Transcript Document
Subject options & careers 5
th
year – Senior cycle
Matriculation subjects and course requirements
What to choose
All subjects are equally valid (points) Some subjects are mandatory Some subjects are college required (Matriculation) Some subjects are course requirements Some subjects are relevant Some subjects are easy / interesting / suited
Subjects within SPS
Irish (Spanish) English Maths Additional subjects Applied mathematics Home economics German French Chemistry / Business /Art Biology / Music / Economics Physics / History / Biology Geography / Classics / Design & Communication Graphics
How Many?
Maximum is 9 subjects Minimum is 6 subjects Recommended is 7 / 8
Matriculation
All NUI’s (UCC, UCD, Maynooth, Galway, RCSI, NCAD) require a third language for entry Except for agriculture, engineering at UCD or engineering at Maynooth NCAD will accept Art instead of a third language
Maths
IS ESSENTIAL FOR; Entry for almost all colleges Science, engineering, business, medicine, paramedical, nursing and psychology and for all courses in the Institute of Technology Foundation level is accepted as general entry in many universities, but no points are awarded and it will not suffice for meeting course requirement.
English
Is essential for; Entry to almost all colleges. Higher English is required for journalism (HB in DCU, HC in DIT), communications and media arts in DIT and Maynooth
Irish
Is essential for; All NUI colleges – exemptions must be stated on CAO and colleges will then contact the student directly Primary teaching (HC), Degrees through Irish,
Third language
Essential for Entry to all NUI colleges and courses that require language as part of course.
IN TCD, UL, and DCU, it is essential to have a language (Irish will suffice) other than English. NCAD (art instead of third language), Nursing (any other subject instead)
Science subjects
Biology, physics, chemistry Medicine x 2 (can include higher maths instead of physics) Nursing / midwifery / OT / radiography x 1 Science x 2 TCD (can include higher / app maths / geography) Science x 1 UCD Dentistry x 2 (can include higher maths instead of physics) Pharmacy, Physiotherapy x 2 (can include higher maths) Veterinary courses x Chemistry + other matric.
Engineering ( UCD ) need chemistry / physics Dietetics (DIT) need chemistry Usually implies HC3
In summary!
Choose subjects you will need for your chosen university route Choose subjects you are interested in and are willing to work at Choose subjects that will gain you sufficient points or the basic grades required.
Making up your career mind!
What subjects do I enjoy What subjects am I good at Aptitude tests / interest inventories Work experience Ruling out!!
Research Work experience – especially for UCAS applicants
How to narrow down
YES Dietetics Psychology Social work MAYBE Science Medicine Nursing Business Engineering NO
CAO process
Begin research now Convert points from all exams Goals – short and long term Art applicants need to work on portfolio – restricted courses # Hpat students advised to take Hpat in 5 th and 6 th year year
UCAS
University and College Application System First deadline is 15 th October (6 th year)– for Oxbridge and medicine, dentistry and veterinary Work experience is crucial for these courses 15 th January is deadline for all other courses Recommend to apply early, from September 1st!!
Predicted grades so work from now!
Aptitude assessments for UK
BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
For entry to medicine and veterinary schools.
English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT)
For entry to English courses at the University of Oxford.
Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT)
For entry into medicine.
History Aptitude Test (HAT)
For entry to modern history and a joint honours degrees involving modern history at the University of Oxford.
Health Professions Admissions Test (HPAT)
For entry to certain medical courses at the University of Ulster.
The National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT)
For entry to law.
Modern and Medieval Languages Test (MML)
For entry to modern and medieval languages at the University of Cambridge.
Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP)
For entry to mathematics at the University of Cambridge.
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA Cambridgeor) For entry to computer science, natural sciences, engineering and economics at the University of Cambridge.
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA Oxford)
formerly known as the PPE Admissions Test For entry to the philosophy, politics and economics, and the economics and management courses at the University of Oxford.
UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT)
For entry to medical and dental schools
2009 Points change 2008
Science: 440 (TCD), 385 (UCD), 360 (DCU) Business: 475 (TCD), 450 (UCD), 425 (DCU), 410 (DIT) Engineering: 410 – 365 Arts: 440 – 555 Architecture: 505 UCD Science: 415 (TCD), 390 (UCD), 360 (DCU) Business: 470 (TCD), 450 (UCD), 425 (DCU), 410 (DIT) Engineering: 445 – 380 Arts: 430 – 555 Architecture 525
A1 A2 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 D3
Honours
60 55 50 45 100 90 85 80 75 70 65
Points
A1 A2 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 D3
Ordinary
20 15 10 5 60 50 45 40 35 30 25
Points = grades
555 = 2 x A1, 3 x A2, 1 x B1 500 = 4 x B1, 2 x B2 475 = 2 x B1, 2 x B2, 1 x B3, 1 x C1 440 = 4 x C1, 2 x B2 400 = 3 x C1, 2 x C2, 1 x C3 350 = 2 x C1, 2 x C3, 1 x ord B2, 1 x ord A2, 300 = 1 x ord A2, 2 x ord B2, 1 x ord C1, 2 x C2,
HPAT health professional aptitude test
www. hpat-ireland.acer.edu.ie
Can be taken more than once and best score can be used 3 sections; Section 1 tests your logical reasoning and problem solving skills. This section is designed to test how fast you can interpret information and your ability to think in various ways.
Section 2 tests your ability to understand people. You will be given various passages or scenarios describing people and interactions, this section is about empathy Section 3 tests your non-verbal reasoning. This involves finding patterns and trends in a sequence or block of pictures. It tests your ability to think non-verbally
Sample question section 1
Botanists studied a rainforest in Nicaragua that had been ravaged by Hurricane Joan in 1988. They found that in the following ten years the number of tree species had increased by at least 200%, and up to 300%, in eight storm-affected plots. Other plots not affected by the hurricane showed little if any such increase.
1. From this information, it can be concluded that
A hurricanes play an important role in ensuring the long-term survival of tropical rainforests.
B when the dominant trees in an area of tropical rainforest are destroyed, other species are given a chance to flourish.
C the overall life of a tropical rainforest is increased if arge areas are occasionally levelled to the ground.
D the productivity of a tropical rainforest will be maximised if large areas are occasionally levelled to the ground.
Sample question section 2
In the following passage, an adolescent boy talks about living with a physical disability. As I have been physically disabled all my life, I have managed to cope with the purely practical problems arising with a minimum of fuss. I felt no loss, because I had no feelings of ‘normality’ to compare with. One of my physical problems is that I am short, about 127 centimetres tall. I was constantly mistaken by strangers for a little kid. It’s a real pain for a 16-year old boy to be handed a kid’s menu every time he enters a restaurant. It is even worse when mere coherent speech is greeted with awe.
3. For the writer, the main problem with his disability is
A the embarrassment of being so short.
B never knowing what it is to be ‘normal’.
C dealing with other people’s preconceptions.
D coping with the practical problems caused by his condition.
Section 3 sample questions
Arrange the five pictures so that they form a logical sequence. Then select the middle picture of the sequence and mark the corresponding letter (A, B, C, D or E) on the answer sheet.
Hpat Facts
Maximum score in Hpat is 300, this year score ranged from 71 – 230 Maximum acceptable score in LC is 480 There are 480 places on offer from 5 medical schools, student must score above the 80 th %ile to be in top 500.
One student who scored in the 84%ile (top 16%) did not receive a place Test takes 2 hours 30 minutes
Breakdown
A student adds the 1 st 550 points from their leaving certificate points For every 5 points over this they add 1 point, e.g. if they score 570 points, they get 550 + 4 They add this is the Hpat score, e.g. 225 +550 + 4 = 779.
Increase in male places from previous years.
How to improve chances
Practice, practice, practice – question type and timing.
repeat test in 5 th and 6 th year Preparation courses – although Hpat and ACER do not endorse these courses in institute of education Also available in DCU over Christmas holidays 28 / 29 and 30 / 31 December (run by medentry) Key skills for career; be flexible have good thinking skills (critical and analytical) be able to respond quickly to new situations and problems have a well developed ability to understand and respond to patients' needs and individual situations Encourage wide and critical reading Register for test between 10 th Test takes place on the 27 th november and 20 Feburary th Januatry
Alternative routes
Medicine / Physiotherapy – Science 325 – 425 points, then post graduate programme Law – variety of degrees for Blackhall place. For kings Inn law is ideal – or 2 years diploma req. (arts, private colleges) Business / marketing – entry at level 6 /7 (330) in DIT and progress through to level 8 (410*) FETAC route – many linked programmes, nursing, art, business, social science, science
Ideal scenario!
In August 2011 (!!!) students should have many options – including Level 8 honours degree Level 6 / 6 ordinary degree Fetac (back up) course UK offer