Subjects at a glance

Irish: Don't attempt at higher level unless you have a C grade at higher level in the Junior Cert.

English: A good higher-level subject for average students, provided they are prepared to read extensively.

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, and many students fall back to pass when the pressure builds up in sixth year.

History: Again, requires a lot of reading. The new syllabus brings contemporary figures, such as Nelson Mandela, into the course. Last year almost 20 per cent of ordinary-level students failed.

Geography: This subject studies the relationship between human activity and the physical environment. Trinity College accepts it as a science subject for entry to its science and pharmacy courses.

Languages: Be mindful of the strong emphasis on ability to speak languages, reflected in the marks awarded for aural and oral work.

Applied maths Very suitable if you are taking higher-level maths and physics.

Science: You should take at least one science subject. For average students this often means biology. Those taking physics tend to be mathematical, whereas chemistry students tend to be particularly attracted to the subject.

Social and scientific: This combination of cookery, home economics and a little biology is a very interesting subject, but it's not the easy honour that some imagine. A percentage of the marks is now awarded for a portfolio of practical classwork.

Business: Business itself is a very interesting subject, but it requires constant attention to the business pages of the quality newspapers. Economics is more mathematical and has a lot of graphic and theoretical work. Accounting is for students with good bookkeeping skills at Junior Cert level.

Music and art: Not subjects to be dipped into for the first time at this

level.