Newbridge College

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Newbridge College

• Traditional Leaving Certificate
• Subject Choice
• Mr. Brian Howard Guidance Counsellor

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Leaving Certificate Programme

• Leaving Certificate is a 2 year programme.
• Full time commitment required over 2 years.
• 5th year is very important especially for those
  hoping to gain entry to high points courses.
• Usually a maximum of 7 subjects are taken for the
  Leaving Certificate.
• An extra (7th) subject? need to think very
  carefully about this as each LC subject is
  extensive and requires a lot of work. Big jump in
  standard from J.C.
• Other subjects could suffer if workload is too
  great.
• For points purposes best 6 subjects are counted.
• All subjects are of equal importance.
• Extra points will be awarded in all HEIs for
  honours Mathematics in LC 2012 to 2015
• Extra points are awarded in DT021 for honours in
  certain science subjects.

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Points System

• Grade Hons Hons B Ordinary
• A1 100 125 60
• A2 90 115 50
• B1 85 110 45
• B2 80 105 40
• B3 75 100 35
• C1 70 95 30
• C2 65 90 25
• C3 60 85 20
• D1 55 80 15
• D2 50 75 10
• D3 45 70 5

• Bonus points
• HD3 or above in Maths
• ? Extra 25 points

LCVP points Distinction 70 Merit 50 Pass 30
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Sample Calculation
Paul Paul Paul Paul
Subject Level Grade Score
Irish H C2 65
English O A1 60
Maths H A2 9025115
Geography H B2 80
Biology H C1 70
Physics O A1 60
French H B3 75
LCVP M 50 50
Add the 6 best scores shown in RED Add the 6 best scores shown in RED Add the 6 best scores shown in RED Points 465

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Leaving Certificate Programme

• Highly Desirable Subjects
• Unless there is a substantial reason otherwise,
  all students should definitely consider choosing
• a modern language (NUI)
• a science subject.
• Subject Levels
• Higher and Ordinary level ? all subjects.
• Foundation level ?Mathematics Irish.
• Particular care needs to be taken with
  Mathematics. Failure in this subject can be
  detrimental to overall L.C.
• LC subject selection
• Core subjects English, Mathematics Irish
• Optional subjects Usually 4 other subjects are
  chosen

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Optional Subjects (4)

• BUSINESS
• Business
• Accountancy
• Economics
• SCIENCE
• Biology
• Physics
• Chemistry
• LANGUAGES
• French
• German

• APPLIED SCIENCES
• Home Economics
• Construction Studies
• Design and Communication Graphics
• SOCIAL STUDIES
• History
• Geography
• Music
• Art

• Information about LC subjects can be found on the
  college website www.newbridge-college.ie and the
  NCCA website www.ncca.ie

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Entry Requirements

• When choosing Leaving Certificate subjects great
  care must be taken as the choices of subjects
  made now may determine 3rd level and career
  options in 2 years time.
• Why? Regardless of how many points you get in
  your LC, you will be ineligible to even apply for
  a course if you have not met its Course Entry
  Requirements
• Generally there are 2 sets of Entry
  Requirements which must be met before points
  can be considered.
• A) Minimum Entry Requirements
• Particular subjects and minimum no. of honours /
  passes in the L.C. required to apply to an
  individual college.
• B) Specific Course Requirements
• Particular subjects and/or levels required to
  gain entry to specific faculties or courses.

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Minimum Entry Requirements of major CAO Colleges
Institution Minimum grades Required subjects
NUI Colleges UCD, NUIM, NUIG, UCC. (RCSI, Shannon, Miltown) 2HC3 4OD3 OD3 in English, Irish Modern Language.
Trinity College Dublin 3HC3 3OD3 OD3 in Maths, English another Language
Dublin City University 2HC3 4OD3 OD3 in Maths, English or Irish
University of Limerick 2HC3 4OD3 OD3 in Maths, English Irish or another Lang.
Dublin Institute of Technology 2HC3 4OD3 (H.D.) 5OD3 (O.D. or H.C.) OD3 in Maths, English or Irish
Regional Institutes of Technology (DK) 2HC3 4OD3 (H.D.) 5OD3 (O.D. or H.C.) OD3 in Maths, English or Irish
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Specific Course Requirements

• These requirements are in addition to Minimum
  Entry Requirements.
• They are specific L.C. subjects / grades required
  for entry to particular courses.
• They tend to be in the following subject areas
• Science subjects
• Languages
• Mathematics
• E.g. Veterinary Medicine in UCD
• Entry Requirements
• 2HC3 4OD3, OD3 in English, Irish, Modern
  Language Mathematics, HC3 in Chemistry.

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Sample Requirements

• Irish
• Primary Teaching HC3
• Journalism Irish (DCU) HB3
• Early and Modern Irish (TCD) HC3
• Gno Gaeilge (DCU) OA2/HC3
• French
• Law with French Law HB3
• Bus. Studies and French (TCD) HC1
• Law and French (TCD) HC1

• A Language
• Many courses require a language but may not
  specify a particular one
• Film Broadcasting with a language (DIT) HC3
  in Ir or Fr.
• Applied Languages (DCU) HC3 in Fr, Ge, Ir or
  Sp.
• Speech and Language Therapy (TCD) HC3 in En,
  Fr, Ge, Ir, It, Ru or Sp.
• Cadet School OD3 in a modern Language.

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Sample Requirements

• Mathematics
• Honours Engineering HC3
• Business Studies (DCU) OC3/HD3
• Optometry (DIT) - OB3
• Economics Finance (UCD) HC3
• Business (TCD) OC/HD
• Science (UCD) OB3/HD3
• Commerce (UCD) OB3/HD3
• Law and Accounting (UL) OC3/HD3

• Science
• Particular care needs to be taken with science
  subjects.
• Many courses require any one science subject
• Some courses require 2 science subjects,
  particularly TCD and UCC.
• UCAS courses
• Nursing OD3 in a Lab. Sc.
• Medical/Para medical courses
• Chemistry
• Pharmacy, Human Nutrition, Veterinary Medicine,
  Medicine Dentistry (UCC) HC3

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Appliance of Science
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Specific Course Requirements

• Unlikely that 3rd/TY students will know exactly,
  which courses/careers they wish to pursue at this
  stage.
• But from looking at their interests, abilities
  and aptitudes they may be able to identify broad
  areas of interest and hence check potential
  course entry requirements.
• Course Entry Requirements can be accessed
• In the colleges prospectuses
• On the colleges websites
• Directory of LC Entry Requirements
• www.qualifax.ie Subject Requirements
• It is only when all course entry requirements are
  met that students are qualified to apply for a
  course.

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General Advice

• If a student is not really sure what he/she wants
  to do in the future
• Pick a broad range of subjects in order to keep
  options open
• Many students will change their minds about their
  future a number of times in the next 2 years

• E.g.
• one language
• one science
• one business
• one humanities / applied science.
• This combination would allow access into a broad
  range of courses/careers.

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Choosing a Subject

• A wise choice of subjects requires
• RESEARCH
• DISCUSSION
• REFLECTION
• DECISION

Subject Teachers, Guidance Classes, TY Programme
L.C. Books, Publications, Other Students
Guidance Counsellors, Current Teachers
Family, Friends
Consider all the information, views and opinions
Then, ultimately each student must make up their
own mind.
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Choosing a Subject

• Key Questions
• What subjects is the school offering?
• If Im interested in a particular course/career
  area, what subjects are essential? ( Course Entry
  Requirements)
• If not essential, what subjects would be
  useful/helpful for this course/career area?
• What subjects do I like? (motivation) (not the
  teacher)
• What subjects am I relatively good at? (DATs) (JC)

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Important Points

• DCG/Construction Studies are not needed to do
  Engineering. Maths and Physics are more
  important.
• Art is generally not needed for Art and Design
  courses. A portfolio is however.
• For Business courses, Maths is generally a
  requirement rather than Business subjects.
• No subjects are gender specific.
• Every student is unique (interests, abilities and
  aptitudes), hence they should choose subjects
  based on these and not current friendships or the
  opinions of others.
• Students should be careful to try pick a balance
  between learning and understanding subjects.
• Students should be aware of balancing subjects
  which help maximise points vs. subjects which may
  be of benefit to them in the future.

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Newbridge College Subject Options
GEOGRAPHY BIOLOGY ART HOME ECON. MUSIC FRENCH   PHYSICS
             
GEOGRAPHY BIOLOGY ART ECONOMICS CONS. STUDIES   CHEMISTRY
             
DCG GERMAN BUSINESS CONS. STUDIES FRENCH HISTORY
             
DCG GERMAN BUSINESS CONS. STUDIES FRENCH  ACCOUNTING
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Timetable of Events

1. January DATs 3rd years
2. January 24th Parents Night.
3. February 1st Class presentations begin
4. February 8th Subject Choice Interviews begin
5. March 14th Deadline for submission of
   application forms for TY.
6. March 28th Deadline for final subject choices
   and commitment to TY.
7. April 2nd Generation of classes begins.

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Procedure

1. During subject choice interview a set of subjects
   are agreed with student.
2. Note brought home to parent outlining agreed
   subjects. Parents must review, sign and return
   to G.C.
3. In exceptional circumstances a change may be made
   to agreed subjects before March 28th by written
   request from parents to G.C.
4. March 28th Deadline for final subject choices
5. After April 2nd changes will only be facilitated
   if vacancies exist in classes.
6. April 2nd Class generation process begins.