Second & Third Year

The Formal Curriculum

Second & Third years:

At the end of first year students decide on their subjects for Junior Certificate.

Core Examination Subjects

Non Exam core subjects

Irish

Religion

English

SPHE

Maths

CSPE

Science

PE

Language

Computers

The New Junior Cycle Programme:

Information letter for 3rd year parents January 2020

Information letter for 2nd year parents January 2020

In 2014 the first phase of the New Junior Cycle Programme began. Your son/daughter will take the following subjects as part of the New Junior Cycle Programme:

There was a phased in programme for the introduction of subjects:

1st 2014 1st 2015 1st  2016

1st  2017

English
Business
Science
Irish
French
Spanish
Art
Maths
Home Economics
History
Music
Geography

In each of these subject there are:

  1. Two Classroom-based Assessments.

One is carried out in 2nd year and one in 3rd year.

  1. An Assessment Task carried out in 3rd year which is worth 10% of final grade in the Junior Cert (The Department of Education and Skills will issue details as regards timings etc of these Assessments)
  2. A Final Written Exam in June of 3rd year

Classroom Based Assessment:

Students will be informed of their grade in each Classroom Based Assessment by their Teacher following a Subject Learning and Assessment Review by subject teachers. The grading system for the Classroom Based Assessments is as follows:

  • Exceptional
  • Above expectation
  • In line with expectations
  • Yet to meet expectations

These grades (descriptors) may appear on school reports and will appear in the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement issued by the Department of Education and the school in early 2021.

Final Written examination:

The Final Written examination will be held in June of 3rd year and the grade achieved here combined with the Assessment Task result will be the grade on the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement.

The grade system for the final written exam is as follows:

GRADE RANGE (%)

  • Distinction ≥90 to 100
  • Higher Merit ≥75 and <90
  • Merit ≥55 and <75
  • Achieved ≥40 and <55
  • Partially Achieved ≥20 and <40
  • (not graded) ≥0 and <20

 

For further information please go to

www.curriculumonline.ie, www.jct.ie, www.juniorcycle.ie, www.ncca.ie

They also choose three subjects from those sampled in first year. At the end of Third Year students sit their Junior Certificate Examinations. The new Junior Cycle programme is clearly outlined at www.jct.ie/ www.ncca.ie/en/junior-cycle, www.curriculumonline.ie/Junior-cycle/Junior-Cycle-is-changing

Senior Options :
After Junior Certificate students have the option of doing a two/three year Leaving Certificate cycle.