The Leaving Certificate (Irish: Ardteistiméireacht), commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert (Irish: Ardteist) is the final course in the Irish secondary school system and culminates with the Leaving Certificate Examination. 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. Most students taking the examination are aged 17-19; in excess of eighty percent of this group undertake the exam, although between socio-economic groups this varies greatly. Examination is overseen by the State Examinations Commission. Transition Year (TY) is an optional one-year programme that can be taken in the year after the Junior Certificate of the Republic of Ireland and is intended to make the senior cycle a three year programme encompassing both Transition Year and Leaving Certificate[1]. Transition Year was created as... A Junior Certifitcate from 2004 The Junior Certificate Examination (commonly referred to simply as the Junior Cert) is a mandatory Irish 2nd level test accredited by the State Examinations Commission. ... Socioeconomics is the study of the social and economic impacts of any product or service offering, market intervention or other activity on an economy as a whole and on the companies, organization and individuals who are its main economic actors. ... The State Examinations Commission (Irish: Coimisiúin na Scrúduithe Stáit) is the organisation that replaced the Department of Education and Science, Examinations Branch by order of the Minister of Education. ...

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 principals 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 Irish^[1]; most students take six or seven subjects. Additionally students will present in English and Mathematics; these have become de facto compulsory subjects, primarily due to college and university admission policies. In recent years a modern European language is often studied by many students as universities increasingly require it and also to broaden options.

• 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.

See also: Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme

• 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.

See also: Leaving Certificate Applied

1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Euclid, Greek mathematician, 3rd century BC, as imagined by by Raphael in this detail from The School of Athens. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Undergraduate admission

Republic of Ireland

School leavers who want to attend undergraduate courses in Irish colleges and universities have to enter the clearing house run by the Central Applications Office (CAO). Admission is based solely on examination results, usually from the Established Leaving Certificate. Six subjects are scored for the purposes of admission, each grade is translated into "points" - this can vary from 5 to 100 such points depending on the results thus a maximum of 600 can be obtained. Institutions can also set minimum grade requirements in specific examination subjects for each of their courses. This is a list of colleges and universities in the Republic of Ireland, some colleges are constituent colleges of universities. ... A clearing house (or clearinghouse) is an organization affiliated with a securities or derivatives exchange that completes the transactions on that exchange by seeing to validation, delivery, and settlement. ... The Central Applications Office (CAO) is the organisation responsible for overseeing most undergraduate applications in the Republic of Ireland, the Postgraduate Applications Centre is a related organisation that oversees some taught postgraduate courses. ...

United Kingdom

Traditionally relatively large numbers of Irish students went to university in the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland and larger British cities - this has tailed off somewhat since the expansion of education in the Republic. Increasingly students from the Republic of Ireland attend university in Northern Ireland, and vice-versa. Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official languages English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, BSL, NISL, ISL Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Ian Paisley  - Deputy First Minister... Historically, city status was associated with the presence of a cathedral, such as York Minster. ... Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official languages English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, BSL, NISL, ISL Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Ian Paisley  - Deputy First Minister...

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^[2]. 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 8th, 2004 it was decided that a Leaving Certificate (higher) subject will be worth two-thirds of an A-level (UK). New UCAS logo, as of 2006 UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service, pronounced YOU-kass, IPA: ) is a clearing house for applications to almost all undergraduate degree programmes at British universities and colleges. ... This is a list of universities in the United Kingdom. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education usually taken during Further Education and after GCSEs. ...

The University of Dublin, Trinity College was among the first education institution in Ireland to adjust their evaluation of the A-level in line with the report^[3], using it as a benchmark, albeit in reverse to the original intention. The University of Dublin, corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin located in Dublin, Ireland, was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, making it Irelands oldest university. ... Trinity College, Dublin, corporately designated as the Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by sexy Sandie Moran, and is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, Irelands oldest university. ...

Grading and available subjects

Below are 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 only Ordinary and Higher Levels. Percentage ranges are given on the table to the right, 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 38%). Thus if a student scores 38% on a Higher Level paper he/she will receive a D3, worth 45 points. But 37.99% 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.

Arts and Humanities

• Ancient Greek†
• Art
• Classical Studies†
• English (mandatory subject)
• Geography
• Hebrew Studies
• History
• Latin†
• Music
• Religious Education

Modern Languages

• Arabic
• French
• German
• Irish (mandatory subject for NUI entry; some students can receive an exemption)
• Italian
• Japanese
• Russian
• Spanish

The National University of Ireland (NUI) is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997. ...

Sciences

• Agricultural Science
• Biology
• Chemistry†
• Mathematics (mandatory subject)
• Physics†
• Physics and Chemistry†

Applied Sciences

• Applied Mathematics
• Construction Studies
• Engineering
• Home Economics
• Technical Drawing
• Technology

Business Studies

• Accounting
• Agricultural Economics†
• Business
• Economics†

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 with Chemistry and either of the separate subjects, Physics or Chemistry.

Additionally under the Nice Treaty the state is obliged to provide language support for as many official EU languages as they can, and currently offers: Treaty of Nice The Treaty of Nice is a treaty adopted in Nice by the European Council to amend the two founding treaties of the European Union: the Treaty on European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, which introduced the Euro and the 3-pillar structure of the EU; the Treaty of... Chameleon, a symbol of the multilingualism of the European Union. ...

• Czech
• Dutch
• Danish
• Estonian
• Finnish
• Modern Greek
• Hungarian
• Latvian
• Lithuanian
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Slovakian
• Swedish

The above additional languages are, however, based on the European Baccalaureate of their respective languages. The European Baccalaureate is awarded to students who successfully manage to complete a European School. ...

The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme is an additional option which may be taken along with the other optional subjects. It is a more life-oriented selection. Students intending to apply to third-level institutions often choose to ignore it, however, as it provides a maximum of 70 points (see below).

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.

Matriculation to Irish Universities using the Leaving Certificate

Most people take between 7 and 8 subjects, among these include the obligatory English, Mathematics, Irish (unless the student is exempt) as well as a foreign language. The other 3 or 4 subjects taken must be officially recognised by the specific university.

Of the 7 or 8 subjects taken, the best 6 are taken to make up the perfect score of 600 points (just as 2400 is the best on the US SATs or 45 points are in the International Baccalaureate ). Students using all their subjects at higher level can in theory score 600. If a student takes all subjects at Ordinary level, the highest point score they can achieve is 360 ( see points table above). When people enquire how someone scored in the Leaving Cert, it is implied that the person gives their score out of 600, eg. 'I got 545' (out of 600) Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Subjects taken at foundation are not always accepted for matriculation to certain Universities.

Some universities such as the University of Limerick award bonus points for subjects such as Maths taken at higher level, adding 40 extra points on to the students total points' tally, this put down to widely perceived view of the difficulty of the higher level Maths course (in 2006 only 14% of students sitting the Irish Leaving Certificate took the Higher level Maths paper). The University of Limerick (UL) was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989. ...

Some universities require a foreign language and Irish, although students may obtain an exemption for these reasons such as learning difficulties, birth outside of the Republic of Ireland, not having taken Irish before the age of 11 or studying abroad for a period of at least 2 years after the age of 11 (the student is presumed to have fallen too far behind with their knowledge of the the subject to make it worthwhile recommencing their study of Irish).

Courses such as Medicine and Law (both of which are undergraduate degrees in Ireland) Physiotherapy, Veterinary science, Actuarial science and Architecture all require points in the high 500s, for example Medicine in University College Cork requires 580 points (a score of equivalent to over 2300 in the SATs or 3 As in the A levels. University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork - or more commonly University College Cork (UCC) - is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland located in Cork City. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... An A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education usually taken during Further Education and after GCSEs. ...

Some University courses require specific subjects, for example Medicine often requires 2 science subjects from Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Higher level Mathematics (which can be used as science subject here).

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". Tripoli (Arabic: طرابلس Tarābulus) is the capital city of Libya. ...

Miscellaneous

• Higher level is informally called 'Honours'.
• Ordinary level is informally called 'Pass'.
• Irish, Mathematics, English and Technical Drawing are comprised of 2 separate papers called Paper 1 and Paper 2.
• Certain subjects include field work, practical exams (Music) or projects that make up part of the complete exam.
• Every Language subject (with the exception of English) includes an Oral and an Aural exam component.

References

1. ^ ^{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
2. ^ The Irish Leaving Certificate, Expert Group Report for Awards Seeking Admission to the UCAS Tariff, November 2003 2186 KB PDF file
3. ^ BBC News, Northern Ireland, June 10, 2004 Changes to affect NI students

See also

• Central Applications Office
• Education in the Republic of Ireland

The Central Applications Office (CAO) is the organisation responsible for overseeing most undergraduate applications in the Republic of Ireland, the Postgraduate Applications Centre is a related organisation that oversees some taught postgraduate courses. ... The Republic of Irelands education system is quite similar to that of most other western countries. ...

External links

• State Examination Commission, Ireland
• UCAS - The UCAS Tariff
• CAO Degree & Diploma Points 2005
• Official CAO Level 8 Points 2005
• Official CAO Level 6/7 Points 2005
• LeavingCertRevision.com - Leaving Cert discussion website
• Leavingcertguide.com - Directory of Leaving Certificate Websites
• Skoool.ie - a popular Leaving Cert study website
• LCR Online Notes - free notes for various LC subjects.
• theleavingcert.com - a student's guide to the leaving cert