Athlone Community College
Traditional Leaving Certificate
Subject Choice
Ms Cathy Cryan
Guidance Counsellor
Leaving Certificate
Programme
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Leaving Certificate is a 2 year programme.
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Usually a maximum of 7 subjects are taken for the
Leaving Certificate.
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Full time commitment required over 2 years.
5th year is very important especially for those hoping to
gain entry to high points courses.
An extra (8th) 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.
LCVP - eligibility based on subjects chosen.
Almost all subjects are of equal importance.
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Extra points will be awarded in all universities and ITs for
honours Mathematics in LCert
Leaving Certificate Vocational
Programme (LCVP-Link Modules)
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An extra subject with Leaving Cert, recognised
for points/CAO
Must have a certain combination of subjects to
LC
Certification Recognition (Universities, DIT,
Institutes of Technology)
LCVP
Distinction
Merit
Pass
Points
66
46
28
LCVP Eligibility
Vocational Subject Groupings (VSGs) 2015/2016
1 Construction Studies; Engineering; Design and Communication Graphics; Technology - Any Two
2 Physics and Construction Studies or Engineering or Technology or Design & Communication
Graphics
3 Agricultural Science and Construction Studies or Engineering or Technology or Design &
Communication Graphics
4 Agricultural Science and Chemistry or Physics or Physics/Chemistry
5 Home Economics; Agricultural Science; Biology - Any Two
6 Home Economics and Art - Design Option or Craft Option
7 Accounting; Business; Economics - Any two
8 Physics and Chemistry
9 Biology and Chemistry or Physics or Physics/Chemistry
10 Biology and Agricultural Science
11 Art - Design Option or Craft Option and Design & Communication Graphics
Services Groupings
12 Engineering or Technology or Construction Studies or Design & Communication Graphics and
Accounting or Business or Economics
13 Home Economics and Accounting or Business or Economics
14 Agricultural Science and Accounting or Business or Economics
15 Art Design or Craftwork Option and Accounting or Business or Economics
16 Music and Accounting or Business or Economics
New Points System
Percentages
Higher
Grades
Higher
Points
Higher
Maths
Points
90 -100
H1
100
125
O1
56
80-89
H2
88
113
O2
46
70- 79
H3
77
102
O3
37
60-69
H4
66
91
O4
28
50-59
H5
56
81
O5
20
40-49
H6
46
71
O6
12
30-39
H7
37
37
O7
0
0-29
H8
0
0
O8
0
Ordinary
Grades
Ordinary
Points
Sample Points
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Physiotherapy 535-560
Dentistry 580-590
Science 510 – Trinity/UCD,
Maynooth – 405, NUIG 410
Engineering – Trinity 495,
UCD 510
Commerce -410 - 500
Primary Teaching-465-500
Nursing – 390 – 460
Arts -300
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Social Care Practice – 310
Accounting – 300
Health Science with
Nutrition – 365
Sports Science with
Exercise Physiology – 370
Science – Applied Biology
& Pharmaceutical Science
– 310
Hotel & Catering Mgt – 230
Vet nursing – 425 AIT
Leaving Certificate
Programme
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Highly Desirable Subjects
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Unless there is a substantial reason otherwise, all students
should consider choosing:
A Science Subject.
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Subject Levels
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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
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Core subjects: English, Mathematics, Irish
Optional subjects: Usually 4 other subjects are chosen
Optional Subjects (4)
BUSINESS
Practical
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Business
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Construction Studies
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Accountancy
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Engineering
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Economics
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Design and Communication
Graphics
SCIENCE
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Biology
SOCIAL STUDIES
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Chemistry
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History
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Agricultural Science
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Geography
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Physics
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Home Economics
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Applied Maths
Artistic
Language
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French
Music
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Art
German
Information about LC subjects can be found in the subject choice booklet and
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the NCCA and Careersportal websites:
www.curriculumonline.ie
www.careersportal.ie
Entry Requirements
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When choosing Leaving Certificate subjects care must be
taken as the choices of subjects made now may determine 3rd
level and career options in 2 years time.
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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
it’s “Course Entry Requirements”
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Generally there are 2 sets of ‘Entry Requirements’ which must
be met before ‘points’ can be considered.
A) Minimum Entry Requirements
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Particular subjects and minimum no. of honours / passes in the L.C.
required to apply to an individual college.
B) Specific Course Requirements
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Particular subjects and/or levels required to gain entry to specific
faculties or courses.
Minimum Entry Requirements
Matriculation (with exceptions*)
Institution
Minimum grades
NUI Colleges: UCD, NUIM, 2HC3 + 4OD3
NUIG, UCC. (RCSI,
2H5 + 4 O6/H7
Shannon)
Required subjects
OD3/O6 in English,
Irish & Modern
Language*, Maths*
Trinity College Dublin
3HC3 + 3OD3
3 H5 + 3O/H7
OD3/O6 in Maths,
English & another
Language
Dublin City University
2HC3 + 4OD3
2H5 + 4 O6/H7
OD3/O6 in Maths,
English or Irish
University of Limerick
2HC3 + 4OD3
2H5 + 4 O6/H7
OD3/O6 in Maths,
English & Irish or
another Lang.
Institutes of Technology
2HC3 + 4OD3 (H.D.)
5OD3 (O.D. or H.C.)
OD3/O6 in Maths,
English or Irish
5O6/H7
Specific Course Requirements
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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:
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Science subjects
 Languages
 Mathematics
E.g. Veterinary Medicine in UCD
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Entry Requirements:
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2HC3 + 4OD3, OD3 in English, Irish, Modern Language &
Mathematics, HC3 in Chemistry. 575 points
Sample Requirements
Irish
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Primary Teaching – HC3
Journalism & Irish (DCU) –
HB3
Comp. Sc., & Language
(TCD) – HB3 in Fr/Ge/Ir
Gno & Gaeilge (DCU) –
OA2/HC3
A Language
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Many courses require a
language but may not
specify a particular one
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Film & Broadcasting with a
language (DIT) – HC3 in Ir
or Fr.
Applied Language (DCU) –
HC3 in Fr, Ge, Ir or Sp.
Clinical Speech and
Language Studies (TCD) –
HC3 in En, Fr, Ge, Ir, It, Ru
or Sp.
Cadet School – OD3 in a
modern Language.
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French
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Law with French Law –
(UCD) HB3
Commerce International
(UCD) HC3
Law and French (TCD) HC1
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Sample Requirements
Mathematics
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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
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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
Specific Course Requirements
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Unlikely that TY students will know exactly,
which courses/careers they wish to pursue at
this stage. .
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Course Entry Requirements can be accessed:
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a)
In the colleges’ prospectuses
b)
On the colleges’ websites
c)
www.qualifax.ie – Subject Requirements
It is only when all course entry requirements
are met that students are qualified to apply
for a course.
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
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E.g.
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one science
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one business
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one humanities /
practical
o
Language
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This combination
would allow access
into a broad range of
courses/careers.
Choosing a Subject
A wise choice of
subjects requires:
Subject Teachers,
Guidance Classes, TY
Programme
RESEARCH
L.C. Books, Publications,
Other Students
Guidance Counsellors,
Current Teachers
DISCUSSION
Family, Friends
Consider all the
information, views and
opinions
REFLECTION
Then, ultimately each
student must make up
their own mind.
DECISION
Be Aware
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Choosing subjects does not necessarily mean that
you will be able to study them for the Leaving Cert.
It may happen that not enough students opt for a
certain subject.
Such a subject may then dropped from the options.
It is important to have a substitute choice.
The school has also to put choices in various
groupings so you may find that two of your chosen
subjects are in the same group and you may only
choose one of them.
Be aware of any potential difficulties that may arise.
Sample Options lines
A Accounting
Ag Science French
Art
Biology
Geography
Engineering
B Business
Chemistry
Ag Science
Music
Biology
Applied
Maths
Art
C German
Physics
Home
Economics
French Geography Construction French
D History
Biology
Construction
DCG
Biology
Business
Geography
Advice for Students
•There
are two issues which affect subject choice at Leaving Certificate:
(a) Choosing the rights combination for career purposes
(b) Getting the best overall result
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What subject am I most interested in?
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Which subjects am I likely to be best at?
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What subjects will I need?
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A decision to drop all science subjects or continental languages will have implications
on the range of careers open to you later on. Consult qualifax – Useful tools - Leaving Cert
Subject Requirements before so doing.
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Read the information on each subject in the subject Choice booklet.
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Talk to the individual Leaving Certificate subject teachers if you wish to know more
about the way in which courses are tackled at Leaving Certificate level.
• LCVP – am I eligible?
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Look at Leaving Certificate textbooks.
Summary
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Maximise your options for college:
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Maths, English, Irish, a modern European Language, 1
science subject.
Remember to research
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appropriate careers websites
college/employer websites/literature
Important to check the grade/level required.
Pick the subjects you are most interested in or
have an aptitude for!
Remember a lot of courses do not require any
special subjects!