1. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Subject Choice And The Leaving Certificate

2. A Time to Choose…

3. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Remember Three things are important when choosing a subject: Three things are important when choosing a subject: 1. Aptitude 2. Interest & 3. Ability

4. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 National Framework Of qualifications The framework is a structure of levels, designed to bring an increased clarity to the meaning of each type of qualification, allowing qualifications to be compared easily The framework is a structure of levels, designed to bring an increased clarity to the meaning of each type of qualification, allowing qualifications to be compared easily The framework comprises TEN levels The framework comprises TEN levels

5. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Post-Leaving Certificate Qualifications PLC PLC Higher Certificate Higher Certificate Diploma Diploma Ordinary Degree Ordinary Degree Honours Degree Honours Degree Postgraduate Diploma Postgraduate Diploma Masters Masters Doctorate Doctorate

6. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009

7. National Framework of Qualifications Higher Certificate (2yrs) Higher Certificate (2yrs) Degrees(3/4yrs) Degrees(3/4yrs) Masters/Post-Grad Diploma Masters/Post-Grad Diploma Doctorate Doctorate Level 6 Level 6 Ordinary (Level 7) Ordinary (Level 7) Honours (Level8) Honours (Level8) Level 9 Level 9 Level 10 Level 10

8. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Grading System Changes in Senior Cycle Junior Certificate Grade % A 85-100 A 85-100 B70-84 B70-84 C55-69 C55-69 D40-54 D40-54 Leaving Certificate Grade % A1 90-100 A1 90-100 A2 85-89 A2 85-89 B1 80-84 B1 80-84 B2 75-79 B2 75-79 B3 70-74 B3 70-74 C1 65-69 C1 65-69 C2 60-64 C2 60-64 C3 55-59 C3 55-59 D1 50-54 D1 50-54 D2 45-49 D2 45-49 D3 40-44 D3 40-44

9. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009

10. Universities Degrees Honours Degrees Honours Level 8 Level 8 For all Level 8 Degrees at Trinity College For all Level 8 Degrees at Trinity College 3HC3 + 3 additional subjects 3HC3 + 3 additional subjects Minimum Entry Qualification 2HC3 and passes in four additional Subjects 2HC3 and passes in four additional Subjects Different universities have different entry college requirements Different universities have different entry college requirements

11. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Colleges of NUI UCD UCD UCC UCC NUI Maynooth NUI Maynooth NUI Galway NUI Galway

12. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 National University of Ireland Passes in Passes in Irish Irish English English Mathematics Mathematics Second Language Second Language And two additional subjects And two additional subjects

13. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Trinity College, Dublin 3HC3 and 3 passes which must include 3HC3 and 3 passes which must include English English Mathematics Mathematics A Second Language A Second Language And three additional Subjects And three additional Subjects

14. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Dublin City University University of Limerick & the Institutes of Technology 2HC3 and four passes to include 2HC3 and four passes to include English/Irish English/Irish Mathematics Mathematics And four additional subjects And four additional subjects

15. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Ordinary Degrees Level 7 & Higher Certificate Level 6 Institutes of Technology including Dublin Institute of Technology Institutes of Technology including Dublin Institute of Technology Trinity College: Dental Nursing – Level 6 Dental Nursing – Level 6 Dental Hygiene- Level 7 Dental Hygiene- Level 7

16. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Minimum Entry Requirement For Level 6 & 7 are 5 Passes to include: For most courses Irish or English Irish or English Mathematics Mathematics And three additional subjects And three additional subjects

17. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Planning on going to College.. Students must satisfy 3 requirements in order to obtain a place on a third level course 1. College Requirement 2. Faculty requirement Having met both the College & Faculty Requirement Candidates are Deemed to be Suitably Qualified Having met both the College & Faculty Requirement Candidates are Deemed to be Suitably Qualified Places Are then awarded on Merit Places Are then awarded on Merit 3. Obtain the relevant number of Points

18. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 All Subjects are Equal In terms of entry to third level colleges In terms of entry to third level colleges Almost all subjects count equally in terms of points Almost all subjects count equally in terms of points For Example an A in Art is worth the same points as an A in Physics, for engineering! For Example an A in Art is worth the same points as an A in Physics, for engineering! One might be more useful but they both score the same One might be more useful but they both score the same

19. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Why seven subjects? CAO (Central Application Office) Award points based on the Award points based on the best SIX subjects best SIX subjects The Seventh subject can be a safety net The Seventh subject can be a safety net& Timetable is structured on all students studying seven subjects Timetable is structured on all students studying seven subjects

20. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Why Irish, English, Maths and a Language? The NUI (National University of Ireland) has an specific requirement that each student must have a minimum 2HC3 and four additional passes. The NUI (National University of Ireland) has an specific requirement that each student must have a minimum 2HC3 and four additional passes. They must have passes in Irish, English, Mathematics and a foreign language (except for Science/ engineering / Ag Science courses) They must have passes in Irish, English, Mathematics and a foreign language (except for Science/ engineering / Ag Science courses) Therefore, Loreto College, offer these subjects as Core Therefore, Loreto College, offer these subjects as Core

21. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Core Subjects All students will study the following core subjects Irish Irish English English Mathematics and Mathematics and French or German French or German

22. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Geography Geography History History Spanish Spanish Design & Communication Graphics Design & Communication Graphics Home Economics Home Economics Art Art Music Music Biology Biology Chemistry Chemistry Physics Physics Accounting Accounting Business Business Religious Education Religious Education In addition they must choose 3 subjects from the following list

23. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Subjects are grouped as follows: Languages French (Core) &German (Core) Spanish Spanish Students must have studied a language for Junior Certificate if they wish to study it for the Leaving Certificate.

24. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Science Group Physics Physics Chemistry Chemistry Biology Biology

25. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Business Studies Group Accounting Accounting Business Business

26. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Applied Science Group Design & Communication Graphics Design & Communication Graphics Home Economics Home Economics

27. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Social Studies Group History History Geography Geography Religious Education Religious Education Music Music Art Art

28. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Science Requirement Most colleges requiring a science subject only require one Most colleges requiring a science subject only require one Trinity College, UCC and DIT have specific requirements Trinity College, UCC and DIT have specific requirements Physiotherapy and Pharmacy in TCD need two science subjects Physiotherapy and Pharmacy in TCD need two science subjects TCD Pharmacy HC3 Chemistry TCD Pharmacy HC3 Chemistry

29. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Pharmacy UCC & TCD HC3 Chemistry & HC in one other Science Subject HC3 Chemistry & HC in one other Science SubjectRCSI Pharmacy HB3 in A Science Subject Pharmacy HB3 in A Science Subject

30. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Engineering Level 8 HC3 Mathematics HC3 MathematicsUCD A Science Subject Preferably Physics or Chemistry

31. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Closing Doors Not choosing a science subject can close doors at this stage. Not choosing a science subject can close doors at this stage. Nursing requires a science subject Nursing requires a science subject Find out the specific requirements needed for your area of interest. Find out the specific requirements needed for your area of interest.

32. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Qualifax – www.qualifax.ie

33. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009

40. Common Questions?

41. Accounting Do I need to study Accounting in order to be an Accountant? Do I need to study Accounting in order to be an Accountant?

42. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Languages Do I Need to have previously studied Spanish to take it in College? Do I Need to have previously studied Spanish to take it in College? No. Italian, Japanese, Polish & Russian can all be taken at beginners level No. Italian, Japanese, Polish & Russian can all be taken at beginners level A minimum level is required for most other language courses A minimum level is required for most other language courses For example; Business and French in DCU requires HC3 in French. For example; Business and French in DCU requires HC3 in French.

43. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Architect Do I need Technical drawing to study Architecture? Do I need Technical drawing to study Architecture? A laboratory Science Subject is required for UCD A laboratory Science Subject is required for UCD

44. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 Remember Three things are important when choosing a subject: Three things are important when choosing a subject: 1. Aptitude 2. Interest & 3. Ability

45. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 But most importantly…. Choose subjects that you ENJOY Choose subjects that you ENJOY If the PLEASURE is there the POINTS will come If the PLEASURE is there the POINTS will come

46. Loreto College, Swords: 10th March 2009 What should I do next? Check out college Prospectuses or job descriptions before making your choice. Check out college Prospectuses or job descriptions before making your choice. Visit relevant websites Visit relevant websites www.cao.ie www.cao.ie www.cao.ie www.qualifax.ie www.qualifax.ie www.qualifax.ie www.loretoswords.ie Careers link to all relevant websites www.loretoswords.ie Careers link to all relevant websites www.loretoswords.ie