Q: MY SON is applying for the DIT degree course in architecture and has to sit a test. Where could he take a "mock" test and how much would it cost?
- Co Offaly parent
A: YOU are quite right in saying your son will sit a test, but this is not an exam as such. It is an exercise to test his suitability and aptitude for architecture and not an exam to test his knowledge of architecture. So, he can't cram by taking extra tuition before the test for DIT Bolton Street takes place (usually March - May). This aptitude test will measure his ability in areas such as how he views shapes and sizes, their relationship to each other etc. DIT Bolton Street sets its own aptitude test to select the students best suited to that course and this test is not available otherwise. However, guidance counsellors in most schools give the Differential Aptitude Tests (DATs) to students (usually in fourth year) to help make informed subject choices for Leaving Certificate as well as a career choice for the future. He should check on his results with the guidance counsellor first and if he hasn't taken the DATs, I am sure the counsellor will be able to arrange that he takes the relevant sections to test his suitability for architecture. That way your son will know if he is heading on the right career path.
Q: I HEARD recently that I do not have to pass Irish in the Leaving Cert to get CD or UCG. Is this true? This would help me a lot because Irish is my weakest higher level subject for the Leaving Cert exam and at best I will barely pass it.
- Athenry student
A: THE first fact to establish is if you were born in Ireland (32 counties) and if so, you must pass Irish in the Leaving Cert. Only those candidates born outside Ireland (32 counties) or whose primary education up to age 11 was outside the Republic (26 counties) or who lived outside Ireland (32 counties) during the three years immediately before becoming eligible for matriculation or who got their second level education outside the Republic in the last three years can claim exemption from Irish. There is one other exemption recognised by the NUI and that is the one given by the Department of Education.
If you qualify under any of those headings, you should contact NUI at 49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 for further details.
You can fulfil the matriculation requirement of passing Irish by compensation even if you fail with a grade E on your higher level Irish paper. To qualify, you must have three other subjects at HC3 level or one at HB3 level and one at HC3. All of these subjects are quoted in terms of higher level grades - even the E grade. This compensation system will work for any other subject at Higher Leaving level as well.
You might also think of taking Irish at ordinary level, be cause all You need is a pass at ordinary level to matriculate in Irish. Why not wait until after your mock exams to make a decision? You could then talk it over with your Irish teacher.
Q: MY child is three years old and while I had thought of sending her off to national school when she is four, I have been having second thoughts about this. Would I be better off to wait until she is five and what are the best alternatives in the meantime?
- West Dublin parent
A: I THINK you are wise to wait until your girl is five before she attends national school. She will benefit much more from formal schooling when she is able to look after herself in a classroom full of four and five year olds. She will settle in better and at the other end of her schooling, she will be more mature in her decisions for career and personal choices.
In the meantime, she could attend a local pre school or playgroup. You should check out the qualifications of the people working there. It is also a good idea to visit the premises to check the facilities and talk to other parents who have children there. A good contact point is the Irish Pre school Playgroup Association. Tel: (01) 619245.
