Junior Cycle Subject Choice 2017
Guidance Counsellors:
Fiona Ronan [email protected]íodhna O’Sullivan [email protected]
Agenda
We will look at;
o Subjects that are available to study
o Briefly look at each subject
o Making an Informed Choice and how this will impact Leaving Cert choices
o Subject Choice - the process
Path through Skibbereen
Community School
1st Yr 2nd Yr 3rd Yr 4th Yr5TH YR
6TH YR
At various stages along the way students
choose their subject choices
SUBJECT CHOICE
First Year
Students sample all subjects
Second & Third year
Students do 6 core exam subjects and
choose 4 option subjects
Religion, PE, SPHE
Core Subjects – (compulsory)
6 Subjects
1. Irish
2. English
3. Maths
4. Modern Languages: French / Spanish
5. Science
6. C.S.P.E
P.E, R.E & S.P.H.E : non-exam
Optional Subjects
Choose 4 – open choice
Art
Business Studies
Geography
History
Home Economics
Metal work
Music
Technical Graphics
Wood work
Senior Cycle – 7 subjects
Core: English , Irish, Maths
Options French LANGUAGE
Spanish
History
Geography
Social & Scientific (Home Economics)
Art
Music
Senior Cycle- 7 subjects
Options
Construction Studies (Woodwork)
Design & Comm. Graphics (Tech. Graphics)
Engineering (Metalwork)
Physics
Chemistry SCIENCE
Biology
Agricultural Science
Accounting
Business BUSINESS
Economics
PRACTICAL
Leading onto Senior Cycle
JC Home Economics becomes LC Social & Scientific.
A good and interested student could take LC Social & Scientific
without having done JC Home Economics.
It would be possible for a student to take L.C Art without JC Art.
Business and Economics may be studied at LC without having
done JC Business Studies but Accounting may not.
Practical Subjects: a student who has not taken Woodwork /
Metalwork / Tech. Graphics for JC would find the corresponding
LC practical subjects very difficult.
French / Spanish: May take forward to Leaving Cert only if
studied at JC.
Factors to be considered.
Interest: Choose the subjects you like
best.
Ability/Aptitude.
Necessary for
course/career?
Desirable for
course/career?
Interest
MotivationWork
Hard
How Parents can help
Encourage thought, provide support
Ask questions about how they like to
learn new things?
Be aware of good and bad reasons
(e.g. friends, teacher)
Some mistaken ideas …
… which can lead to wrong subject choices.
None of my friends are doing it so I’m not.
Only swots do that subject.
I don’t want to do the subject because I’ll have Mr.X/Ms. Y.
I’ll do that subject because it’s a doss.
I hate the subject but I might need it later.
Key piece of advice
Do a subject because you like it and are
happy to work at it
Art, Craft & Design
Aim: “to increase the awareness of pupils’ awareness ofthe visual world in which they live”.
Four main areas:
1. Art (drawing: life, still life)
2. Design (layout, composition, lettering)
3. Crafts (pottery, puppetry, embroidery & collage etc)
4. History & Appreciation
Examination: a thematic project &
drawing exam.
Careers/Courses: Graphic Design, Film, Animation, Teaching.
Business Studies
The subject is concerned with understanding the environment in
which business operates including households.
4 main sections:
1) The business of living 2) Economic awareness
3) Enterprise 4) Information Technology
Examination : 100% written test (2 Papers).
Careers / Courses : Accounting, Banking, Bookkeeping, Administration,
Insurance, Sales, Marketing, Merchandising, Customs and Excise, Taxation and
Law.
Modern Languages
Compulsory that a foreign language is kept on for Junior Cert.
Choice between French or Spanish.
For 4 of the 7 universities you must have a foreign language
(exceptions: Science, Nursing and Engineering).
4 key skills: reading, writing, listening (44%) and speaking.
Careers/Courses: European Studies, Marketing,Hotel Management, Translation, EU, Teaching,
Cadets, Tourism & Leisure.
Metalwork
In Metalwork you will learn how to work with metal
and assemble different parts. Plastics and wood are also investigated.
What will you do:
examine properties of metal/wood/plastics
examine how things work
freehand sketching
joining and assembling materials
learn about basic electronic components
Examination: Written Exam: worth 25%. A separate pproject & practical: H.L:
72.5% and O.L: 75% Practical Exam: 3 hours to make and assemble parts from
a drawing.
Careers/Courses: Aircraft Technician, Fitter/Turner, Industrial Design / Operatives,
Mechanics, Mechanical Production, Structural and Civil Engineer, Toolmaker and Welder.
Technical Graphics
In Technical Graphics you will learn how to represent 3-D objects on paper
and on computer.
What will you do:
produce neat drawings of everyday items
create models on the computer
sketching, colouring and shading of objects
make cardboard / paper cut-outs of items
Examination: Written Exam: 100% (3 hours). 2 Sections: short theory
questions and long theory & drawing questions.
Careers/Courses: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Construction
Management, Architecture, Product Design, Quantity Surveyor,
Draughtsman, Graphic Design and Teaching.
Woodwork
In Woodwork you will learn to design small projects
and the skills required to use tools and equipment to make your designs.
Main sections:
1) Examine trees & the environment
2) Sketching
3) Design Project & Folder
4) Woodwork theory
Examination:Written Exam: 33% (2 hours). Design project: 66%
Careers/Courses: Sustainable Energy Consultant, Civil Engineering,
Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Quantity
Surveyor, Site Foremen, Plumber, Carpenter, Joiner.
Geography
Geography is the study of people and their relationships with their
environment. It is concerned with helping to develop an understanding of
the physical, social and economic processes which shape the
environment.
What will you learn?
1. The Human Habitat - Processes and Change
2. Population, Settlement Patterns and Urbanisation
3. Patterns in Economic Activity
Examination: Written Exam:
Section 1: 20 short q’s Section 2: 3 long q’s required.
Careers/Courses: Town planning, Teaching, Engineering.
History
What will you learn?
How we find out about the past: historian, ancient civilisation – a,
medieval society, renaissance.
Studies of Change: exploration, reformation, plantation in Ireland
Modern Ireland: 20th century, international relations.
Examination: Written Exam: 100% (Q. 1 – Pictures / Q. 2 - Documents
/ Q. 3 - Short questions / Q. 4 - People in history, 2 extra q’s at H.L)
Careers/Courses: Local Government, Law, Media,
Archaeology, Museum Work, Librarian, Civil Service.
Home Economics
“….to equip young people in certain important skills for livingas individuals and of establishing and developing a stableenvironment for their families”.
5 common areas:
1) Food Studies/Culinary skills
2) Consumer Studies
3) Social and Health Studies4) Resource management and Home Studies5) Textiles Skills
Examination : 50% practical (cooking/craft) & 50% written.
Music
In Junior Certificate Music, you will sing and possibly learn how to play an
instrument.You will listen to many types of music such as pop, classical and
traditional Irish music.You will also start composing.
What will you do:
about many types of music
how to read and write music
how to sing songs and maybe how to
play an instrument.
Examination: a practical exam worth 20% - sing or play an instrument - on your
own or as part of a group. A combined aural and written exam in composing and
listening to music.
Careers/Courses: Composer, Conductor, Sound Engineer, Primary School
Teaching, Drama & Theatre & Communications.
How this will affect college
choices?
Irish, English, third language required by NUI (UCD, UCC, NUIM, NUIG) except Art, Science, Nursing & Engineering.
Exceptions TCD, UL, DCU and Institutes of Technology.
Note: A foreign language is required for most healthcare courses (Medicine; Dentistry; Veterinary; Pharmacy; Speech Therapy; Physiotherapy). Some exceptions (e.g. Nursing).
It is possible to get into the 4 NUI colleges (UCC; UCD; NUIG; NUI Maynooth) with an NUI Irish exemption.
Some Specific Course RequirementsPrimary Teaching: H4 in Irish.
Commerce: Accounting (NUIG): H4 in Accounting.
Home Economics (2nd level teaching): O6 Lab. Science or Home Ec.
Business Studies: O5 or H3 in Maths (no Business subject required).
Engineering: H5 in Maths for some courses. L8 – HL , L7/6 – OL
Human Nutrition and Dietetics (DIT): H5 in Chemistry.
Physio: (UL): O4/H3 in one of Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Ag. Science.
Physio (TCD): 2 H5 from Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Ag. Science/Maths.
Physio (RCSI): H4 in one of Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Ag. Science.
Pharmacy (UCC): H5 in Chemistry & in either Physics or Biology.
General Nursing: O6 in one of Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Ag. Science.
Veterinary Medicine: H5 in Chemistry .
* Medicine (RCSI): O6 in one of Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Ag. Science
(UCC): 2 Sciences (Chem +)
(Others): 6 yrs (O6 in Sc. Subj.) / 5 yrs (2 Sc. Subj.)
Science: O6 in one of Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Ag. Science.
2 Sciences desirable? H5 in Maths (UL) H7 or O3 in Maths (UCD).
Cadetships in the Defence Forces: Minimum: 3H5 & 3O6. Passes in Maths, Continental Language and English or Irish.
Who can help decide?
Ask teachers to tell you about their subject.
Guidance Counsellors.
Wellbeing teacher
Parents, Siblings, Friends.
Websites:
www.ncca.ie
www.qualifax.ie
www.careersportal.ie
www.cao.ie
The Process- what next
Discuss choices with son/daughter.
Please return Options form before Wed 5th April ’17by giving form to Year Head
Subject bands are decided based on studentspreferences
Class size restrictions - especially for practicalsubjects
31
Junior Cycle Subject Choice- the form
Please choose between the languages, giving 1 to your
preferred language
Rate these 3 subjects in order of preference, you will be
assigned your highest available preference.
1 French
2 Spanish
1 History
2 Geography
3 Business
32
Junior Cycle Subject Choice- the form
Pick 5 subjects and put in order of preference, you will be
assigned your three highest available preferences.
1 Art
2 Business
3 French
4 History
5 Home-Economics
6 Materials Technology Metal
7 Materials Technology Wood
8 Music
9 Technical Graphics
Current Bands
BUSINESS (2)/ GEOGRAPY (3) /HISTORY
BUSINESS / WOODWORK / HOME EC /
MUSIC / TECH GRAPH/ART
BUSINESS / ART / HOME EC / HISTORY /
METAL / TECH GRAPH
BUSINESS / HISTORY / FRENCH / METAL /
WOOD / MUSIC / TECH GRAPH
Junior Cycle Subject Choice
Thank you for your attendance tonight