Selected subjects at a glance

Irish
Students should not attempt Irish at higher level unless they have achieved a minimum of a C grade at higher level in the Junior Cert.

English
A good higher-level subject for the average student, provided they are prepared to read extensively. Good written expression is required.

Maths
Don't attempt at higher level unless you have achieved a C grade at higher level in the Junior Cert. The standard is quite high, with less than 20 per cent of Leaving Cert students taking maths at higher level. Many fall back to ordinary level when the pressure builds in sixth year.

History
The emphasis of the course has moved away from politics to encompass social and cultural history. The identification of evidence and primary sources is central to studying history. Students can secure up to 20 per cent of the overall marks by submitting a research paper on a selected topic from a range set out by the State Examinations Commission.

Geography
This subject studies the relationship between human activity and the physical environment. It is an extremely wide curriculum, with students having the opportunity to undertake a geographic investigation which is allocated 20 per cent of the overall marks and is submitted before the end of April in the year of the student's Leaving Cert. For both science and pharmacy at TCD, geography is accepted as a science subject for entry requirements.

Continental languages
The three main elements of the study of modern languages are comprehension, oral and written presentation. Be mindful of the aural and oral requirements. There is a strong emphasis on the ability to comprehend and converse in the language, and one-third of the marks are for aural and oral work.

Physics
This has a strong maths element and requires the learning off of many formulae. It develops students' understanding of many of the ordinary things that surround us such as heat, light, electricity and magnetism. There are 27 mandatory experiments, of which four are offered on the Leaving Cert paper.

Chemistry
Students have to learn the chemical components of a series of prescribed experiments. They will be required to present the elements of four such experiments in their examination. Again, students of chemistry develop an understanding of key elements of the world we live in, such as water, as well as everything we use, wear or consume.

Biology
Students explore the world of living things from micro-organisms to humans. Experiments play a central role, being the basis of two-thirds of the questions on the examination paper. It is often perceived as easier than physics and chemistry, but this is not so, as shown by the high failure rates at ordinary level.

Social and scientific
A combination of cooking, home economics and some biology. A very interesting subject, but not the easy honours that some imagine. Twenty-five per cent of the marks are awarded for a course work journal and submitted prior to the examination. Students explore issues such as poverty and there is also a section on human nutrition.

Business
Given the rapidly changing world of business, this subject deals with current day-to-day reality of business. It is a very interesting subject, but requires constant attention to the business pages of the quality newspapers. It looks at how organisations are formed, financed and run. It also explores the services that support businesses such as insurance, banking, transport and public service bodies.

Economics
With a lot of graphical and theoretical work, economics has a mathematical slant. It explores the workings of companies and how they measure their success and progress. At a macro level it examines international trade and the role of Government and the EU in controlling competition and markets. A good subject for analytical students.

Accounting
Students who enjoy the book-keeping part of Junior Cert business should consider taking accounting. At Leaving Cert level, analysis and interpretation of accounts is the core activity. For those with strong numeracy and reasoning skills, this can be very enjoyable.

Music, art
Not to be dipped into for the first time at this level. Most students will be following on from Junior Cert level. At Leaving Cert level, art involves a lot of work on the history and appreciation of art alongside design and craftwork.

Construction studies, engineering, technical drawing
These subjects, where available, give students hands-on experience working with tools, machinery and physical things such as plastics, wood and metal, and they get to design and make products. They also have to undertake theoretical and background work.