St. Mary s Secondary School Subject Choice 2018 Information Evening for Parents & Guardians of Transition & Third Year students 1
7 subjects are studied for the Leaving Certificate exams English Irish Maths French or German AND 2
Choose 3 from the following. Science Group - Biology, Chemistry, Physics Business Group - Accounting, Business, Economics Artistic Group - Art, Design & Communication Graphics (DCG), Music Humanities Group - Geography, History Social Group - Home Economics 3
Subjects dropped in 1st year May be taken up for the Leaving Cert Art Art Business Studies Business Studies / Economics Home Economics Home Economics Science Biology / Physics Technical Graphics (TG) Music May not be taken up for the Leaving Cert Accounting Chemistry Design & Communication Graphics (DCG) Music 4
What subjects should you choose? What subjects do you like? What subjects are you good at or do well in? Are you pleased with your results in the Junior Cert? What career area are you interested in? Does this career require certain subjects? 5
Points to note: What subjects are necessary for the career I might like to pursue?(science subject for Nursing) What subjects might be useful for the career I might like to pursue? (Physics / DCG for Engineering, Computer Science DCG / Art for Architecture History / Economics for Law) 6
Entry Requirements... Basic entry to courses - 6 subjects Most courses - English, Irish, Maths, a 3rd language Some courses have a specific entry requirement - usually a Science subject e.g. Nursing, Engineering, Food Science, Architecture, Medicine, Physiotherapy etc. 7
Quick Guide to Subjects History: 20% of final marks for research paper submitted before exams. 3 essays in final exam. Topics from 100 years studied. Good English skills, interest in reading. Geography: Geographic investigation worth 20% submitted in April before exams. For Science & Pharmacy courses in TCD Geography accepted as a Science subject! Home Ec.: 20% of marks for course journal submitted in Oct. of 6th yr. Food science is essential part of subject plus option of textiles, social studies, home design. Students who study Biology and Business will find some overlap in topics which can be useful! 8
Quick Guide to Subjects Physics: Strong maths element but H.L. maths is not required. Must maintain a lab book, learn formulae, perform 24 experiments. Chemistry: Chemical components of a series of prescribed experiments are learned. Required to present the elements of 4 such experiments in the L.C. exam. H.L. Maths not required but a student must have an interest in working with calculations. Biology: 24 mandatory experiments. Record these in a lab manual. Lots of theory to learn. Perceived as easier than other sciences but has high failure rate at Ordinary Level. 9
Quick Guide to Subjects Business: Looks at how organisations are formed, financed and run. It explores the services that support businesses insurance, banking, transport, public service bodies. Accounting: Students who enjoyed the bookkeeping part of Junior Cert business should consider accounting. Working with accounts is the core activity. For those with strong numeracy and reasoning skills. Economics: Economics has a mathematical slant as well as graphic and theoretical work. Examines international trade, the role of govt. & E.U. in controlling the economy. Looks at inner workings of companies. Good for analytical students. 10
Quick Guide to Subjects Art: 40% is for written Art History paper, 60% for continuous assessment project work and a still life drawing completed in May Music: Usually a subject that is followed on from J.C. Music practical and theory work are main components. DCG: Graphics and design are communicated using freehand sketching skills, traditional draughting equipment and CAD. 2-D & 3-D graphics are analysed. Useful subject for Architecture, Engineering, Computers. 11
New Points System 2017 12
All Science courses require at least 1 Science subject - (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) Nursing Physiotherapy Occupational Therapy Pharmacy Food Science Speech & Language Therapy Primary Teaching in U.K. Nutritional Sciences Radiography Sports Science Genetics Medicine Engineering Biomedical Science Biological & Chemical Sciences Veterinary Science Dentistry 13
N.B. 2 Science subjects required for... Dentistry, Medicine (UCC, RCI, TCD) Pharmacy (TCD, UCC) Dentistry, Medicine (TCD, UCC) Physiotherapy, Genetics (TCD) Science (TCD) Medicinal Chemistry (TCD) www.cao.ie Courses - (reference) 14
Chemistry is required for Veterinary at UCD Human Nutrition at DIT Dentistry, Medicine at UCC Pharmacy (UCC,TCD, RCSI) H5 min. H4 min. H4 min. H5 min. Chemistry is recommended for Medicine at UCD http://www.careersportal.ie/school/lc_subject_choice.php#.wg6a5yolrha 15
Language Requirements... Arts Primary teaching Language Degree/Degree with a language Journalism Commerce Medicine Occupational Therapy Social Science Speech and Language Therapy at UCC Clinical Speech/ language studies (Trinity) English or Third language 16
Higher Level Maths 25 extra points are added to a Higher Level Maths student s score in the Leaving Cert example: L.C. Grade H1 at Higher level = 100 points L.C. Grade H1 in Maths H.L. = 125 points Maths Grade H4 at H.L. (60%/70% 66 points) + 25 bonus points = 91 points 17
Higher Level Maths is required for... Most Engineering courses in University (H4) Degrees for which Maths is a core component of the course Computer Science (TCD) Theoretical Physics (TCD) Actuarial & Financial Studies (UCD) Economics & Finance (UCD) 18
The Maths Question A pass in ordinary level maths is essential for entry to the majority of courses Failing to secure O6 (D grade) @ O.L. will put you in a difficult position! Don t neglect your studies in Maths!!!! 19
Choosing the right subjects for you! Subject teachers speaking to classes about their particular subject Meeting with the guidance counsellor to explore Likes and dislikes Aptitudes and abilities Careers of interest Subjects that would be useful for these careers Requirements for these career areas 20
What is the easiest subject and what s the hardest? There are no soft subjects By studying something you are really good at, it will seem easier! As a result, you will probably get higher marks in your favourite subjects = more points!! 21
The Subject Choice Process... Top 6 in order of preference 1. 2. 3. Deadline 3rd Feb. 4. 5. 6. Choices are entered into the computer Computer generates an options timetable based on demand for subjects 22
Subjects for which there is little or no demand will run at the same time Subjects for which there is little demand may not be available and students will make another choice from what is available 23
Unfortunately not all students will get their top 3 choices Not enough students want to do the subject to make it viable for a class Two subjects that your daughter wants to do might be on at the same time A class might be oversubscribed - was their application in on time? - the preference rating of the subject - significance of the subject to the student - student behaviour/record in the subject - random selection 24
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) School Policy is to enter a student into L.C.V.P. when her subject choices fall into specific groupings L.C.V.P. is an extra subject (can use for points) Most of work is in 5th year - Portfolio work Written exam in May of 6th year Portfolio 60% Exam 40% Distinction(80-100%) 66 points Merit(65%-79%) 46 points Pass (50-64%) 28 points 25
L.C.V.P. Subject Combinations Home Economics & Biology Home Economics & Art Physics & DCG Biology & Physics or Chemistry Physics & Chemistry Home Economics & Business or Accounting or Econom Any 2 Business subject (Acc/Econ/Bus) Art & Business or Accounting or Economics Art & DCG DCG & Business or Accounting or Economics 26
How to search for courses & requirements www.careersportal.ie www.studyclix.ie www.cao.ie Colleges & Universities websites e.g. www.wit.ie www.ucc.ie 27
Guidance and Counselling at St. Mary s... Individual meetings with Guidance Counsellor Subject choice has been examined and explored in S.P.H.E. class 3rd Year students have received DATs scores highlighting areas of greatest aptitude T.Y. students are currently being assisted with subject choice queries 28
Closing Date for Subject Choice is February 2018 Subject Choice booklet available to download on: www.stmarysnewross.org 29