Leaving Certificate Maths!

alan1234

Did my leaving certificate ages ago, ten years, and while it wasn't brilliant by any stretch of the imagination it didn't stop me progressing in my career.
However, now I'm looking at changing direction and moving into the public sector.
Even though I have certificate/diploma/degree/masters to my name I've been told that the fact I failed Maths in the leaving cert is a problem:mad:
Needless to say, I ain't impressed, I'd have thought what you did at 17/18 would have been of no significance..but is this for real?
Surely, they'd look at the leaving compare it to the life experience etc and say what the heck?
Anyhow, it appears I'll have to go back and get it...my question is where, when etc?
Anyone know of places in Dublin where I could start in September and have it done by the summer of 09?
How difficult would it be? Profile of class etc? Don't fancy being in with a bunch of 17 year olds!
Has anyone done something similar?
Thanks in advance!

The_Conductor

How about the Institute of Education on Leeson Street?
Yes- a pass in Irish, English and Maths at Leaving Cert are requirements- irrespective of what your life experiences might be (you require Irish, English, Maths (along with a continental language, possibly a business subject or possibly a science subject) to be offered a place in most 3rd level institutions these days.

The civil service and the public sector at large are in a position where they can afford to be choosy and try to get the best qualified staff possible.

Your life experiences and/or work experience elsewhere, will stand to you at the interview stage (after the examinations/aptitude tests).

S.

Check out your local VEC, they often run courses for people to complete LC Maths.

mattym

I'm in the same boat as the OP. JUst wondering if anyone knows of any where to do higher level maths in the Meath area??

cronos

I thought that passing Maths at some level be that foundation pass or honours was required to pass the leaving cert as a whole. I am thus suprised that it was possible for you to get into a degree program without Maths in the first place. Also if your degree or masters had no maths then you havent had a chance to prove your maths skills yet. I would do as everyone has mentioned and sit the LC pass paper if the public sector dont mind if you do honours or pass.

The_Conductor

cronos wrote: »

I am thus suprised that it was possible for you to get into a degree program without Maths in the first place.

It varies. As a mature student I was welcomed straight into 3rd year of a finance degree, without any mention of previous leaving cert results (mind you I already held a degree in a different area and a masters at that stage). Different colleges do apply different rules- its the NUI colleges and TCD, DCU etc who tend to be intransient in their entry rules. Normally you would need to have at very least a pass in the core subjects. In bygone years you got around this with the Matric- which was handy.

fl4pj4ck

alan1234 wrote: »

Did my leaving certificate ages ago, ten years, and while it wasn't brilliant by any stretch of the imagination it didn't stop me progressing in my career.
However, now I'm looking at changing direction and moving into the public sector.
Even though I have certificate/diploma/degree/masters to my name I've been told that the fact I failed Maths in the leaving cert is a problem:mad:
Needless to say, I ain't impressed, I'd have thought what you did at 17/18 would have been of no significance..but is this for real?
Surely, they'd look at the leaving compare it to the life experience etc and say what the heck?
Anyhow, it appears I'll have to go back and get it...my question is where, when etc?
Anyone know of places in Dublin where I could start in September and have it done by the summer of 09?
How difficult would it be? Profile of class etc? Don't fancy being in with a bunch of 17 year olds!
Has anyone done something similar?
Thanks in advance!

maybe just tell them you didny do your leaving cert or youve done it abroad?

The_Conductor

fl4pj4ck wrote: »

maybe just tell them you didny do your leaving cert or youve done it abroad?

If you don't do your leaving cert- you are severely limited in those posts that you are entitled to go for (I think porters etc, are about the extent of it- you need a leaving cert for CO and upwards).

If you do your leaving cert abroad- thats fine. There are a list of equivalent examinations, such as the baccalaureate, A-Levels etc. They are all valid and will be compared to a set scale against the leaving cert. This is not a problem whatsoever. It can take up to 10 days to confirm the results with the foreign examining authority however.

NPMBK

smccarrick wrote: »

If you don't do your leaving cert- you are severely limited in those posts that you are entitled to go for (I think porters etc, are about the extent of it- you need a leaving cert for CO and upwards).

If you do your leaving cert abroad- thats fine. There are a list of equivalent examinations, such as the baccalaureate, A-Levels etc. They are all valid and will be compared to a set scale against the leaving cert. This is not a problem whatsoever. It can take up to 10 days to confirm the results with the foreign examining authority however.

A FETAC level 2 qualification will do in lieu of a Leaving Cert for the Civil Service. There are plenty of people in the CS without a Leaving.

The_Conductor

NPMBK wrote: »

A FETAC level 2 qualification will do in lieu of a Leaving Cert for the Civil Service. There are plenty of people in the CS without a Leaving.

They spell out the requirements pretty clearly in the individual exams. The last EO competition had the following:

Candidates must on or before 1st July 2008

(A) (i) have obtained a recognised degree or hold a qualification which would be acceptable to the Public Appointments Service as being of at least an equivalent standard;

OR

(ii) have obtained a pass or a minimum of Grade D in Mathematics and Irish or English in the Leaving Certificate Examination of the Department of Education and Science, having obtained at least an honour or Grade C in Higher, Common or Honours Level papers in at least five subjects in the examination, or have passed in an examination (or examinations) which would be acceptable to the Public Appointments Service as being of at least an equivalent standard;

OR

(iii) have obtained at least a Grade D in Mathematics and either Irish or English in the Leaving Certificate Examination of the Department of Education and Science or in an examination acceptable to the Public Appointments Service as being of at least an equivalent standard;

AND

have passed the first year examination of a course leading to a recognised degree or higher qualification.


OP- Check what the competition you are going for specifies- and if in doubt ring the Public Appointment Service and ask for clarification.

NPMBK

smccarrick wrote: »

They spell out the requirements pretty clearly in the individual exams. The last EO competition had the following:

Candidates must on or before 1st July 2008

(A) (i) have obtained a recognised degree or hold a qualification which would be acceptable to the Public Appointments Service as being of at least an equivalent standard;

OR

(ii) have obtained a pass or a minimum of Grade D in Mathematics and Irish or English in the Leaving Certificate Examination of the Department of Education and Science, having obtained at least an honour or Grade C in Higher, Common or Honours Level papers in at least five subjects in the examination, or have passed in an examination (or examinations) which would be acceptable to the Public Appointments Service as being of at least an equivalent standard;

OR

(iii) have obtained at least a Grade D in Mathematics and either Irish or English in the Leaving Certificate Examination of the Department of Education and Science or in an examination acceptable to the Public Appointments Service as being of at least an equivalent standard;

AND

have passed the first year examination of a course leading to a recognised degree or higher qualification.


OP- Check what the competition you are going for specifies- and if in doubt ring the Public Appointment Service and ask for clarification.

Of course the OP should contact the PAS to get exact clarification, however, I am a CS and know several people who don't have a leaving and who are COs. In fact ,one got confined EO a little while ago. When I asked them they said a FETAC qual does as an equilivalent to a Leaving.

Alter-Ego

Get the books and study maths in your spare time. Get a grinds teacher to help you as well. Then just sit maths next june.

AARRRGH

smccarrick wrote: »

How about the Institute of Education on Leeson Street?

I second this suggestion.

When I did my leaving cert, I had managed to bunk off every German class for the previous 5 years. I didn't have a clue how to speak or write German!

I did a couple of weeks grinds in the Institute and I scraped a D2 in honours German.

Assuming the Institute still have the same standard of education, they will sort you out.