1. Beyond Junior Cert 4 options: Leaving Certificate
Leaving Cert Vocational
Transition Year
Leaving Cert Applied
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2. Subject information seminars Initial selection 14 January
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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3. 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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4. More subjects available
Some subjects change name
Woodwork Construction Studies
Metalwork Engineering
Technical Graphics DCG
Some split up into separate subjects
Science Physics : Chemistry: Biology
Business --- Business Organisation:
Accounting
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5. 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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6. 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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7. 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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8. 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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9. 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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10. 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

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

12. Example
Student A: Irish, English, Maths, Business, German, Home Economics, Biology, Link Modules
Student B: Irish, English, Maths, French, Art, Engineering , DCG, Link Modules

13. Programme Requirements
Students must:
Be taking at least five LC subjects plus the link modules
Two of the above subjects must be selected from the designated Subject Groupings
Students must take Irish
A European Language other than Irish or English

14. 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

15. Grades Points for LCVP Distinction (80%-100%) 70 points (C1 H)
Merit (65 -79%) points (D2 H)
Pass (50% - 64%) points (C1 O)

16. 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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17. 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

18. 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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19. Looking beyond LC Third Level studies Post Leaving Cert Courses
Apprenticeship/other training
Work
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20. 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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21. 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

22. POINTS
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23. Higher Level Maths at L.Cert
25 extra points will be awarded for higher level maths from grade D3 upwards
A1= extra = 125
D3= extra = 70
This is a good incentive to stick with Higher Maths
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24. 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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25. National Qualification Framework

26. LEVEL 8 – HIGHER DEGREE – POINTS –some examples
SCIENCE UCD
ARTS UCD
ARTS NUIM
COMMERCE UCD
B.ED. (Primary Teaching)
NURSING UCD
COMPUTER SCIENCE
ENGINEERING TCD
SOCIAL CARE ITTa

27. 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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28. OTHER OPTIONS AFTER LC POST 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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29. 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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30. 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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31. 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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32. 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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