5 th Year Subject Choice

1. 5th Year Subject Choice

2. Traditional Leaving Certificate • 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?

3. Factors influencing subject choice • Interest 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?

4. Minimum Entry Requirements • 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

5. Level 1 – Fetac Certificate Level 2 – Fetac Certificate Level 3 – Fetac/Junior Certificate Level 4 – Fetac/Leaving Certificate Level 5 – Fetac/Leaving Certificate 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 National Framework of Qualifications

6. General Entry Requirements University and Level 8 IT • 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

7. General Entry Requirements Institutes of Technology (IT’s) – Level 6/7 • Usually require 5 passes in the Leaving Certificate including Maths and Irish/English • DIT is an exception being more like university in the types of courses offered and the entry requirements

8. Subject Choice • Students choose 7 subjects from the subjects available • Availability of subjects may be restricted by timetabling constraints • Points are counted from the best 6 subjects for CAO • For detailed information about each subject check • www.curriculumonline.ie • www.careersportal.ie • www.qualifax.ie

9. English Irish Maths French German History Geography Home Economics Music Art Business Studies Accounting Physics Chemistry Biology Subjects offered in Colaiste Na Toirbhirte Compulsory 1 Recommended All students take Religion, P.E., and Computers

10. English • 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

11. English • Higher Level English is required for • Media Studies, Journalism, English Studies, Clinical Speech (TCD), • Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy (RSCI) • Useful for • Law, Speech and Language Therapy, Politics, Public Relations, UCAS applications

12. Irish • 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

13. Irish • Higher Level Irish is required for • Primary Teaching, Commerce with Irish, Law with Irish, Irish Studies, Gnó agus Cumarsáid, Leann Dúchais • Ordinary level is required for • 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

14. Mathematics • 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

15. 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

16. Continental Language • 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

17. 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

18. History • 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

19. History • Not required for entry to any specific course but stands on it’s own merits • Useful for courses in Politics, Law, Tourism, Journalism, Research & Teaching • Essay writing skills gained are valuable in Arts based courses such as Psychology

20. Geography • 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

21. Geography • Not required for entry to any specific course but stands on it’s own merits • Useful for courses in Tourism and Travel, Social Policy, Environment & Earth Sciences, Town Planning, Teaching and work with NGO’s

22. Home Economics • 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

23. Home Economics • This is required for Home Economics Teaching • It is highly recommended for courses and employment in the Hotel and Catering Industry • It is also useful for careers such as Dietician, Nutritionist, Food Business development, Environmental Health, Social Worker

24. Music • 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

25. Music • 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

26. Art • Art is assessed by three practical examinations (60%) carried out in May. These are; • Life Sketching • Still Life or Imaginative or Abstract Composition • Design or Craftwork • A written examination (40%) of Art History and Appreciation occurs in June.

27. Art • 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 • 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

28. Business • Business can be divided into three main areas • 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

29. Accounting • 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

30. Business Subjects • 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

31. Biology • 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

32. Chemistry • 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

33. Physics • 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

34. Science Subjects • HC3 Chemistry + HC3 in Physics/Biology required for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy • HC3 in 1 Science for Engineering (physics recommended), Science, Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Optometry (physics recommended), Radiotherapy (physics or chemistry recommended)

35. Science Subjects - continued • HC3 Chemistry required for Dietetics • HC3 in Biology for Genetics in UCC • 1 Science subject is required for Nursing (Ordinary level is accepted) • Biology is also required for Beauty Therapy and Complementary Therapy courses • UK colleges usually require two sciences for healthcare courses

36. General Advice • If students are unsure about subjects, it is a good idea to select subjects that will keep options open • Students should try to find a balance between learning based subjects and practical or applied subject • Higher Level subjects will have on average 30-40 minutes homework per night

37. Factors influencing decision • Interest 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?

38. English Irish Maths French German History Geography Home Economics Music Art Business Studies Accounting Physics Chemistry Biology Subjects offered in Colaiste Na Toirbhirte Compulsory 1 Recommended