5th Year Subject Choice

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?

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?

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

National Framework of Qualifications 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

General Entry RequirementsUniversity 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

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

New Points System from 2017Higher Grade Points Ordinary Grade Points

H1 90-100% 100 O1 90-100% 56

H2 80<90% 88 O2 80<90% 46H3 70<80% 77 O3 70<80% 37

H4 60<70% 66 O4 60<70% 28H5 50<60% 56 O5 50<60% 20

H6 40<50% 46 O6 40<50% 12H7 30<40% 37 O7 30<40% 00H8 0<30% 00 O8 00

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

Subjects offered in Colaiste Na Toirbhirte

English Irish Maths French German History Geography Home Economics

Music Art Business Studies Accounting Physics Chemistry Biology

Compulsory

1 Recommended

All students take Religion, P.E., and Computers

Waivers and exemptions Great difference between Junior and Senior Cycles with

regard to waivers and exemptions Students granted waivers at Junior level will have to re-

apply at Senior level, and the criteria are more demanding at this stage

Department of Education look for current (less than 2 years old) psychological report

“An accommodation approved at Junior Certificate DOES NOT automatically guarantee that approval will be given at Leaving Certificate”State Examinations Commission

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 Higher level students are required to critically

analyse texts and personally engage with the material

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 resulting in 50% practical exam held before or after Easter

Students should have a strong foundation in both practical (instrument/voice) and theory

It is not required to have instrumental lessons outside of school, though it is an advantage

Music Music Technology is now an option for the

practical examination It is both a creative and academic subject

and develops confidence and teamwork skills which are beneficial in many careers which require public speaking, teamwork and leadership skills.

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. It also equips students with the analysis skills needed for third level music courses

Music is also a valuable subject for careers in sound engineering, multimedia, music technology, teaching (especially primary), music therapy, conductor, arts administration and TV & Radio

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.

From 2017 all practical papers will be issued in advanced and practical work will be done within class time over a period of approximately 8 weeks

This will count as 50% of course work

Art Is helpful but not essential 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 invaluable for careers in Design, eg: Industrial, Fashion, Product, Graphic, Architectural and Interior Design

Art is also a desirable subject for careers in Advertising, Media, T.V. and Film Production, Primary Teaching and Secondary School Art Teaching.

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 explain the principles of business – bullet point answers are required

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

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

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

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

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 all areas of Engineering, Scientific and Medical Research, Technology, Information Technology, and Medical courses such as Medicine and Radiography

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)

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

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

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?

Subjects offered in Colaiste Na Toirbhirte English Irish Maths French German History Geography Home Economics

Music Art Business Studies Accounting Physics Chemistry Biology

Compulsory

1 Recommended