maths, French, Art, Engineering , DCG, Link Modules

Programme Requirements

Students must:1. Be taking at least five LC subjects plus the

link modules2. Two of the above subjects must be selected

from the designated Subject Groupings3. Students must take Irish4. A European Language other than Irish or

English

Assessment

Assessment is at a common level Terminal Examination taken in May of sixth

year Terminal Examination 40% of the total marks Portfolio of Course work 60% of the total marks

Grades

Points for LCVP

Distinction (80%-100%) 70 points (C1 H)

Merit (65 -79%) 50 points (D2 H)

Pass (50% - 64%) 30 points (C1 O)

Leaving Cert Applied

2 year Leaving Cert Credit based 200 credits 133 credits for ongoing work 67 credits for final exam

4 work experiences – credits for these Attendance vital for full award

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Leaving Certificate Applied

Leaving Certificate Applied The two year course is divided into four half-year blocks called

sessions. At the end of each session credits are awarded in each of the

subjects. These credits go towards the final grades in the Leaving Cert. The final exam is taken in June of 6th year and students take

six subjects English and Communications Two Vocational Specialisms (Tourism, Construction, Office,

Music, Engineering) Mathematical Applications Languages Social Education There are four work experiences over the two years

Check your “Making Subject Choices” booklet very carefully Talk with your teachers/year head Ask Guidance counsellor if you are uncertain

about anything Look at DATs results and pick subjects related

to the areas in which you scored well

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Looking beyond LC

Third Level studies

Post Leaving Cert Courses

Apprenticeship/other training

Work

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Third Level Studies

Why?– long term benefits

Greater flexibility to withstand recessionary times- graduate unemployment is half that of the main unemployment figures

Having a degree gives you greater career opportunities and chance to change direction more easily with further study

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Points for Third Level

Points are calculated on your highest SIX subjects in Leaving Cert

The grades for the subjects are broken down into sub-sections for the awarding of points, for example,

A1 higher level = 100 points A2 higher level = 90 points.

Maximum points achievable = 625

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POINTS

Higher Level Maths at L.Cert

25 extra points will be awarded for higher level maths from grade D3 upwards

A1= 100 +25 extra = 125 D3= 45+ 25 extra = 70

This is a good incentive to stick with Higher Maths

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Looking beyond LC & LCA

All qualifications now organised into a 10 point framework

J Cert is Level 3

L Cert is Level 4 &5

Third level courses - Levels 6 -10

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National Qualification Framework

LEVEL 8 – HIGHER DEGREE – POINTS –some examples

2011 2012SCIENCE UCD 435 500ARTS UCD 365 355ARTS NUIM 375 370 COMMERCE UCD 445 465B.ED. (Primary Teaching) 475 470 NURSING UCD 400 430COMPUTER SCIENCE 375 380ENGINEERING TCD 440 465SOCIAL CARE ITTa 340 350

Third Level Courses

There are over 900 courses available at third level in 7 universities and 14 I T’s nationwide

You can get into courses with a points score from 25 up to 600!

Points can go up and down for courses every year depending on popularity of courses

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OTHER OPTIONS AFTER LCPOST LEAVING CERT COURSES

PLC – 1 or 2 year course in colleges of Further Education –Crumlin College, Rathmines, Inchicore…

Very suitable for LC and LCA

Entry level is a good pass LC or LCA

No points for admission - interview

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POST LEAVING CERT COURSES

Can be used to go to third level

Give valuable work experience

Offer a great variety of skills in different areas: childcare, computing, beauty therapy, sports,

engineering,business,horticulture….

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The Future???

Computer studies/Information technology/web design Business/Accountancy/Tax/Actuary Marketing Science/Pharmacuticals/Food Science Engineering/Electrical/Mechanical Biomedical Science& Engineering Medicine-doctors Teachers (eventually because of pop. growth)

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The Future…

More unpredictable than ever

Flexibility will be the norm

Continuous learning and upskilling is the key

This evening is a first step in that direction

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Thank You for listening!

Any queries we will be available after the presentations are finished

There will be further help for students

There will be flexibility to make changes over the coming weeks

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