1. March 23rd 2013 Siobhan Ring CAE

2. YearLC CandidatesTaking Link Modules% 201252,5921579530.03 201154,34416,29829.9 201054,48015,54228.2 200954,1971509627.9 200852,14314,54527.9 Number of candidates sitting Link Modules 2008 - 2012

3. YearTotalDistMeritPassUngraded 20121579512.551.828.86.9 201116,2981247329 201015,5421148319 200915,09611473210 200814,5451248319 Percentage of candidates achieving each grade in Link Modules 2008 - 2012

4. Core Section Popularity(%) Ave mark  C V 10021  Action Plan9927  Career Inv9928  Summary Rep9930

5. Option Section Popularity(%) Ave mark  Diary9232  Enterprise Rep1233  My Own Place1034  Interview8639

6.  The overall standard of layout and presentation of portfolio items was very good. Portfolio’s in general are well laid out and bound. (Note: plastic sleeves are not accepted).  Some candidates do not submit full portfolios for correction.  Candidates using a large size font are in breach of guidelines.  Marks are lost in portfolio items for poor spelling, grammar and punctuation. Candidates should spend time proof reading their portfolio items prior to submission.

7.  There has been an increase in the number of portfolio items being disallowed. Candidates with Action Plans and Summary Reports based on non-LCVP activities were disallowed. Also Work Experience Diary's where dates are outside the two year time frame of the programme.  Marks are also lost for information missing/brevity of information/ activities not being described well.  Failure to evaluate or give conclusion/recommendations lost marks.  Restrictions broken in a few cases only – extra portfolio items included for correction.  Material submitted outside the two year program. Note new portfolio dates for 2013.

8.  Marks are lost by candidates for not reading questions correctly or misinterpreting the requirements.  Also candidates who do not respond adequately to the verb used in a question i.e..describe, list, outline, explain – lose marks.  Failure to expand/develop points given.  Repeating points already stated.  Giving insufficient analysis and evaluation where required.  **Failure to link the learning from their portfolio to the written exam.

9. Popularity(%)Ave mark Sect A10020 Sect B10015 Sect CQ1 9316 Q2 7810 Q3 9616 Q4 65 14 Q5 4713 Q6 409

10.  The overall standard of answering was mixed. In particular weaker candidates scored lower marks in this year’s written paper than in last year’s written examination due to lack of knowledge or expansion to points given.  Candidates appeared to relate well to the topic of the Audio Visual section.  A wide range of marks were awarded throughout the examination.  Marks were lost due to candidates lack of knowledge or expansion, not reading the question correctly or also for not giving sufficient points or sufficient detail in their answering.  Portfolios are often of a much higher standard and did not match the standard of the written paper.

11.  Section A: Audio visual Candidates performed well. They need to listen carefully and develop answers appropriately.  Section B: Case Study Candidates who prepare well are duly rewarded. Read the questions asked carefully. Answer all parts. They should give good explainations or detail in their answers. Develop their answers well.  Section C: General questions Give appropriate detail pertaining to the question asked. Develop answers. Give the required number points asked for in the question. No repetition of points already used in a question.

12.  Check for presentation, layout and word processing errors.  Make sure a skills/qualities section is present.  Include in the educational qualification section the year on both the JC/LC. Also note Link Modules is taken at common level. L.C.V.P. or L.C.V.P. Link Modules or Links are not accepted as the subject name)  A title/position, an address and telephone number should be part of the referees given. Note two referees are required.  Candidates should provide an address/date/duties for any work experience they have completed.  An e-mail address as a personal detail should be of an appropriate nature.  Keep the CV length to a max of two pages.

13.  Check for presentation/layout and word processing errors.  Check tenses - Aims/objectives action steps, schedule of time/costs, evaluation methods – must be given in future tense only. Research methods – can be given in the past or future tense. Analysis of research – use past tense only.  A personal objective is required in a group activity.  List some duties pertaining to the day of the event in the action steps.  Evaluation methods must be present and include how the evaluation would be apparent.  Plans submitted must meet the criteria of being a Link Module activity. The principal objective given should show this link clearly. There should be a link to slo’s or future career plans etc, so that plans meet this criteria.

14.  Give sufficient detail on the duties involved in the career.  A skills and qualities section needs to be included.  Information given on the two different path ways needs to include.....  Candidates in the majority do not give details of the course content. A brief outline of one course is acceptable.  Candidates should discuss their own aptitudes, the link with their leaving certificate subjects and any out of school learning in the report.  Evaluation of the career itself AND the career investigation process is required.  Candidates are given the opportunity to show real research and individual work.

15.  Include a personal aim in a group activity.  Check that reports submitted are not too short and that objectives relate to the body of the report.  Headings within the body of the report are required.  Conclusions should link to the aims/body of the report.  Recommendations on should be valid to the report submitted.

16.  Personalised detailed accounts of candidates work experience placements should be given.  The candidates reasons for choosing their work placement and the description of the placement should be well covered. Candidates need to discuss their aptitudes/link with their own Leaving Certificate subjects/their career plan.  Analyse their own performance should be included and given in detail through out the Diary.  Evaluation of candidates work experience should be included. Career aspirations, link with future studies and how candidates could apply their learning to the home, school or the community.

17.  Submit reports on group enterprise activities only.  An author’s name and table of contents should be evident. Also charts, tables or diagrams should be included. These diagrams should be clear/labelled and support the content.  A personal objective needs to be included.  A personal/individual contribution paragraph should also be included.  Include a summary of the report (this should read well).  Check the length of the report.  Watch for repetition of the Action Plan given in the core section.

18.  Include a Table of Contents for the report.  Many reports concentrate on one area of their community or area investigation and fail to give an over view of their complete investigation. This overview needs to be included.  Key areas such as identifying their individual contribution should be included.  The analysis of a key issue/ suggestion for improvement must be included and well developed – in some reports it appeared that if this analysis was discussed it was more stumbled upon, rather than being actually considered.

19.  Candidates often lose marks for poor appearance.  Most centres keep within the time frame allowed for the video presentation i.e. 5 minutes.  Candidates should be well prepared and show good knowledge and communication skills.  In some instances interviewers do not ask searching enough questions so that a student is given the opportunity to extend him or herself.

20.  Play DVD’s that are being submitted to the SEC for viewing on a DVD machine and a laptop.  Make sure good quality DVD’s are used. Mini discs should not be submitted.  Make Four copies of each DVD being submitted to the SEC  Exam Numbers should be seen for the candidates complete interview.  Make sure DVD packaging is sufficient for post arriving in the SEC.  Candidates who are often missing recordings i.e. First or last few interviews on the DVD. Check all candidates are present on the DVD.  Check sound & profile are appropriate.  Poor Interviewers are apparent for some interviews.  Sequences sheets should be filled according to the running order on the DVD. A copy of the sequence sheet should also be included with the second DVD.

21.  Teachers have an excellent resource in the PDST website. Here you can find excellent information as to the makeup of the portfolio items, exemplar material etc.  Another excellent resource are the Local Area Networks. Here experienced teachers along with new teachers to the subject get an opportunity to review the examination from the previous year, discuss the portfolio items and brainstorm for possible questions and answers to the published case study in April. The PDST have a list of venues, times and dates for these meeting, for the coming term on their website.  Portfolio items show a wide variety of activities. Some fabulous portfolios are submitted by candidates showing their experience the world of work or enterprise in action.  It is clearly identifiable candidates who receive good direction as to the makeup and marking of the portfolio items.  Thank you to all who examine.  Finally thank you to all, who through your teaching inspire/encourage our LCVP students