Transcript Welcome [www.presbandon.ie]

th
5
Year
Subject Choice
Traditional Leaving Certificate
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2 year ACADEMIC programme
High level of work and commitment
required
Over 50% of the Leaving Certificate course
will be covered in 5th Year
What are your hopes for these two years?
Where do you see yourself in two years
time?
Factors influencing subject choice
in the subject – will tend to
work harder in areas of interest
 Ability/Aptitude in the subject
 Is the subject necessary for chosen
career?
 Is the subject desirable for chosen
career?
 Interest
Minimum Entry Requirements
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Colleges set minimum entry requirements each
year
This is what a student has to have to get into the
course.
Usually it is a specific subject (or subjects), and the
grade required in that subject/s
It is independent of the points required for the
course e.g. Student with 600 points but no science
subject will not get into medicine
To check for specific entry requirements in colleges
go to
www.skoool.ie/skoool/collegechoice.asp?id=2225
National Framework of
Qualifications
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Level 1 – Fetac Certificate
Level 2 – Fetac Certificate
Level 3 – Fetac/Junior
Certificate
Level 4 – Fetac/Leaving
Certificate
Level 5 – Fetac/Leaving
Certificate
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Level 6 –
Advanced/Higher
Certificate
Level 7 – Ord Bachelor
Degree
Level 8 – Hons Bachelor
Degree Higher Diploma
Level 9 – Masters Degree
Post-Graduate Diploma
Level 10 – Doctoral
Degree
General Entry Requirements
University and Level 8 IT
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Usually require HC3 in 2 subjects and passes in
four others (Trinity requires 3 honours, 3
passes).
UCC proposing 4HC3’s and 2 passes.
Subjects must include Irish, English, Continental
Language and Maths.
Maths is not required for some Arts Courses
Language not required for some Science and
Engineering Courses
General Entry Requirements
Institutes of Technology (IT’s) – Level 6/7
 Usually require 5 passes in the Leaving
Certificate including Maths and
Irish/English
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DIT is an exception being more like university in
the types of courses offered and the entry
requirements
Subject Choice
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Students choose 7 subjects from the subjects
available
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Availability of subjects may be restricted by
timetabling constraints
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Points are counted from the best 6 subjects for
CAO
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For detailed information about each subject check
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www.curriculumonline.ie
www.careersportal.ie
www.qualifax.ie
Subjects offered in Colaiste Na Toirbhirte
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English
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Compulsory
Irish
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Maths
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French
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1 Recommended
German
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History
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Geography
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Home Economics
Music
Art
Business Studies
Accounting
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
All students take Religion, P.E., and Computers
English
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English is assessed by two written papers
Paper I consists of linked unseen texts
leading to a range of comprehending and
composing tasks
Paper II consists of questions on the
prescribed literary texts and on an unseen
poem
English
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Higher Level English is required for
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Media Studies, Journalism, English Studies,
Clinical Speech (TCD),
Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy (RSCI)
Useful for
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Law, Speech and Language Therapy, Politics,
Public Relations, UCAS applications
Irish
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Irish is assessed by two written papers
(50%), an oral exam (40%) and an aural
exam (10%).
Students should have achieved a good
result in JC Higher Level Irish to study
Higher Level at Leaving Certificate and a
love of the language.
As course is long, students must be willing
to work well from the start of 5th Year
Irish
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Higher Level Irish is required for
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Ordinary level is required for
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Primary Teaching, Commerce with Irish, Law
with Irish, Irish Studies, Gnó agus Cumarsáid,
Leann Dúchais
Cadets, Gardaí, Public Sector
Irish is also useful for Law, Secondary
Teaching
People with degrees in Irish work for
Government Departments, TG4, Radio na
Gaeltachta, Údarás Na Gaeltachta
Mathematics
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Maths is assessed by two papers in LC
Successful higher level Maths students
should have had a very good result in
higher level Maths at JC
Maths graduates have excellent career
opportunities in areas such as Actuary,
Engineering, Finance, Business and
Research
Mathematics
 Higher Level Maths is required for
 Actuarial Trainee, Actuary courses, Engineering,
Mathematical Sciences
 Higher Level Maths is useful for
 Computer Studies (most require HD or OB), Architecture,
Accounting (usually OC or HD)
 Pass in Ordinary Level Maths is essential for entry
into most University courses and all IT courses
 25 bonus points for Higher Level Maths if Maths is
being counted for points
Continental Language
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Each language is assessed by a written
paper (55%), oral exam (25%) and aural
exam (20%)
Students should have good communication
skills and a love of the language
Language Degrees lead to careers in
teaching, lecturing, translating, interpreting,
and work with organisations such as EU
and UN
Continental Language
Necessary for minimum entry requirement
to most university programmes
 Higher level required for courses with a
language such as French through Arts,
Commerce with Spanish, Law with
German, European Studies
 Students can take Italian and Spanish at
beginners level in college but usually need
to have HC3 in another language
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History
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History is assessed by a written paper
(80%) and a research study (20%) which is
usually completed in 5th year
It is useful to be able to draw conclusions
from information provided and to present
these conclusions in a clear manner
through an essay style answer
History
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Not required for entry to any specific
course but stands on it’s own merits
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Useful for courses in Politics, Law,
Tourism, Journalism, Research &
Teaching
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Essay writing skills gained are valuable in
Arts based courses such as Psychology
Geography
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Geography is assessed by a written exam
(80%) and a geographical investigation
(20%) which is completed in October of 6th
Year
Geography students should have an
interest in the local environment and a
curiosity about international issues and
cultures
Geography
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Not required for entry to any specific course
but stands on it’s own merits
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Useful for courses in Tourism and Travel,
Social Policy, Environment & Earth
Sciences, Town Planning, Teaching and
work with NGO’s
Home Economics
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Home Economics is assessed by a written
paper (80%) and a written project (20%)
completed in fifth year
There are three main areas of study; Food
Studies, Resource Management and
Sociology
Students should have an interest in Health
and Nutrition
Home Economics
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This is required for Home Economics
Teaching
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It is highly recommended for courses and
employment in the Hotel and Catering
Industry
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It is also useful for careers such as
Dietician, Nutritionist, Food Business
development, Environmental Health, Social
Worker
Music
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Music is assessed by exams in Listening
(25%), Composing (25%), Performance
(25%). The remaining 25% is chosen by the
student but most choose Performance
Students should have a strong foundation in
both practical (instrument/voice) and theory
It is both a creative and academic subject
and develops confidence and teamwork
skills
Music
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Not specifically required for entry to music
courses but students must sit a music
entrance exam for which the Leaving
Certificate Music course provides an
excellent foundation
Music is also a valuable subject for careers
in sound engineering, multimedia, music
technology, teaching, music therapy,
conductor, arts administration and the
media
Art
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Art is assessed by three practical
examinations (60%) carried out in May.
These are;
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Life Sketching
Still Life or Imaginative or Abstract Composition
Design or Craftwork
A written examination (40%) of Art History
and Appreciation occurs in June.
Art
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Not specifically required for most art
courses, but students must submit a
portfolio of work for entry – Leaving
Certificate Art course helps to build this
portfolio
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Art is also a desirable subject for
Architecture, and useful for careers in
advertising, media, T.V. and video
production, fashion design, and visual
design
Business
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Business can be divided into three main
areas
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People in business
Enterprise
Environment
Business provides a broad overview of the
world of business
Students are required to write essay style
answers to explain the principles of
business
Accounting
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Students who enjoy the book-keeping part
of JC Business should enjoy LC
Accounting
Analysis and interpretation of accounts is
the core activity
It is a subject that suits an organised
methodical person who likes definite
answers
Business Subjects
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Business Studies and Accounting are not
specifically required for entry to Business
courses
Studying any of these subjects at Leaving
Certificate level will provide an excellent
base for future study in the Business area
Business courses at third level contain
Economics and Accounting
Biology
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Topics studied in Biology include Ecology,
Physiology, Microbiology, Plant Biology and
Genetics
Students should be consistent workers as
the course is large and requires learning
Biology is useful for careers in healthcare
and in research
Chemistry
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Chemistry is assessed by a written paper
with short questions, practical questions
(on mandatory experiments) and long
questions
Students should have a good logical and
mathematical ability
Chemistry is useful for careers in
healthcare and in research
Physics
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The course gives an understanding of the
fundamental principles of physics and their
application to everyday life.
Problem solving and mathematical ability
are very important. Students should
choose Physics based on performance in
JC Maths
Physics is useful for careers in
Engineering, Research, Technology &
Health
Science Subjects
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HC3 Chemistry + HC3 in
Physics/Biology required for Medicine,
Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine,
Pharmacy
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HC3 in 1 Science for Engineering
(physics recommended), Science,
Speech & Language Therapy,
Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy,
Optometry (physics recommended),
Radiotherapy (physics or chemistry
recommended)
Science Subjects - continued
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HC3 Chemistry required for Dietetics
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HC3 in Biology for Genetics in UCC
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1 Science subject is required for Nursing
(Ordinary level is accepted)
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Biology is also required for Beauty Therapy
and Complementary Therapy courses
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UK colleges usually require two sciences
for healthcare courses
General Advice
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If students are unsure about subjects, it is a
good idea to select subjects that will keep
options open
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Students should try to find a balance
between learning based subjects and
practical or applied subject
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Higher Level subjects will have on average
30-40 minutes homework per night
Factors influencing decision
in the subject – will tend to
work harder in areas of interest
 Ability/Aptitude in the subject
 Is the subject necessary for chosen
career?
 Is the subject desirable for chosen
career?
 Interest
Subjects offered in
Colaiste Na Toirbhirte
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
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
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
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
English
Compulsory
Irish
Maths
French
1 Recommended
German
History
Geography
Home Economics
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Music
Art
Business Studies
Accounting
Physics
Chemistry
Biology