SENIOR OPTIONS CARRIGALINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

WELCOME PARENTS 7:00 General choices for 3 rd and 4 th Years 8:15 Transition Year Option (4 th 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 1 Yr2 Yr3 Yr4 Yr 5 Yr 6 Yr Applied Established

QUESTIONS Should I do Transition Year (4 th Year)? Should I go to 5 th Year? If 5 th 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: GuidancePhysical Education ICTReligion SPHE

CHOOSING A SUBJECT... 2 nd Year Options: Because you like it

CHOOSING A SUBJECT… 5 th Year Options: Because you like it Because you need it

THIRD LEVEL CHOICES OptionQualificationNFQ Level University (UCC) Hons Degree8 Institute of Technology (CIT) Hons Degree Ord Degree Higher Cert Further College of Education (Cork College of Commerce ) Fetac Qualification 5 (one year course) 6 (two year course)

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 Basic Entry Requirements Level 8 (Hons Degree) in Universities and IT’s 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 and a third language. Third language is not required for Science, Engineering, Food Science & Nursing courses in UCC. Level 6/ 7 courses in IT’s require 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 Check college prospectuses

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… DGCProject40% Final Exam - Theory60% Construction Project25% HL 30% OL Practical Exam (May)25% HL 30% OL Theory50% HL 40% OL Engineering Project25% HL 30% OL Practical Exam (May)25% HL 30% OL Final Exam - Theory50% HL 40% OL ARTFinal Exam – Art History35% Practical Life Drawing & Still Life DGCProject40% Final Exam - Theory60% ConstructionProject25% HL 30% OL Practical Exam (May)25% HL 30% OL Final Exam - Theory50% HL 40% OL EngineeringProject25% HL 30% OL Practical Exam (May)25% HL 30% OL Final Exam - Theory50% HL 40% OL ARTFinal Exam – Art History37.5% Craft Exam25% Imaginative Composition & Still Life25% Life Drawing12.5%

GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT… French & GermanOral25 % HL 20% OL Final Exam75 % HL 80% OL IrishOral40% Final Exam60% Home EconomicsProject20% Final Exam80% GeographyProject20% Final Exam80% HistoryProject20% Final Exam80% MusicPerformance25% Listening25% Composing25%

DATS – DIFFERENTIAL APTITUDE TESTS All 4 th 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: 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: Speak with Guidance Counsellor

NEXT STEPS……. Choice to take TY, LCA or Est. Leaving Cert 5 th Yr Subjects listed in order of preference from 1-6 Signed by both parent and student Closing Dates: Friday February 13 th Discussion of choices

Guidance and Counselling Dept. C.C.S