SUBJECT CHOICE FOR LEAVING CERT 2012

St Bricins College

Strictly intended for use by St Bricins StudentsAll the information given on subject requirements is the most up to date available at this time (April 2011) and is based on www.qualifax.ieThe information given on LCVP subject requirements is the most up to date available at this time (April 2011) and is based on DESC Circular 13/2009

Core Subjects

In this school you must take: Irish (unless exempt) English Mathematics That leaves you with a choice of

four other subjects from the following list

How Do You Choose?

To choose the rest of your subjects first read through the information on the following pages.

Pay particular attention to the information on LCVP, on why you should do it and what subjects combinations you need.

Carefully read the information on colleges and courses that require French or Science subjects.

How Do You Choose Cont’d?

Consider what subjects you are good at? What courses or careers are you

interested in after you do your Leaving Cert?

What subjects do you need to get into those courses or careers?

What subjects would be useful if not necessary for such courses and careers?

What subjects do you like?

Choosing

Indicate your subject preference in order from 1 down to 11, in the table below. (Your top choice is No.1 etc.,)

We will try to give everyone as many of their top choices as possible but provision of a subject depends on a sufficient number of students choosing that subject as an option.

The Choices The choices are:

ArtBiologyBusinessConstruction StudiesDesign & Communications GraphicsEngineeringFrenchGeographyHistoryHome Economics (Social & Scientific)Physics & Chemistry

SAMPLE LEAVING CERTIFICATE SUBJECT CHOICE 

later than 21st April 2010Subject Preference

Art 5

Biology 2

Business 10

Construction Studies 6

Design & Communication Graphics 1

Engineering 7

French 3

Geography 8

History 11

Home Economics 4

Physics & Chemistry 9

Choices Cont’d

Provision of a subject depends on a sufficient number of students choosing that subject as an option.

Return the completed sheet to the Principal on or before Tuesday, 3rd May 2011.

Do I Need to Take French in My Leaving Cert

I want to go to University College Dublin(UCD), University College Cork(UCC), NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, Pontifical University Maynooth, Royal College of Surgeons, Shannon College of Hotel Management.

I want to do a course that requires French.

I want to join the Cadets

What Can I Do Without French

French is not required for entry to: Nursing DCU, Trinity College, University of

Limerick, Primary Teacher Training The Institutes of Technology e.g. Sligo Most Engineering, Agriculture, Science

or Actuarial Courses in NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, UCC and UCD (See Exceptions)

A pass in Polish, Lithuanian etc., at Leaving Cert can be substituted for French

Do I need a Science Subject

I want to do a course that requires a science subject (Engineering, Nursing, Forensics etc.,)

I want to do Science at College I want to train as a primary teacher in

the U.K. I want to do Beauty Therapy etc., in

Cavan Institute There is a growing scarcity of qualified

scientists

Why should I do LCVP?

The Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP) provides:

Enterprise Education Careers Education Work Experience Interview Skills Can be substituted for points instead

of your subject with the lowest grade.

What do I need for LCVP? For Leaving Cert Vocational

Programme (LCVP) you need: At least 5 Leaving Cert subjects

including Irish unless exempted. Two subjects from a list of Vocational

Subject Groups (VSG’s). Study either French or ab initio French

to Leaving Cert (Modern Continental Language).

Vocational Subject Groupings 2011/2013

1.

Art with Design Option or

Art with Craftwork Optionand Design & Communication Graphics

2.

Biology and Physics & Chemistry

3.

Construction Studies

Engineering

Design & Communication Graphics

Any two

4.

Home Economics (Sci & Soc) and

Art with Design Option or

Art with Craftwork Option or

Biology

5. Business and

Engineering or

Design & Communication Graphics or

Construction Studies or

Home Economics (Sci & Soc) or

Art with Design Option or

Art with Craftwork Option or

Music

Science Subjects BIOLOGY

– Science of living things.– Very good for careers in science, sport,

nursing, hairdressing and beauty care. PHYSICS & CHEMISTRY

– Science of chemicals, materials, heat, light, electricity and motion.

– Very good for science, engineering, practical careers and apprenticeships e.g. fitting, plumbing and electrical etc.,

Art & Music ARTFollows on from Junior Cert Art. Involves practical art work including the preparation of a portfolio plus the study of Art theory and the History of Art. Required for Arts – Visual and Design – Visual Communications in WIT and for Graphic Design in LYT. NCAD will accept Art or French. Almost all other Art & Design courses require a portfolio. Useful for Architecture, Media, Teaching etc.,

MUSICMusicianship, Music Theory, History, Composition & Appreciation. Leaving Cert music or an equivalent qualification are required for Arts with Music in NUIM, Education, Music & Religion Teaching in Mater Dei, Music Applied in DKIT and Music, Media and Performance Technology in UL. Most music courses require an ability to read music and play an instrument to a high level of proficiency which will be assessed at an audition.

Technology Subjects ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

– Follows on from Metalwork.– Deals with all aspects of engineering technology, design,

materials, processes and theory.– Very good for all Engineering, Design, Construction,

practical careers and apprenticeships particularly in plumbing, fitting and electrical.

CONSTRUCTION– Follows on from Materials Technology wood.– Deals with all aspects of construction, building design and

building theory and regulations.– Very good for all Construction, Engineering, Design,

practical careers and apprenticeships.

DESIGN & COMMUNICATION GRAPHICS– Used to be known as Technical Drawing.– Follows on from Technical Graphics.– Very good for all Construction, Engineering, Design,

practical careers and apprenticeships.

Business, Geography, History, Home Economics

Follow on from the Junior Courses of the same names very good for social, personal and academic development

Business: very good for all business careers and self-employed.

Geography: very good for all careers in social, travel, tourism, international trading, communications, policy-making or teaching.

Home Economics: very good subject for any career in food, hotel, catering, travel, tourism, social work, nursing or caring areas.

Further Information

For more detailed information on subjects please visit www.careersportal.ie and choose the link Leaving Cert Subject Choice in the section entitled World of Learning

Full syllabii for all LC Subjects can be found on the NCCA Website www.ncca.ie

Points & Courses

There are over 3,000 courses available at Third Level, 1,344 in the CAO system and 1,832 in Further Education

Here are a small sample of the best known CAO courses

Over 40% of all courses (540) had points requirements of less than 300 in 2010

For a full listing of every Third Level and Further Education course in Ireland log onto www.qualifax.ie

For more information on careers log onto www.careersportal.ie

Sample Points & Courses 2009

Course Course ProviderQualification

Points

BusinessAthlone Institute of Technology

Level 8 NFQ 275

Accounting Athlone Institute of Technology

Level 8 NFQ 250

Accounting & Finance Dundalk Institute of Technology

Level 8 NFQ 300

Business & Accounting

NUI Maynooth Level 8 NFQ 380

Business & Management

Dublin Institute of Technology

Level 8 NFQ 400

Accounting & Finance Dublin City University Level 8 NFQ 425

Actuarial & Financial Studies

University College Dublin

Level 8 NFQ 545

Course Course Provider Qualification Points

Design & Technology Education at Letterfrack

Galway-Mayo IT - Galway

Level 8 NFQ 425

Early Childhood Education Dublin Institute of Technology

Level 8 NFQ 415

Education - Primary Teaching Colaiste Mhuire, Marino Level 8 NFQ 465

Education - Primary Teaching St. Patrick's College Drumcondra

Level 8 NFQ 475

Home Economics with Biology - Second Level Teaching

St. Angela's College Sligo

Level 8 NFQ 495

Physical Education with Biology

Dublin City University Level 8 NFQ 485

Physical Education with concurrent Teacher Education

University of Limerick Level 8 NFQ 495

Science - Education Dublin City University Level 8 NFQ 415

Science Education NUI Maynooth Level 8 NFQ 470

Course Course Provider QualificationPoints

Arts NUI Maynooth Level 8 NFQ 375

Computer Science

University College Dublin Level 8 NFQ 375

Engineering Dublin Institute of Technology Level 8 NFQ 310

Engineering - Omnibus

University College Dublin Level 8 NFQ 425

Law - BCL University College Dublin Level 8 NFQ 480

Medicine University College Dublin Level 8 NFQ 725

Nursing General - Standard

Dundalk Institute of Technology

Level 8 NFQ 390

For a full listing of every Third Level and Further Education course in Ireland log onto www.qualifax.ie For more information on careers log onto www.careersportal.ie

% Band LC Grades Higher Level Points

Ordinary Level PointsBonus*

90 -100 A1 100 60 All students presenting HD3 or above in HL mathematics will have 25 points added to their score for mathematics

e.g. HB2 = 80 points +25 = 105

85 - 89 A2 90 50

80 - 84 B1 85 45

75 - 79 B2 80 40

70 - 74 B3 75 35

65 - 69 C1 70 30

60 - 64 C2 65 25

55 - 59 C3 60 20

50 - 54 D1 55 15

45 - 49 D2 50 10

40 - 44 D3 45 5

LCVP Distinction Merit Pass

70 points 50 points 30 points

Important Information

All the information given on subject requirements is the most up to date available at this time (April 2011) and is based on www.qualifax.ie

The information given on LCVP subject requirements is the most up to date available at this time (April 2011) and is based on DESC Circular 13/2009

Exceptions

Specific Subject Required

Code Course College Specific Subject

CK405 Genetics UCCHC3 in Biology

TR056Human Health & Disease

Trinity

HC3 in Biology & HC3 in Physics & Chemistry

3rd Language Required

DN096Science -Health & performance

UCD

DN037Science –Biomedical, Health & Life

UCD

GY 304B.Sc. in Biotechnology

NUIG