A-Levels Ireland

Mockatron

Why can't secondary school students in the Republic of Ireland sit the A-Levels? They're much easier than the Leaving Cert and are just as internationally recognized. I know the Leaving Cert is ranked higher but honestly who cares? We do 7 subjects here while up North they're coasting through on 3. There is an A-Levels bebo site which makes them sound so easy (www.bebo.com/a-levels)

All I'm asking is that our second level students have a choice. Sure all universities/It's in this country support the A-Levels aswell as the Leaving Cert. Just look at any college prospectus.

Go on that bebo site and then come back here and tell me which you'd rather do.

Dept. of Education & State Examinations Commission, give us a choice!!!

xOxSinéadxOx

I'd rather do the leaving cert thank you very much

Mockatron

so you'd rather do 6/7 subjects rather than a nice easy 3? that makes no sense to me im afraid. i know what id choose

A-LEVELS!!!!!!!!

Mockatron

You must agree with me people!!!

xOxSinéadxOx

Mockatron wrote: »

so you'd rather do 6/7 subjects rather than a nice easy 3? that makes no sense to me im afraid. i know what id choose

A-LEVELS!!!!!!!!

yes I would like to be educated in more than 3 subjects

Rowley Birkin QC

Well for a start the A-Levels are British exams, this is Ireland.

Also, looking for the easy way out is a horrible attitude to have. The Leaving Cert isn't that bad at all, nice level of depth over a wide range of subjects.

burgess1

I'm doing A levels. They are available to Irish students if you study them through distance learning and sit the exams in the north. There are a few companies that offer them - just Google "distance A levels".

Mockatron wrote: »

You must agree with me people!!!

so you'd rather do 6/7 subjects rather than a nice easy 3? that makes no sense to me im afraid.

I think A levels are a better alternative as students can choose subjects that are relevant to them and their future careers but I don't agree that A levels are "easier".

The subjects are studied in greater detail - it's not the same as simply doing 3 leaving cert subjects. I'm currently studying for 2 A levels and will have to sit eight exams to complete them.

Fad

I'd prefer not to have a broad education (I feel the junior cert should be adequate in terms of broadness).

I would have preferred to study 3/4 subject in detail, rather than studying a load of other subjects I dont enjoy at all. And because I have all these subject, I'll have to re-learn everything in college as some of the stuff im learning in Chem for example, is just frankly incorrect.

The A-level system isnt as perfect as it's made out to be though.

Also I dont know who told you, but A-levels are most certainly not easy.

The Maverick

I really don't think there is any perfect exam system,each has their pros and cons.People are always going to complain anyway no matter what exam they sit.

whadabouchasir

At least if you do 7/8 subjects you can screw up in a few exams.

Piste

Because we spent EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS trying to escape British oppression and we'll be damned if we adopt their education systems now. Next thing you know we'll be calling our private schools "public schools".


Anyway you can study for the A-levels here, some places cater for them, albeit privately. Think you have to sit them in the UK though.

Personally I prefer the LC system, I like sudying a broad range of subjects.

ordinary_girl

Mockatron wrote: »

so you'd rather do 6/7 subjects rather than a nice easy 3? that makes no sense to me im afraid. i know what id choose

A-LEVELS!!!!!!!!

It's not "nice easy 3." You have to know the three subjects in depth and the entry requirements in British colleges for A-levels are generally either AAB or ABB. I couldn't contend with that, regardless of how many subjects I'm doing.

challengemaster

I'm sorry, but the Leaving certificate is a much higher standard exam which tests students ability more than any A-Levels would. It may be internationally recognised, but tbh, it's really not worth a damn.

DmanDmythDledge

Piste wrote: »

Because we spent EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS trying to escape British oppression and we'll be damned if we adopt their education systems now. Next thing you know we'll be calling our private schools "public schools".

Nothing to do with them being British. Just makes more sense that if you want to do Business, for example, you have to do well in business rather than English, Irish, French etc.

Piste

The EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS rant was a joke, I don't think the DOE is that nationalist I think maybe colleges should tailor their entry requirements more to what the course is about. Like maybe business would require at least two business subject, or history would require History and another artsy subject (maybe Geography).

burgess1

Mr.S wrote: »

For A Levels, do you submit course work as well for your overall mark, or is it just the exams that count?

You do have to submit coursework for some subjects.

Piste wrote: »

Anyway you can study for the A-levels here, some places cater for them, albeit privately. Think you have to sit them in the UK though.

Yes, you do have to sit the exams in the UK.

We

xOxSinéadxOx wrote: »

yes I would like to be educated in more than 3 subjects

lol dont act as though this is your motivation..

this fake nationalism is pretty old now btw, sad too..

phic

Just to be a sh1t stirrer (and possibly in trouble for being off-topiuc...) why can't we do the International baccalaureate?
Apparently a very well designed exam...

Piste

You can if you want, there's an international school in Dublin.

Mockatron

I've looked at A-Level past exam papers online and they're not as easy as I thought. I got that wrong but I still think it's better to do 3 subjects in extreme detail rather than an long overview of 7. Eg. If you want to study Business Studies in DCU next year (which I'm currently doing) its much better if u can study these subjects in detail in secondary school, instead of wasting your time learning Irish when you're never going to use it.

AND DONT SAY 'BUT IRISH IS OUR HERITAGE/CULTURE'

Sick of hearing that to be honest. I got a C3 in higher level last year and I haven't spoken a word of it since.

Fad

phic wrote: »

Just to be a sh1t stirrer (and possibly in trouble for being off-topiuc...) why can't we do the International baccalaureate?
Apparently a very well designed exam...

Apparently its is the most horrible system ever.

The work load is supposedly absolutely incredible!

(I have had two cousins go through the system because they lived internationally, serious amount of work involved)

islay

A levels are not easy its a different structure you have to have a lot more indepth knowledge and be able to critically assess/think more than the leaving cert. In my opinon this is something that needs to be introduced more into the leaving. Also their is a private college in Dublin where you can do a levels and also you sit the exams their. Often pupils that go there do it as an alternative to repeating the leaving or are mature studentd.

challengemaster

islay wrote: »

you sit the exams their.

This is why Leaving Cert trumps A-Levels.

islay

No I just have really bad grammar! I sat the leaving cert! Back to topic a levels have faults and the system is being overhauled. The most positive aspect that I think the leaving cert should take on board is coursework as this is a useful skill for college and the workplace

KeyLimePie

Oh god this bag of worms again.

Leaving cert all the way.

The english education system is a complete failure and I'll be damned If we ever adopt such a system.

We need people to keep on the core subjects of maths and english and a broad range of others to have at least SOME skills for the working world.

I wouldn't employ some right scummy lad who only did drama studies, philosophy and enviormental management.

Richard

Just so you know, the first year of A-Levels is AS-level. Students usually do at least 4 AS-Levels and then drop one (so you get an AS-level, half an A-level) and then carry the rest on to full A-Levels.

I think the A-level system as used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is better than the systems used in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland because it better prepares students for university life. Things are covered in much more detail at A-Level.

Richard

KeyLimePie wrote: »

The english education system is a complete failure and I'll be damned If we ever adopt such a system.

We need people to keep on the core subjects of maths and english and a broad range of others to have at least SOME skills

But Maths and English are compulsory at GCSE. Students don't need more advanced Maths or English than that for most jobs. If a job does require English or Maths to an advanced level then students can do A-level, which is a better, more in-depth qualification than the LC.

KeyLimePie

Richard wrote: »

Just so you know, the first year of A-Levels is AS-level. Students usually do at least 4 AS-Levels and then drop one (so you get an AS-level, half an A-level) and then carry the rest on to full A-Levels.

I think the A-level system as used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is better than the systems used in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland because it better prepares students for university life. Things are covered in much more detail at A-Level.

But what about the people who need to go into the working world ?

Mockatron

The <People I keep pimping> in Dublin is the only secondary school in the Republic of Ireland which caters solely for the A-Levels. You can read more by having a look at the blog on their bebo page www.bebo.com/a-levels

Richard

KeyLimePie wrote: »

But what about the people who need to go into the working world ?

The combination of GCSEs at 16, and AS/A Levels at 18 give that. But some choose to do courses such as GNVQs, which are more vocational than A-levels.

Piste

Mockatron wrote: »

The <People I keep pimping> in Dublin is the only secondary school in the Republic of Ireland which caters solely for the A-Levels. You can read more by having a look at the blog on their bebo page www.bebo.com/a-levels

Yes we know you love the a-levels. No more need to pimp the bebo site, that's the last time you'll link to it.

The Walsho

Oh just go away with your bloody A-levels. *resists urge to make a-hole joke*

Mockatron

Duly noted Piste!!!

All this fuss regarding English Paper 2 being leaked today is exactly why the A-Levels should be more widely available to students in this country. What happened today is an absolute disgrace and the State Examinations Commission should be ashamed. I do feel sorry for the Supervisor though. It was inevitable to happen one day. HE SHOULD NOT BE SACKED. Those contingency papers should have been secretly sent out. I mean the SEC had all day!!!

But to keep to point... todays happenings is precisely why the A-Levels should be a real alternative to exam students in the Republic of Ireland. I say well done to The <People I keep pimping> for in a way, rebelling against a tired system.

All Universities/IT's accept them so why not make them an alternative. As Barack Obama has said many a time 'We need CHANGE'

Leaving Cert out!!!
A-Levels in!!!

Fad

Mockatron wrote: »

Crap

AFAIK

You would also have to do GCSEs to get in to college in either Ireland or the UK.

You do one system or the other, not both .

Mockatron

You're wrong Fad

Just check out the <People I keep pimping> website. You have to have your Junior Cert before you can take the A-Levels. Its all there on their website.

<People I keep pimping> is the only A-Level accredited school in the whole of Ireland. They even let people who study A-Levels at home sit their exams there at the low low price of EUR 65 per subject. Isn't that around the same price as the LC?

65x3 is only EUR 195. Not bad at all

Fad

Mockatron wrote: »

You're wrong Fad

Just check out the <People I keep pimping> website. You have to have your Junior Cert before you can take the A-Levels. Its all there on their website.

<People I keep pimping> is the only A-Level accredited school in the whole of Ireland. They even let people who study A-Levels at home sit their exams there at the low low price of EUR 65 per subject. Isn't that around the same price as the LC?

65x3 is only EUR 195. Not bad at all

And tuition?

One of the Collison Brothers (The older one) mentioned something about not being able to get into an Irish/UK college cos he did the A-levels.

KeyLimePie

Mockatron wrote: »

Duly noted Piste!!!

All this fuss regarding English Paper 2 being leaked today is exactly why the A-Levels should be more widely available to students in this country. What happened today is an absolute disgrace and the State Examinations Commission should be ashamed. I do feel sorry for the Supervisor though. It was inevitable to happen one day. HE SHOULD NOT BE SACKED. Those contingency papers should have been secretly sent out. I mean the SEC had all day!!!

But to keep to point... todays happenings is precisely why the A-Levels should be a real alternative to exam students in the Republic of Ireland. I say well done to The <People I keep pimping> for in a way, rebelling against a tired system.

All Universities/IT's accept them so why not make them an alternative. As Barack Obama has said many a time 'We need CHANGE'

Leaving Cert out!!!
A-Levels in!!!

.....................................this hasn't happened since 1969 I don't think it one incident should call for a total upheaval of the system !

A-Levels are flouncey and a waste of time.
Leaving cert is a true academic exam.
People copy us not the other way around.

challengemaster

He's brittish....just leave him be. Logic won't work.:pac:


(Note, tongue in cheek comment - my dad is brittish and I'm half-brit!)

tolosenc

Leaving Cert should be revamped, IMO. Irish + English or Maths + 3 others. Studied in much greater detail.

superLeetive

The A Levels are the British school leaving state examinations and the Leaving Certificate is the Irish equivalent. We can't just decide to adopt another country's state examinations. You should instead be suggesting that we adapt ours to be more like the A-Levels, it would be still be called the Leaving Certificate.

Anyway the Leaving Certificate is way better. Studies have shown that students who complete the LC have a broader knowledge range etc. than students who complete the A Levels. Also, students who go through the Irish education system as a whole have higher literacy and numeracy levels than students who go through the British equivalent. All you have to do is take a look at the results of Pisa's 2006 study, Ireland had the sixth highest reading level where as the UK had the 17th!

ordinary_girl

Here's the CAO points for A-Levels:

How do my A-level grades compare to points?
For entry in 2011, A-level and AS grades are compared with the Irish Leaving Certificate grades based on the indicative points equivalencies below.
A2
Points

AS

Points

A*
150


A
135

A

65

B
120

B

60

C
100

C

50

D
75

D

35

E
40

E

20

*Taken from the UCD website

Pidge96

In A levels they change the grade percentages every year, so an A* mark one year could be an A another? Sounds too dicey for me. Plus at least in the Leaving you're certain of what target you need, and have a better education with more subjects anyways..:pac:

Ms Tootsie

Firstly anyone who things A-levels are a doozie is completely deluded.

Speaking as someone who has sat A-Levels I can tell you they are really intense and a hell of a lot of work, the detail in each of your three subjects is university standard. Secondly I knew no-one who did such subjects as drama, philosophy etc. I did English, History, Sociology and Business Studies so anyone who is under the illusion that you can sail through A-Levels on 'subjects' like drama and philosophy is also wrong. My university course required a minimum of 3-As and I am pretty sure if I went to the university and told them I had an A in drama I would be laughed out of the place. Also for any med / nursins courses you have to study the sciences at A-level to prepare you for the course subjects in university.

To be honest I would compare the Leaving Cert as closer to the GCSE's in Northern Ireland where a minimum of one language is compulsory, along with a science, maths, and English. At GCSE you can do between 7 and 10 subjects and you cover them in similar detail to the Leaving Cert and the age profile is pretty similar, 16.


Most people sit their A- Levels at 18 compared to the Leaving Cert age which is mainly 17.

As for the Junior Cert is is similar to an exam system in the north of Ireland called the (funnily enough) the Junior Cert as well. Your ability on this exam determines your level at GCSE.

I honestly can say my A-Levels prepared me much better for university than my southern counterparts. In a course with a business base I would fully equipped for not only the course content but the workload. A lot of my classmates who came from Leaving Cert level had to spread their time in school over the 7 subjects rather than the 3/4 at A Level and so were not given the opportunity to study a particular subject at the depth that was required.

The system in the north of Ireland is much more complex and allows students to identify their strengths and weaknesses at Junior Cert and GCSE level before moving on to study their strenght subjects more indepth at A-Level.

Neither system is pefect and lacks any kind of understanding or compassion for students who struggle with mastering text books and writing essays but for those who are under the illusion that studying three or four sujects is easier you seem to be forgetting that you guys have two exams Junior Cert and Leaving Cert. In the north we have four - Junior Cter, GCSE, AS Levels and A Levels.

finality

kaza2710 wrote: »

Firstly anyone who things A-levels are a doozie is completely deluded.

Speaking as someone who has sat A-Levels I can tell you they are really intense and a hell of a lot of work, the detail in each of your three subjects is university standard. Secondly I knew no-one who did such subjects as drama, philosophy etc. I did English, History, Sociology and Business Studies so anyone who is under the illusion that you can sail through A-Levels on 'subjects' like drama and philosophy is also wrong. My university course required a minimum of 3-As and I am pretty sure if I went to the university and told them I had an A in drama I would be laughed out of the place. Also for any med / nursins courses you have to study the sciences at A-level to prepare you for the course subjects in university.

To be honest I would compare the Leaving Cert as closer to the GCSE's in Northern Ireland where a minimum of one language is compulsory, along with a science, maths, and English. At GCSE you can do between 7 and 10 subjects and you cover them in similar detail to the Leaving Cert and the age profile is pretty similar, 16.


Most people sit their A- Levels at 18 compared to the Leaving Cert age which is mainly 17.

As for the Junior Cert is is similar to an exam system in the north of Ireland called the (funnily enough) the Junior Cert as well. Your ability on this exam determines your level at GCSE.

I honestly can say my A-Levels prepared me much better for university than my southern counterparts. In a course with a business base I would fully equipped for not only the course content but the workload. A lot of my classmates who came from Leaving Cert level had to spread their time in school over the 7 subjects rather than the 3/4 at A Level and so were not given the opportunity to study a particular subject at the depth that was required.

The system in the north of Ireland is much more complex and allows students to identify their strengths and weaknesses at Junior Cert and GCSE level before moving on to study their strenght subjects more indepth at A-Level.

Neither system is pefect and lacks any kind of understanding or compassion for students who struggle with mastering text books and writing essays but for those who are under the illusion that studying three or four sujects is easier you seem to be forgetting that you guys have two exams Junior Cert and Leaving Cert. In the north we have four - Junior Cter, GCSE, AS Levels and A Levels.

Having more exams means nothing.

And I can't believe you would compare the leaving cert to GCSEs, the difference is huge. Having a similar number of subjects doesn't mean the level of difficulty is the same. I did 10 subjects for the junior cert and am doing 8 for the leaving - if I don't count cspe, that's a difference of one subject. It would be laughable to say that the junior cert and leaving cert are of similar levels just because of this, so how can you compare the leaving cert and GCSEs on that basis?

I've looked at GCSE exam papers and they're definitely more similar to the junior cert.

As for A-levels, while some of them are definitely broader than their leaving cert counterparts, I had a look at a German A-level paper and to me it honestly seems easier than the leaving cert. Even maths - there are A level papers I could get full marks in, though yes, there are papers which examine material I've never seen before. I'm just saying, the exam isn't a HUGE amount more difficult.

And as far as I know the average age of a leaving cert student is actually 18, not 17. I've always been one of the younger students in my year, and I was 18 in February. I'd say roughly 7 out of around 80 students in my year are under 18.

I'm not even a fan of the leaving cert, I would prefer to study 4 subjects in greater detail to be honest. I just think your post was uninformed, and to compare the leaving cert to GCSEs... I can't get over that.

FaoiSin

GCSEs similar to the Leaving Cert... Nowhere near :P

reznov

HA! The A-Levels. Please, the unwarranted humour is forcing me to choke with laughter.

I've revision books from A-level examinations, have completed several exam papers and also possess an A Level biology and chemistry book. A couple of topics are studied in depth, but there is no broad spectrum of study. Sure, it may at first seem "harder", but in reality, it is easier as the brain operates on the basis of association. Learning in depth about less topics is much easier to memorise as everything is associated.
Studying 7 or sometimes 8 subjects as opposed to 3-4 will always be much more difficult due to time management both in and out of school.

Maths at A Level is below that of LC HL. Geometry doesn't even exist on the A Level course. I wouldn't give A Level Maths 150 points, let alone 100.

finality

http://yelblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/22/leaving-cert-vs-a-levels/

FaoiSin

finality wrote: »

http://yelblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/22/leaving-cert-vs-a-levels/

I find it hard to trust a person who got a B in LC French

reznov

YeaaahFaoiSin wrote: »

I find it hard to trust a person who got a B in LC French

I don't trust anybody who obtains less than 6 A1s in the LC.

Stalin and rugby

YeaaahFaoiSin wrote: »

I find it hard to trust a person who got a B in LC French

I find it hard to trust a person who doesn't trust a person who got a B who himself has not yet sat the exam thus having no grade which in comparison to a B is worse I say..

Stalin and rugby

reznov wrote: »

HA! The A-Levels. Please, the unwarranted humour is forcing me to choke with laughter.

I've revision books from A-level examinations, have completed several exam papers and also possess an A Level biology and chemistry book. A couple of topics are studied in depth, but there is no broad spectrum of study. Sure, it may at first seem "harder", but in reality, it is easier as the brain operates on the basis of association. Learning in depth about less topics is much easier to memorise as everything is associated.
Studying 7 or sometimes 8 subjects as opposed to 3-4 will always be much more difficult due to time management both in and out of school.

Maths at A Level is below that of LC HL. Geometry doesn't even exist on the A Level course. I wouldn't give A Level Maths 150 points, let alone 100.

If you have read A lvl chem and bio for the crack then you being 6 foot 5 is a lie. Mind blown