A Levels what is the equivalent qualification in Ireland

[bbq007]

hi There,

Could anyone advise me as to this;
is a leaving cert in Ireland equiv. to GCSE's in England?
are highers in Ireland equiv. to A'Levels in England?

Many thanks,

BBQ

Leaving is A Level equivalent. Senior cycle exam. However kids sit between 6-9 subjects so realistically 1 A-level equals 2 Leaving subjects.

thank you :)

There is no such thing as highers in Ireland. The leaving cert is the equivalent to A levels. Students generally do 7 subjects in school with 6 subjects used for third level entry. English, Irish, Maths, and in most schools, a foreign language, are compulsory unless the student has an exemption.

Subjects can be studied at higher level, ordinary level and, in the case of maths and Irish, foundation level. Foundation level can't be used for points for third level and won't be sufficient to meet the Irish entry requirements for universities that have it as a requirement.

Students will often do a mix of higher and ordinary subjects.

Junior cycle is the GCSE equivalent, but taken in year 10. Year 11 is called transition year and not all kids do it.

Leaving Cert, but we have ordinary level and honour level in each subject.#
Honour level subjects carry more points so if you want to get in to the highest point courses such as medicine or law you need to do all honours in 7 subjects

it's no wonder i didn't get in to university

Junior cert is in the 11th year of school. 8 years in primary, 3 years (1st, 2nd and 3rd) for junior cycle then either 2 or 3 years for senior cycle.

Most schools don't even offer foundation level. My poncey private school certainly didn't and I never heard of 'foundation level' until I was 35

I know they don't. They didn't do it in my kids' school and that was a pretty middle of the road school with lots not going on to third level.

I just know about it from a friend who works in one in an engineering department in one of the ITs telling me about the massive row they had with the powers that be when they decided to accept it as an entry requirement for all courses, including engineering!!!

thank you all, much appriciated :)
if anyone knows of any engineering apprenticeships around Cork - please let me know!

but really appriciate the knowledge you've shared.

What do you mean by Engineering apprenticeship.? Mechanic/Electrical apprenticeship?.

Solas provides a lot of the apprenticeship training. Typically you find an employer willing to take you on and they do it in tandem with a local Solas centre/University (in Cork that is the MTU).

Oh and check with the local ETB Educational and Training Boards too.

https://www.engineersireland.ie/Professionals/Membership/Become-a-member/Membership-types/Engineering-apprenticeships

Have a look here @bbq007

thanks for that Marbles :)

Have to take exception having taught in both systems - the Junior Cert is of no standing, the final exam, pupils matriculate on is The Leaving Certificate, taken having completed 5 years of secondary school education, with a work experience year sometimes in between. Modern languages and Science and other secondary subjects are started in Ireland at the age of 12-13. Then at 17-18 the Leaving Cert is the examination for all. There is no specialisation in the Leaving Cert, and the exam has no point of comparison to A levels. The curriculum of the Leaving Cert on the otherhand is the same standard and content, learning objectives and outcomes as GCSEs. The number of subjects taken are the same also. The fact that there is a checkpoint exam called the Junior Cert after three years of secondary, does not mean it is mapped onto GCSEs. Remember Irish schools have shorter days and longer holidays than the UK on on top of only five taught years of subject specific secondary education. Teachers are also well paid compared to UK, though cost of living is insane if housing is included.

@ByDorisDay I am interested in your comparsions between both systems as my DS in the UK is considering studying in Ireland but the CAO point system for A levels is brutal. How do you think that the Irish 4 year uni courses compare to the 3 year ones in the UK?

I don’t think you can compare the leaving cert to GCSEs either though. The LC is taken at age 18 or 19 following 8 years of primary and 6 years of secondary schooling. GCSEs are taken aged 15 to 16 in Year 11.
Transition year includes teaching. They have a chance to try out subjects before making a final choice for LC, and also continue to do some work in the core compulsory subjects (English, Irish, Maths). They usually do work experience one day a week.

Forgot to mention just over 80% of students do transition year now to make 6 years at secondary school the more common experience.

So at what age @Idflyhome do Irish students start first year of uni - and do any take a gap year?

Most typically start university at age 18-19.

Mine will be 19 starting uni (if they get in)

The age of starting school has increased in recent years, and with the addition of a transition year as well it’s meant the school leaving age has gone up.

They now give child benefit until the 19th birthday of schoolgoers to reflect these changes. It was increased from 18 last year.

I’m not sure about a gap year? I don’t know if it’s that common but we’re not at that stage yet.

Thanks @Idflyhome - thats good to know. Mine (hopefully) coming from the UK did A levels last year and they have had a year out so wil be 19.

From comments made by UK students I went to Ireland with, I would say that UK students with an A level in a specific subject eg Economics have pretty much covered all the first year of uni curricula. English is more varied as topics covered vary but has the potential to have a lot of overlap.
Year 1/Pre med in Ireland would cover A level Chem/Biology for example.

The leaving cert is more like the International Baccalaureate in that there are a multitude of subjects with the best six subject results counted for entrance points. On top of that you will have minimum subject requirements for the Uni or the course. So the course might require min Grade C in Higher Maths but if you have straight A's in six other subjects you tick the maths box and count the others.

First year/Pre med covers the leaving cert curriculum in biology/chemistry/physics as a lot of students won't have done all three science subjects. I don't know about economics but I assume that's the same, as is accountancy etc. Medical students who have done chemistry and biology for leaving cert can generally skip pre-med in most, possibly all, of the universities, as they have already covered it. I would assume the same would apply to those who had done those subjects at A level.

Uni courses that don't have a hard requirement for previous subject knowledge generally work on the assumption that they are dealing with students who have not studied the subject previously.

You learn French Science and all the other subjects for three years before sitting the Junior Cert. This is over a much shorter school year, with fewer contact hours. There is no equivalence with GCSE's. The Leaving Cert is taken having studied French, Science, and other subjects for five years at secondary. It is therefore more equivalent in standing to GCSEs. This is how it is measured, Izzadoraduncancan is reiterating a wish more than a reality.

It all depends on the university. There are 5 Irish universities offering medicine to undergraduates. UCC and TCD have no pre-med year, so 5 year courses. UCD has a compulsory pre-med year so 6 years total. UG and RCSI have 5 or 6 year options. For the 5 year courses you’ll need two Science subjects to qualify and depending on the university Chemistry may have to be one of these. I think RCSI requires similar.