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Exams for subjects not studied at school?

  • 03-05-2011 1:30am
    #1
    The Educator
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32 ✭


    I was just curious.... :)

    Could a student take the Junior Cert exam for a subject they didn't study at school but by themselves? :confused:

    Please can someone help..... A student asked me this and I said I'd get back to them! Only I really havn't a clue and the Dept. of Education hasn't replied to my email! :eek:


Comments

  • #2
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,316 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Yes they could if they have been entered to sit it. I think the subject choices and levels went in in February.

    It's not such a drama if someone who didn't take Spanish classes in school wanted to sit it with the rest of a Spanish class, more trouble if someone wants to sit Greek and there is no Greek exam scheduled for the school that day.


  • #3
    The Educator
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32 ✭The Educator


    Okay... Thanks! :)

    Ya that's fine because the student is in first year. His mother is from Spain and is fleunt in the language, but because our school dosnt offer Spanish he took French. When he recently learned there is a such thing a Spanish Junior Cert Exam, he really wanted to do it and I'm his class teacher so he asked me! I wasnt sure if he could but I guess he can, I think I'll contact the Principal and see if he would maybe do this for him.

    Because of this he told a few other students about this! :O But I just told them the same thing I told him, I'll say it to the principal. But one student wants to do Home-Economics but she wasnt sure because of the pratical. How do these students do practical projects?


  • #4
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,316 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    The Educator wrote: »
    But one student wants to do Home-Economics but she wasnt sure because of the pratical. How do these students do practical projects?

    That's less easy, as to sit the Home Ec. exam, a teacher must sign off that the candidate has followed an approved and supervised course. There is also the project element. Exams that are just a written paper are fairly straightforward.


  • #5
    The Educator
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32 ✭The Educator


    Possibly, but maybe if the student kept a notes copy and several excersise copies and at the beginning of third year have the subject teacher asses her and the results were satisfying then it would be fine to say she has participated within the course?


  • #6
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,316 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Not really. I wouldn't expect a teacher to sign off on a student who did not attend their classes.

    It's about the course rather than the exam. Of course as regards the exam a candidate could probably just show up on the day and do quite well without having attended a class, depending on their own interests and experience, but the point of the Home Ec. course is not to pass the exam, it is to learn Home Economics. Much of what is taught in any class does not come up on the exam, but that makes it no less valid.

    This exam-centred focus is a most unwelcome addition to education in Ireland. It did not come from schools, but schools and teachers are having to deal with its consequences.


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  • #7
    Cat82
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 59 ✭✭Cat82


    The Educator wrote: »
    Possibly, but maybe if the student kept a notes copy and several excersise copies and at the beginning of third year have the subject teacher asses her and the results were satisfying then it would be fine to say she has participated within the course?

    I wouldn't assess a student who is not in my class to be honest. The practical aspect of Home ec is worth 50% in honours and 60% in ordinary level. They could sit the exam but they have to get almost full marks. The cookey is a worth 35%/45% of the marks alone and I don't know how comfortable I'd be letting a student into a practical cookery exam to cook considering I have never seen them working in a kitchen. Safety is priority to us in the kitchen and I jsut don't think I'd risk it. On the Craft/Childcare/Textile skills which is worth 15% we have to sign off that the work was done by that student and we are verifying it. I have in the past not signed this for students in my class as I couldn't actually say they done it due to poor attendence.

    I know in our school there are German and Polish students who sit the papers in their language in the school despite them not being taught so it is possible. But with Home Ec I think you'd need a very co-operating teacher to help the student out. Someone very unlike me lol


  • #8
    AnnKiins
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭AnnKiins


    Yes Yes, of course.
    My mate is self-studies Spanish and is sitting it for the JC.


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