March 23rd 2013

Siobhan Ring CAE

Year LC Candidates Taking Link Modules

%

2012 52,592 15795 30.03

2011 54,344 16,298 29.9

2010 54,480 15,542 28.2

2009 54,197 15096 27.9

2008 52,143 14,545 27.9

Number of candidates sitting Link Modules 2008 - 2012

Year Total Dist Merit Pass Ungraded

2012 15795 12.5 51.8 28.8 6.9

2011 16,298 12 47 32 9

2010 15,542 11 48 31 9

2009 15,096 11 47 32 10

2008 14,545 12 48 31 9

Percentage of candidates achieving each grade in Link Modules 2008 - 2012

Core Section Popularity(%) Ave mark

C V 100 21 Action Plan 99 27 Career Inv 99 28 Summary Rep 99 30

Option Section Popularity(%) Ave mark

Diary 92 32 Enterprise Rep 12 33 My Own Place 10 34 Interview 86 39

The overall standard of layout and presentation of portfolio items was very good. Portfolio’s in general are well laid out and bound. (Note: plastic sleeves are not accepted).

Some candidates do not submit full portfolios for correction.

Candidates using a large size font are in breach of guidelines.

Marks are lost in portfolio items for poor spelling, grammar and punctuation. Candidates should spend time proof reading their portfolio items prior to submission.

There has been an increase in the number of portfolio items being disallowed. Candidates with Action Plans and Summary Reports based on non-LCVP activities were disallowed. Also Work Experience Diary's where dates are outside the two year time frame of the programme.

Marks are also lost for information missing/brevity of information/ activities not being described well.

Failure to evaluate or give conclusion/recommendations lost marks.

Restrictions broken in a few cases only – extra portfolio items included for correction.

Material submitted outside the two year program. Note new portfolio dates for 2013.

Marks are lost by candidates for not reading questions correctly or misinterpreting the requirements.

Also candidates who do not respond adequately to the verb used in a question i.e..describe, list, outline, explain – lose marks.

Failure to expand/develop points given.

Repeating points already stated.

Giving insufficient analysis and evaluation where required.

**Failure to link the learning from their portfolio to the written exam.

Popularity(%)Ave mark

Sect A 100 20Sect B 100 15Sect C Q1 93 16

Q2 78 10Q3 96 16Q4 65 14Q5 47 13Q6 40 9

The overall standard of answering was mixed. In particular weaker candidates scored lower marks in this year’s written paper than in last year’s written examination due to lack of knowledge or expansion to points given.

Candidates appeared to relate well to the topic of the Audio Visual section.

A wide range of marks were awarded throughout the

examination.

Marks were lost due to candidates lack of knowledge or expansion, not reading the question correctly or also for not giving sufficient points or sufficient detail in their answering.

Portfolios are often of a much higher standard and did not match the standard of the written paper.

Section A: Audio visualCandidates performed well. They need to listen

carefully and develop answers appropriately.

Section B: Case StudyCandidates who prepare well are duly rewarded.Read the questions asked carefully. Answer all

parts.They should give good explainations or detail in

their answers. Develop their answers well.

Section C: General questionsGive appropriate detail pertaining to the question

asked.Develop answers.Give the required number points asked for in the

question.No repetition of points already used in a question.

Check for presentation, layout and word processing errors.

Make sure a skills/qualities section is present.

Include in the educational qualification section the year on both the JC/LC. Also note Link Modules is taken at common level. L.C.V.P. or L.C.V.P. Link Modules or Links are not accepted as the subject name)

A title/position, an address and telephone number should be part of the referees given. Note two referees are required.

Candidates should provide an address/date/duties for any work experience they have completed.

An e-mail address as a personal detail should be of an appropriate nature.

Keep the CV length to a max of two pages.

Check for presentation/layout and word processing errors. Check tenses - Aims/objectives action steps, schedule of

time/costs, evaluation methods – must be given in future tense only.

Research methods – can be given in the past or future tense.

Analysis of research – use past tense only. A personal objective is required in a group activity. List some duties pertaining to the day of the event in the

action steps. Evaluation methods must be present and include how the

evaluation would be apparent. Plans submitted must meet the criteria of being a Link

Module activity. The principal objective given should show this link clearly. There should be a link to slo’s or future career plans etc, so that plans meet this criteria.

Give sufficient detail on the duties involved in the career. A skills and qualities section needs to be included. Information given on the two different path ways needs

to include..... Candidates in the majority do not give details of the

course content. A brief outline of one course is acceptable.

Candidates should discuss their own aptitudes, the link with their leaving certificate subjects and any out of school learning in the report.

Evaluation of the career itself AND the career investigation process is required.

Candidates are given the opportunity to show real research and individual work.

Include a personal aim in a group activity.

Check that reports submitted are not too short and that objectives relate to the body of the report.

Headings within the body of the report are required.

Conclusions should link to the aims/body of the report.

Recommendations on should be valid to the report submitted.

Personalised detailed accounts of candidates work experience placements should be given.

The candidates reasons for choosing their work placement and the description of the placement should be well covered. Candidates need to discuss their aptitudes/link with their own Leaving Certificate subjects/their career plan.

Analyse their own performance should be included and given in detail through out the Diary.

Evaluation of candidates work experience should be included. Career aspirations, link with future studies and how candidates could apply their learning to the home, school or the community .

Submit reports on group enterprise activities only.

An author’s name and table of contents should be evident. Also charts, tables or diagrams should be included. These diagrams should be clear/labelled and support the content.

A personal objective needs to be included.

A personal/individual contribution paragraph should also be included.

Include a summary of the report (this should read well).

Check the length of the report.

Watch for repetition of the Action Plan given in the core section.

Include a Table of Contents for the report .

Many reports concentrate on one area of their community or area investigation and fail to give an over view of their complete investigation. This overview needs to be included.

Key areas such as identifying their individual contribution should be included.

The analysis of a key issue/ suggestion for improvement must be included and well developed – in some reports it appeared that if this analysis was discussed it was more stumbled upon, rather than being actually considered.

 

Candidates often lose marks for poor appearance.

Most centres keep within the time frame allowed for the video presentation i.e. 5 minutes.

Candidates should be well prepared and show good knowledge and communication skills.

In some instances interviewers do not ask searching enough questions so that a student is given the opportunity to extend him or herself.

Play DVD’s that are being submitted to the SEC for viewing on a DVD machine and a laptop.

Make sure good quality DVD’s are used. Mini discs should not be submitted.

Make Four copies of each DVD being submitted to the SEC

Exam Numbers should be seen for the candidates complete interview.

Make sure DVD packaging is sufficient for post arriving in the SEC.

Candidates who are often missing recordings i.e. First or last few interviews on the DVD. Check all candidates are present on the DVD.

Check sound & profile are appropriate.  Poor Interviewers are apparent for some interviews. Sequences sheets should be filled according to the

running order on the DVD. A copy of the sequence sheet should also be included with the second DVD.

Teachers have an excellent resource in the PDST website. Here you can find excellent information as to the makeup of the portfolio items, exemplar material etc.

Another excellent resource are the Local Area Networks. Here experienced teachers along with new teachers to the subject get an opportunity to review the examination from the previous year, discuss the portfolio items and brainstorm for possible questions and answers to the published case study in April. The PDST have a list of venues, times and dates for these meeting , for the coming term on their website.

Portfolio items show a wide variety of activities. Some fabulous portfolios are submitted by candidates showing their experience the world of work or enterprise in action.

It is clearly identifiable candidates who receive good direction as to the makeup and marking of the portfolio items.

Thank you to all who examine.

Finally thank you to all, who through your teaching inspire/encourage our LCVP students