Leaving Certificate (Ireland): Difference between revisions
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Russian and Japanese are not examined to the same degree as the other languages, as they are based on a 2-year course, while the others are based on a 5-year course (including Junior Certificate). |
Russian and Japanese are not examined to the same degree as the other languages, as they are based on a 2-year course, while the others are based on a 5-year course (including Junior Certificate). |
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Revision as of 17:20, 15 April 2010
The Leaving Certificate Examinations (Irish: Scrúdú na hArdteistiméireachta), commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert (Irish: Ardteist) is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior Certificate Examination. These years are referred to collectively as "The Senior Cycle." Most students taking the examination are aged 16–19; in excess of eighty percent of this group undertake the exam. The Examination is overseen by the State Examinations Commission.
Programmes
There are three distinct programmes that can be followed. While the outcomes of each programme are quite distinct, each is intended to reinforce the principles of secondary education; to prepare the student for education, society and work.
- Established Leaving Certificate: The Established Leaving Certificate, introduced in 1924, is the most common programme taken. A minimum of six subjects are presented, including the compulsory Irish[1]; most students take six or seven subjects. Students are also obliged to present in English and Mathematics. A modern European language is often studied by students as many courses in most universities require it.
- Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme: The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, introduced in 1989, is similar to the established programme. The student takes at least five traditional subjects, one of which must be Irish[1]. Two of the student's subjects must be part of one of a list of Vocational subject groupings. They must also study a modern European language and two Link Modules, Preparation for the World of Work and Enterprise Education. The programme is designed to help the student find their potential for self-directed learning, innovation and enterprise.
- Leaving Certificate Applied: The Leaving Certificate Applied, introduced in 1995, is taken to prepare the student for adult and working life. It consists of three elements. These are General Education, Vocational Education and Vocational Preparation. It is designed to emphasize areas of achievement and excellence which are not catered for by traditional academic programmes.
Grading and available subjects
| Percentage Range | Grade | Points for Higher |
Points for Ordinary |
Points for Foundation[2] |
| 90 – 100 | A1 | 100 | 60 | 20 |
| 85 – 89.99 | A2 | 90 | 50 | 15 |
| 80 – 84.99 | B1 | 85 | 45 | 10 |
| 75 – 79.99 | B2 | 80 | 40 | 5 |
| 70 – 74.99 | B3 | 75 | 35 | 0 |
| 65 – 69.99 | C1 | 70 | 30 | 0 |
| 60 – 64.99 | C2 | 65 | 25 | 0 |
| 55 – 59.99 | C3 | 60 | 20 | 0 |
| 50 – 54.99 | D1 | 55 | 15 | 0 |
| 45 – 49.99 | D2 | 50 | 10 | 0 |
| 40 – 44.99 | D3 | 45 | 5 | 0 |
| 25 – 39.99 | E | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 – 24.99 | F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 – 9.99 | NG | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Below is the list of subjects available to Established Leaving Certificate students, though most schools only offer a limited number. There are three levels in the Irish exam system Higher (often referred to as Honours), Ordinary (often referred to as Pass), and Foundation. Foundation Level may only be taken in two subjects: Irish and Mathematics. All other subjects may be sat in either Ordinary or Higher Levels. Percentage ranges are given on the table below, along with the points given for each grade. In general, a Higher Level grade is worth 40 points more than the equivalent Ordinary Level grade (e.g. a Higher C1 is 70, an Ordinary C1 is 30). However no points are awarded for a grade below D3 (below 40%). Thus if a student scores 40% on a Higher Level paper he/she will receive a D3, worth 45 points. But 39% on the same paper will score zero points.
The points allocations in the table below have been collectively agreed by the third-level institutions involved in the CAO scheme, and relativities that they imply have no official standing in the eyes of the State Examinations Commission or the Department of Education and Science.
L2, Modern languages
- Arabic
- French
- German
- Irish (mandatory subject for NUI entry; some students can receive an exemption)
- Italian
- Japanese
- Russian!!!!!!!!
- Hebrew
- Spanish (easy langauge)
Russian and Japanese are not examined to the same degree as the other languages, as they are based on a 2-year course, while the others are based on a 5-year course (including Junior Certificate).
Non-curricular EU languages
Article 149 of the Treaty of Nice states that “Community action shall be aimed at developing the European dimension in education, particularly through the teaching and dissemination of the languages of the Member States.” In accordance with this, the State Examinations Commission also facilitates examinations in the following language subjects, although students have to meet certain criteria [3] in order to be examined in them. The format of these papers is quite different to the curricular Language examinations, as they are based on the European Baccalaureate.
- Bulgarian
- Czech
- Danish
- Dutch
- Estonian
- Finnish
- Modern Greek
- Hungarian
- Latvian
- Lithuanian
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Romanian
- Slovakian
- Swedish
Sciences
- Agricultural Science
- Applied Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics (mandatory)
- Physics
- Physics and Chemistry
Applied Sciences
- Technology
- Engineering
- Home Economics, Scientific and Social
- Design and Communication Graphics
- Construction Studies
Business Studies
- Accounting
- Agricultural Economics†
- Business
- Economics†
Arts and Humanities
- Ancient Greek†
- Art
- Classical Studies†
- English (mandatory)
- Geography
- History
- Latin†
- Music
- Religious Education
Proposed Subjects
- Politics and Society (Sociology) to be introduced to the curriculum 2010/2011.
Notes
†Subject exclusions - candidates may not take any of following subject combinations:
- Agricultural Economics and Economics
- Classical Studies and Ancient Greek
- Classical Studies and Latin
- "Physics and Chemistry" (combined) and either "Physics" (alone) or "Chemistry" (alone)
The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme is an additional Link Module which may be taken along with the other optional subjects. Students wishing to sit the LCVP Link Modules Exam must meet certain requirement. They must take an extra language subject and must have one or more of the following subject combinations:
Specialist Groupings
1 Construction Studies or Engineering or Technical Drawing (any two)
2 Physics and Construction Studies or Engineering
3 Agricultural Science and Construction Studies or Engineering
4 Agricultural Science and Chemistry or Physics or Physics & Chemistry (combined subject)
5 Home Economics and Agricultural Science or Biology
6 Home Economics and Art
7 Accounting or Business or Economics (any two)
8 Physics and Chemistry
9 Biology and Agricultural Science
10 Biology and Chemistry or Physics or Physics & Chemistry (combined)
Services Groupings
11 Engineering and Business or Accounting or Economics
12 Construction Studies and Business or Accounting or Economics
13 Home Economics and Business or Accounting or Economics
11 Agricultural Science and Business or Accounting or Economics
15 Art and Business or Accounting or Economics
16 Music and Business or Accounting or Economics
| LCVP Grade | Percentage Range | Points awarded[4] | Equal to |
| Gradam / Distinction (GD) | 80 – 100 | 70 | Higher C1 |
| Fiúntas / Merit (FM) | 65 – 79.99 | 50 | Higher D2 / Ordinary A2 |
| Pas / Pass (PP) | 50 – 64.99 | 30 | Ordinary C1 |
| Gan Rath / Unsuccessful (U) | 0 – 49.99 | 0 | Fail |
Exam Format
Each subject is examined with at least one written paper (English, Mathematics, Irish and some of the optional courses contain two written papers). Some subjects such as Art and Technology involve a practical exam which is supervised by an external examiner. Language courses are examined through both oral and aural-known as 'tape'- methods, as well as the written. The oral exams take place some months before the written exams, and the aurals take place in the same weeks as the written. Some subjects, such as Chemistry, and Agricultural Science, involve the keeping of a 'book' by students, or the creation of a project. However, not every book or project is examined, with inspectors being sent to a small few, randomly selected schools each year, or simply examining a small selection of projects from each class to check the standard.
Variants
Each subjects paper at Leaving Certificate level may have as few as two variants, or as many as six. They are divided by level: Higher and Ordinary, and in the case of Irish and Mathematics, Foundation. Each subject level-variant will also have provisions for both English and Irish speakers, with the exception of English and Irish themselves (which are printed exclusively in the relevant language). Certain subjects are printed in a combined English/Irish format, such as French or German. This leaves such subjects with only two verions: a bilingual Higher, and a bilingual Ordinary. However Mathematics in contrast has a total of six: three levels: Higher, Ordinary and Foundation, each with both English and Irish versions.
Higher Level papers are printed on pink paper, while Ordinary Level papers are printed on powder blue paper. In the case of certain subjects, such as Geography, full-colour photographs need to be printed and as such, all pages but the cover are white.
2009 Leaving Certificate leak
On the first day of examinations on June 3, 2009, the second paper of the Leaving Certificate English examination, (initially scheduled for June 4), was accidentally distributed instead of Paper 1 at an examination centre in St. Olivers Community College, Drogheda, Co. Louth.[5] It was confirmed that a number of candidates had seen the paper before the mistake was acted upon. The examiner had failed to report the incident straight away and was immediately suspended. A state examinations commission official had visited the examination centre on the day in question as part of a routine inspection, and no report was made by the invigilator to the official.[6] Due to the time at which the SEC was informed, it was unable to distribute the contingency paper in time for the following morning. Details of the leaked paper had circulated onto many messenger boards and social networking sites, many hours after the incident had taken place.[7] The exam was rescheduled for Saturday 6 June, from 09:30 to 12:50.[8] About 10 Jewish students, who could not sit the exam at the rescheduled time because it conflicted with Shabbat, were sent to an Orthodox household in Dublin, where they were sequestered from all electronic media (as is normal for Shabbat) and kept under supervision until they sat the exam on Sunday morning.[9]
Matriculation to University using the Leaving Certificate
Ireland
Matriculation is administered by the Central Applications Office (CAO) following requirements laid down by the universities. Applicants must present English and usually Mathematics and Irish. Some courses require specific subjects to be taken at secondary level. For example, veterinary medicine applicants must present with a minimum grade of C3 in Chemistry at higher level. Most commonly, engineering and science programmes require Mathematics and/or a physical science. Other courses, such as medicine, have similar matriculation requirements. The most a person can get in points in the leaving certificate is 600, equivalent to six A1's in six Higher Level papers.
If demand exceeds supply for a course (it usually does), the CAO will award candidates points based on their Leaving Certificate performance in six subjects. The maximum possible score is 600. The majority of candidates take between six and eight subjects, including English, Mathematics and Irish (exemptions available) and usually a foreign language, with the points from their best 6 subjects being considered. Once all other criteria have been met, applicants with the highest points are offered a place on the course.
Subjects taken at foundation level are rarely counted for matriculation to university.
The University of Limerick awards up to 40 bonus points for Mathematics (Higher Level) in an increasing scale of points starting at 5 bonus points for a C3 continuing up to 40 for an A1 grade. This is an attempt to correct the recent decline in demand for scientific subjects (in 2007, 16.5% of students attempted the Mathematics (Higher Level) paper) [10][11]. It also reflects a return to earlier times (pre 1982?) when the points scored for mathematics were doubled. This bonus for achievement in mathematics was removed mid 1980s(?) because of a populist reaction against bias being shown towards persons who were supposedly "naturally" talented at mathematics, and being unfair against persons who were not mathematically inclined. The Minister of Education Batt O'Keefe recently acknowledged that he sat mathematics at ordinary level in the Leaving Certificate because he was aware of the extensive study that was required for this subject.
Some universities require a foreign language and Irish. Exemptions are available for: learning difficulties, birth outside of Ireland, not having taken Irish before the age of eleven years or studying abroad for a period of at least two years after the age of eleven [12].
United Kingdom
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Some Irish students go to university in the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland and larger British cities. Increasingly students from the Republic attend university in Northern Ireland, and vice-versa.
In recognition of this the Established Leaving Certificate underwent a process with UCAS to gain entry to the UCAS Tariff for direct entry to United Kingdom universities[13]. This introduced the examination directly onto the UCAS Tariff, allowing it to be compared more easily with other qualifications on the UCAS Tariff. On June 8, 2004 it was decided that a Leaving Certificate (higher) subject will be worth two-thirds of an A-level (UK, except Scotland). Leaving Certificate students undertake several more subjects (often a total of six to eight) than a typical A level student.
Dates
The exams begin on the first Wednesday of June every year, traditionally commencing with English Paper One, followed by Paper Two.[14]. The exams last two and a half weeks; the 2008 exams began on 4 June and ended on 20 June, with results released on 12 August.
In 2008, the exam timetable was reorganised to reduce the intensity of exam period. Particular changes included the moving of English Paper Two to Thursday morning, as opposed to its usual time of Wednesday afternoon after English Paper One, to reduce the amount of writing candidates were required to do at the beginning of the exams.
The 2010 Leaving Certificate Examinattions will begin on June 9th 2010 and finish on June 25th 2010.
International usage
Only one school outside Ireland offers the Leaving Certificate exam to their students. Since 1997 students at the ISM international school in Tripoli, Libya take the Leaving Cert, with Arabic being substituted for Irish. The School's principal said, "We have students from 42 countries studying at our school; the Irish Leaving Certificate programme offered us the kind of academic standard and subject spread that we were looking for".
See also
References
- ^ a b Exemption to the Irish language is detailed in Circular M10/94 (Department of Education, Ireland, 1994) and can be acquired under time spent abroad or learning disability
- ^ Some institutions award these points; most award nil.
- ^ http://examinations.ie/index.php?l=en&mc=ex&sc=eu
- ^ "Irish Leaving Certificate Examination Points Calculation Grid". Central Applications Office. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
- ^ Flynn, Seán (2009-06-06). "Exam authority talks to superintendent who distributed paper". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0603/exams.html
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Minihan, Mary (2009-06-05). "Jewish pupils face quarantine over postponed Leaving exam". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ http://www2.cao.ie/app_scoring/points_stats/LC07PTS.pdf
- ^ 11-Aug-07 Page : 1
- ^ http://www.education.ie/robots/view.jsp?pcategory=10917&ecategory=27180&language=EN&letter=I&pagetitle=I#27228
- ^ The Irish Leaving Certificate, Expert Group Report for Awards Seeking Admission to the UCAS Tariff, November 2003 2186 KB PDF file
- ^ "2007 Exam Timetable" (pdf). State Examinations Commission. Retrieved 2007-06-28.