Edited 2024 Updated Subject Option Booklet
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ARDSCOIL NA MARA
SENIOR SUBJECT CHOICE
CAREER
GUIDANCE ����
Introduction:
At the end of third year in Ardscoil na Mara students are asked to choose their preferred Leaving
* Note: Some subjects may not be available due to low demand or may run as an additional subject outside of school time.
At the end of third year in Ardscoil na Mara students are asked to choose their preferred Leaving
Certificate route: Transition year; Established Leaving Certificate; or Leaving Certificate Applied. Those
who choose the established Leaving Cert are then required to make a further decision as to the subjects
they would like to study for the Leaving Certificate exam in 6th year. This can be a difficult choice and it is
important that students take it seriously and do the required research to ensure their options remain
open. This booklet is designed to assist parents and students in their subject choice for Leaving
Certificate.
Each Leaving Certificate student is required
to study seven exam subjects (or six if they
have an official exemption from Irish from the
Dept. of Education). Subjects must include
English, Irish and Maths at higher, ordinary or
foundation level. Four other subjects can then
be studied at higher or ordinary level. Students
will study four elective subjects from the
following list:
Music,
Art,
History,
Geography,
French,
Spanish, Home Economics, Biology, Physics,
Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Engineering,
Construction, Design and Communication
Graphics, Technology, Business, Accounting,
Economics, Applied Maths and Physical
Education.
It is important to realise that choosing your
subject options for Leaving Certificate is
different from choosing your career. In other
words, you are not locked into a certain career
if you chose certain subjects, nor are you
eliminated from certain career areas if you
don’t chose certain subjects. A decision
to
drop
all
science
subjects
or
continental
languages,
however,
will
have major implications on the range of
careers open to you later on.
There are subjects that are essential for entry
to
particular
courses,
colleges
and
careers and it is important to be aware of
these.
In terms of entry to third level colleges all
subjects count equally for points. In other
words a ‘H1(A)’ in Art is as valuable as a
‘H1’
in
Chemistry
(except
25
bonus
points are awarded for Higher level Maths).
To calculate CAO points, add 6 best point scores
Primary teaching
Minimum Entry Requirements
University of Galway/
Maynooth University
Technological Universities: 5/6 subjects Grade O6/H7 in English or Irish and
Maths (for most courses).
Maynooth University - all Science and Engineering courses including
product design, Law, Business, Accounting & Finance and Primary teaching.
Health & Performance Science.
ple:
they can apply for - only four courses in Waterford Institute of Technology accept foundation level
Do:
Keep your options open for the future
Talk to your Guidance Counsellor and
Don’t:
Make a decision at the last minute
If you have an idea of what course you would like to attend after sixth year, you can look up
course requirements on www.qualifax.ie by doing a ‘course finder’ search for your chosen
area, for example: ‘engineering’. Qualifax will display all the engineering courses in the
country and what the subject requirements are for that course.
For students who have no idea of what they would like to do after the Leaving Certificate, it
is recommended to look at the implications of studying, or not studying specific subjects by
following a ‘minimum subject requirements’ search. Qualifax will display all of the courses a
student is required to take.
Log on to www.qualifax.ie.
Scroll to bottom of page and
select CAO subject
requirements.
You can then search by
individual subjects to see what you courses will not be eligible to apply for
if you choose not to study that subject.
You can also searches for courses that definitely require a ‘3rd language’
or ‘‘a science subject”.
This tool is useful to investigate subject level implications. For example most courses
require ordinary level maths, so by studying maths at foundation level, students are
restricted in the courses they can apply for - only four courses in South East Technological
University (SETU) accept foundation level Maths.
Some students choose to study a broad range of subjects (e.g. one from each area;
business, science, humanities and practical) as they are unsure what they want to do. This
is not always necessary. Most courses do not have subject requirements and even if
students do not take a subject at Leaving Certificate, they may study it at third level. For
example, you do not need to have studied Business to do a Business Studies degree.
BUSINESS
Comments:
Third Level Entry Requirements:
ACCOUNTING
Topics covered include:
Comments:
Third Level Entry Requirements:
University of Galway.
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