6th Year Easter

This course, students will receive notes and practice on all three sections of the accounting examination with a priority focus on the following specific topics:

Section 1: Depreciation, Published Accounts and Service Firm Accounts
Section 2: Interpretation of Accounts, Correction of Errors and Incomplete Records
Section 3: Marginal Costing; Cash Budgeting 

Students will also receive a comprehensive set of notes covering the theory section of the entire course. Time will also be spent preparing students for the examination in June with an emphasis on exam layout and structure, marking schemes, strategy and timing.

About the teacher: John Taylor has over 30 years’ experience teaching accounting at leaving certificate higher level which has given him an in-depth knowledge of the syllabus and what is required from students to gain top marks. He is the author of a number of school textbooks including the best-selling Eurobusiness, Rapid Revision Business, Accounting – A Study Aid for Final Accounts and Smart Business, a text book for the new Junior Cycle. John has been involved in the Business Teachers Association for many years and has held the positions of chairperson of the Dublin branch as well as National Vice President.

The key focus of this course will be to examine the topics highly probable to appear in June, such as Soils, Genetics, Animal and Crop production, experiments and scientific explanations. This course will also provide an extensive insight into effective answering technique in order to maximise your marks and improve your grades

About the teacher : Iain Wallace has spent 15 years teaching Agricultural Science. In this time he has built up considerable experience in the subject working as a local facilitator for the Professional Development Service for Teachers and editing study notes for the Irish Farmers Journal weekly study guides. He utilises this experience to enable his students to master the course content, key answering skills and techniques needed in order to maximise grades.

Students need to attempt 6 questions from a total of 10 questions. Question 10 (Differential equations) is the only change made to the papers in a long time because of changes on the Maths syllabus. It is essential students do question 10 as it will help enormously with similar questions on the Maths paper. Students attending this course will cover the techniques for 4 questions from the paper (Questions 3, 4, 5 and 10). Students will receive detailed solutions to leaving cert questions from 2016-1996.

About the teacher : Kieran Mills’ experience of correcting with the State Examination Commission gives him an in-depth knowledge of what is required by students. He is popular amongst students due to his mastery of the Project Maths Syllabus and is well-known for his ability to stimulate students’ interest in the subject. Kieran has 25 years’ experience teaching. He has co-written several books, including The Power of Maths series of Junior and Leaving Certificate Textbooks, trusted by thousands of students around the country. Kieran has also been an expert contributor on Maths for RTÉ Radio.

As well as receiving notes on all topics of the course, students will receive a concise set of notes on all 23 experiments. This set of notes is worth up to 20% of the Biology exam. You will also benefit greatly from a set of notes called ‘How to beat the Examiner’, which outlines how to benefit from a deep understanding of the exam layout and marking scheme. Finally students will receive a set of notes containing all keyword definitions on the course which are an important part of the exam paper.

Notes received will also include:

Unit 1: Scientific Method, Food and Ecology.

Unit 2: Cell structure and Diversity, Cell Division, DNA and RNA, Genetic Crosses, Variation and Evolution, Genetic Engineering, Enzymes, Photosynthesis, Respiration, Osmosis and Diffusion.

About the teacher: David Lewis
David’s ability to relate to students has resulted in him becoming a popular teacher at The Academy. His teaching methods are unique and are tailored to the Biology Syllabus. As an examination corrector in Biology, David is adept at understanding the mistakes for which students frequently lose marks.

As well as receiving notes on all topics of the course, students will receive a concise set of notes on all 23 experiments. This set of notes is worth up to 20% of the Biology exam. You will also benefit greatly from a set of notes called ‘How to beat the Examiner’, which outlines how to benefit from a deep understanding of the exam layout and marking scheme. Finally students will receive a set of notes containing all keyword definitions on the course which are an important part of the exam paper.

Notes received will also include:

Monera, Fungi, Protista, Viruses, Human Defence, Human Digestion, Skeleton, Blood, Heart, Lymphatic System, Breathing System, Nervous System, Plant Responses, Endocrine System, The Senses, Plant Reproduction and Vegetative Propagation, Human Reproduction, Structure and Transport in a Flowering Plant, Homeostasis and Excretion.

About the teacher: David Lewis
David’s ability to relate to students has resulted in him becoming a popular teacher at The Academy. His teaching methods are unique and are tailored to the Biology Syllabus. As an examination corrector in Biology, David is adept at understanding the mistakes for which students frequently lose marks.

Students receive notes covering all seven units on the course. A.B.Q. notes will outline how it must be answered along with predictions on what questions students can expect to see on it in June. There will also be a handout covering the short questions on Section A that accounts for 20% of the paper.

Finally, students will receive a Time Management Plan, which tells them what topics they must focus on. This course will also show students the common mistakes that are made on exam day and they will be taught how to prevent this from happening.

About the teacher :  Rónán Murdock is the Head of the Business Department at The Dublin Academy of Education. He is the author of the Leaving Certificate Business Revision textbook, and is a popular teacher amongst students due to his ability to help them relate to the subject. Rónán is known for instilling confidence in students due to his deep understanding of the syllabus and marking scheme.

Firstly, mandatory experiments will be covered which can account for 25% – 37.5% of the exam paper. Topics are specifically chosen to ensure maximum choice in the Leaving Certificate Chemistry exam. Past Leaving Cert and possible Leaving Cert questions and solutions will be provided for all topics. Strategies to maximise grades will be provided, with particular emphasis on the marking scheme.

Topics Covered:

• Volumetric Analysis
• Chemical Equilibrium
• pH and Indicators
• Acids and Bases

About the Teacher : Lynn Anderson engages with and instils confidence in students, due to her mastery of the Chemistry syllabus. Her experience working as an examiner for the State Examination Commission gives her an in-depth knowledge of what is required by students.

Firstly, mandatory experiments will be covered which can account for 25% – 37.5% of the exam paper. Topics are specifically chosen to ensure maximum choice in the exam. Past Leaving Cert and possible Leaving Cert questions and solutions will be provided for all topics. Strategies to maximise grades will be provided, with particular emphasis on the marking scheme.

Topics Covered:

• Fuels and Heats of Reaction
• Organic Chemistry
• Oxidation and Reduction
• Water

About the Teacher : Lynn Anderson engages with and instils confidence in students, due to her mastery of the Chemistry syllabus. Her experience working as an examiner for the State Examination Commission gives her an in-depth knowledge of what is required by students.

Our Easter Revision course will cover off the following topics:

• The Oblique Plane
• Surface Geometry
• Conic Sections
• Structural Forms
• Perspective
• Intersection of Solids.

About the Teacher: Darran Sheils is the Design and Communication Graphics teacher at The Dublin Academy of Education. Darran has been teaching DCG since the subject’s inception in 2008. His background in graphics, art and design makes him uniquely qualified to nurture both the technical and the creative aspects of the subject. In recent Leaving Certificate results, one third of Darran’s students achieved an A grade. 3 times the national average. The passion, understanding and attention to detail he instils in his students has led many of them into careers in architecture, engineering and product design.

Students will receive notes that cover the entire course. The course will cover both micro and macro sections of the exam. The microeconomic part of the course will cover all the major topics along with the “trick” questions that frequently appear in the exam.

The macroeconomic part of the course focuses on the more likely questions students can expect to see in June. There will also be a handout covering the short questions on Section A that accounts for 25% of the paper.

About the Teacher : Rónán Murdock is the Head Economics teacher at The Dublin Academy of Education. In 2012, just 3% of students nationwide got an A1 in Leaving Certificate Economics; however, 32% of Rónán’s students achieved A1s. Rónán is the author of the Leaving Certificate Economics Revision textbook, and is a popular teacher amongst students due to his ability to help them relate to the subject. Rónán is known for instilling confidence in students due to his deep understanding of the syllabus and marking scheme.

The English course preparing students for Paper 1 covers three sections: Comprehension Question – Part A, Comprehension Question –Part B and Composition – The Essay.

Students have a tendency to over-focus on Paper 2 believing the myth that one can’t prepare for Paper 1. In fact, there is an increasing focus on technical knowledge which can and indeed must be prepared for. The significant time pressure element can only be overcome by being highly prepared.

The Part A questions demand that students understand and are able to analyse the 5 types of language. Clearly, students must understand what the types of language are and be equipped with the ability to comment on the effectiveness of the techniques being employed by a writer.

Part B requires that students write with a very specific purpose often within a prescribed genre. Students must be able to signal to the examiner that they understand this.

Finally, when we look at the composition we must understand that the Examiners are looking for students to demonstrate a strong technical knowledge. While a creative approach is rewarded examiners expect a strong technical knowledge. For example, when we look at writing a speech students are equipped with a comprehensive range of rhetorical devices; this is because examiners reward students who demonstrate their technical proficiency.

About the Teacher: Gavin Cowzer is regarded as a leading English teacher in this country. Having developed a passion for this subject, including obtaining a Master’s degree, Gavin’s teaching style is focused on covering the syllabus in a concise way, so that students have the tools to successfully manage the likely exam questions. His experience correcting exams gives his students an edge in a subject which is often assumed to be an art. However it is clear that there is a strict science behind doing well in the English exam and Gavin’s students will be guided by this little-known fact.

The English course preparing students for Paper 2 covers three sections: The Single Text, The Comparative and Poetry- seen and unseen.

With the single text, the focus is on Shakespeare (All higher level students must answer on Shakespeare) and on Hamlet. We look at the single text question types and work on our students’ essay writing. By being strategic in our approach our students maximise their existing knowledge. Notes are also provided for all single texts.

Teaching the comparative is an area we pride ourselves in. Students are provided with a structured approach to answering this question. Students rarely have difficulty with the content of the texts. We have found that when our students are given a framework that allows them to define the various modes of comparison this resolves a lot of the difficulties surrounding the comparative. We equip our students with the sentencing they need to excel in this section. Notes are provided for all of the more popular texts. Students can expect to receive notes on at least 2 of their 3 texts.

With unseen poetry, we focus on what the examiner expects from strong answers. This allows us to concentrate on the material that students will answer on. We equip our students with the language they need to differentiate their answers. The technical understanding developed for the unseen poetry section is then made relevant to studied poetry. Notes are provided for all eight poets. We aim to cover the 4 poets that we deem most likely to be on the exam.

About the Teacher : Gavin Cowzer is regarded as a leading English teacher in this country. Having developed a passion for this subject, including obtaining a Master’s degree, Gavin’s teaching style is focused on covering the syllabus in a concise way, so that students have the tools to successfully manage the likely exam questions. His experience correcting exams gives his students an edge in a subject which is often assumed to be an art. However, it is clear that there is a strict science behind doing well in the English exam and Gavin’s students will be guided by this little-known fact.

About the Teacher: Ciarán Hartigan has been teaching English to the highest level for over 10 years and brings an organised and methodical approach to his teaching.  Holding a Masters in Drama and Theatre Studies, he provides original insights into works of literature and couples this with practical advice on structuring responses and arguments.  Drawing on years of experience as a Leaving Certificate examiner with the State Exams Commission, he provides students with dependable techniques and strategies for success.

By the time you leave this course, you will possess a host of past and likely exam questions, including full solutions. There will be a heavy emphasis on your game plan for the exam and a focus on the Chief Examiner’s reports and marking schemes. Note: Students will also receive predictions for Leaving Certificate.

About the teacher: Katie Lenehan holds a degree in French and Spanish, and a Professional Masters in Education. Her training as a teacher was based on the most up to date education models and methodologies and is designed to ensure all students are catered for and can reach their goals in the most efficient way possible. Her knowledge of languages and linguistics, as well as teaching in some of the most prestigious schools in Dublin, will ensure that students obtain the best possible grades in their exams.

By the end of this course, you will have over 60 essays with 15 SRPs in each. You will receive a pull-out sheet at the end of each essay in which you can write your 15 SRPs using the notes and a trigger-word section. During the Easter course, you will have the five most common essays from each section of the Leaving Certificate course.

About the teacher: Tracy holds a Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Geography, a Professional Diploma in Education & Master of Education. Her passion for her subjects has been shown in her ambition to further educate herself whilst also being a full-time post-primary teacher & part-time lecturer in University College Dublin.

Tracy’s style of teaching instils confidence in her students by providing them with a well-defined understanding of the syllabus. Her teaching experience and work as a state examiner have afforded her the opportunity to have a key insight into preparing her students to achieve top marks in their final exams.

The German exam is notorious for students running out of time. This course will provide students with a strategy on how they can effectively answer certain sections, such as the heavily weighted reading comprehension section, in a time efficient manner. This will allow students more time, which they can apply to the written letter/essay section, where marks can be easily picked up.

About the Teacher : Genevieve Farrell is the head German teacher at the Dublin Academy of Education. She has 14 years experience teaching German and is the author of “Complete German Grammar” text book. Her unique style of teaching instils confidence in students, by providing them with the skills and techniques required to master the German syllabus.

The History course prioritises essential key content and the most important personalities from course topics. The course topics reviewed during Easter will help the student become more prepared for the State Exams in June. Exam strategy that promotes time-management and awareness of the marking scheme will be addressed. Also, good essay writing technique will be explained with sample essays to demonstrate how higher grades can be achieved. A concise set of notes will be provided for each course and a glossary of key terms will supplement each Case Study.

Topics Covered:

(i) Movements for Reform, 1870-1914

(ii) Sovereignty and Partition, 1912-1949

(iii) Politics and Society in Northern Ireland, 1949-1993

About the Teacher: John has 25 years experience of teaching and management in secondary schools. He has been assistant examiner for the Leaving Certificate in both History and Classical studies, which gives him an in-depth knowledge of what is required by students. He is also the publisher author of the Leaving Cert exam strategy articles in education supplements in the national express. 

The History course prioritises essential key content and the most important personalities from course topics. The course topics reviewed during Easter will help the student become more prepared for the State Exams in June. Exam strategy that promotes time-management and awareness of the marking scheme will be addressed. Also, good essay writing technique will be explained with sample essays to demonstrate how higher grades can be achieved. A concise set of notes will be provided for each course and a glossary of key terms will supplement each Case Study.

Topics Covered:

(i) Dictatorship and Democracy, 1920-1945

(ii) The United States and the World, 1945-1989

About the Teacher: John has 25 years experience of teaching and management in secondary schools. He has been assistant examiner for the Leaving Certificate in both History and Classical studies, which gives him an in-depth knowledge of what is required by students. He is also the publisher author of the Leaving Cert exam strategy articles in education supplements in the national express. 

This course will examine topics from each of the three sections on the Art History exam paper, with a focus on this years’ probable exam questions. Each student will receive notes on each topic, which will aid them in writing detailed and informed answers. Key essay writing skills and techniques will also be addressed with an emphasis on past exam questions.

About the teacher : Laura is an NCAD art education graduate that majored in fine art painting, with 16 years post-primary experience in teaching art. Laura also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership, awarded by NUI Maynooth. In her role as Dublin chairperson of the Art Teachers’ Association of Ireland (ATAI) she liaised with the national committee in relation to curriculum reform. After sitting on an advisory committee for NCAD with regards to the design of the prescribed portfolio brief, she is in a position to offer sound guidance in relation to portfolio preparation.

The crucial topics will be covered focusing on Lipids, Cereals and Vitamins. Emphasis will be placed on learning how to master Section A (short questions), along with compulsory Q1. Time will be given to current topics expected to appear on the paper in June. Exam structure, model answering techniques, layout and timing of the paper will be fundamental to the course, and improving exam grades.

About the teacher: Anna McAllister is a dedicated and passionate teacher with over 30years experience at both 2nd & 3rd level. With her vast experience she brings a organised and structured approach to teaching, ensuring the very best Leaving Certificate preparation for her students. Extensive experience correcting the Leaving Certificate provides her students with a technical and accurate approach to their preparation for answering Leaving Certificate questions.

This course will cover all aspects of paper 1 & 2. Students will receive notes on the composition, focusing on likely essay titles that could appear in Paper 1. Exam-focused notes on all parts of Paper 2 will be provided, covering the most likely questions, which could appear in June. Finally, students will be given a plan for both papers in the exam. It will focus on simple shortcuts to get a higher grade and also how to avoid the common mistakes that are made on exam day.

About the Teacher : Rónán Murdock is the author of several Irish textbooks, is an experienced Irish speaker and has taught at a Gaelscoil. He is a popular teacher amongst students because of his ability for instilling confidence in them due to his deep understanding of the syllabus and marking scheme.

By the time you leave this course you will have 550 past and likely exam questions, including fully worked solutions (equivalent to 60 exam papers). Students also receive booklets on each of the sections of the syllabus. Note: Students will also receive predictions for Leaving Certificate.

Topics:

• Algebra
• Functions and graphs
• Patterns and sequences
• number systems
• Inequalities

About the Teacher : Robert Browne has a unique ability to stimulate students’ interest and is renowned for giving students confidence they thought wasn’t there. He is a vastly experienced teacher, having taught at education workshops in Trinity College, Dublin. His experience of correcting with the State Examination Commission gives him an in-depth knowledge of what is required by students. He has appeared in the media leading discussions on Maths, syllabus content, teaching methods and exams. Robert teaches in a systematic and clear way that relates to students.

About the teacher: David’s ability to relate to students has resulted in him becoming a popular teacher at The Academy. His teaching methods are unique and are tailored to the Maths Syllabus. David is a member of the Irish Mathematics Teachers’ Association and is specialised in providing students with a clear, fundamental understanding of the syllabus. As an examination corrector in Maths, David is adept at understanding the mistakes for which students frequently lose marks.

By the time you leave this course you will have 550 past and likely exam questions, including fully worked solutions (equivalent to 60 exam papers). Students also receive booklets on each of the sections of the syllabus. Note: Students will also receive predictions for Leaving Certificate.

Topics:

• Statistics
• Probability
• The line
• Trigonometry
• Geometry
• Area and volume

About the Teacher : Robert Browne has a unique ability to stimulate students’ interest and is renowned for giving students confidence they thought wasn’t there. He is a vastly experienced teacher, having taught at education workshops in Trinity College, Dublin. His experience of correcting with the State Examination Commission gives him an in-depth knowledge of what is required by students. He has appeared in the media leading discussions on Maths, syllabus content, teaching methods and exams. Robert teaches in a systematic and clear way that relates to students.

About the teacher: David’s ability to relate to students has resulted in him becoming a popular teacher at The Academy. His teaching methods are unique and are tailored to the Maths Syllabus. David is a member of the Irish Mathematics Teachers’ Association and is specialised in providing students with a clear, fundamental understanding of the syllabus. As an examination corrector in Maths, David is adept at understanding the mistakes for which students frequently lose marks.

With Project Maths beginning to settle, predictable trends are now being identified. We will show you the shortcuts to take full advantage of this. Each student will also receive a full set of notes on each of the five strands, which will be essential to improving exam grades.

Topics covered in each section include:

Paper 1:

• Arithmetic and Money
• Algebra
• Sequences and Series
• Complex Numbers
• Calculus (differentiation)

Paper 2

• Coordinate geometry of the line
• Coordinate geometry of the circle
• Trigonometry
• Statistics
• Probability

About the Teacher : Having worked for the State Examination Commission, Carl brings his reputation as an authority on the Maths Syllabus to The Academy. As a member of the Irish Mathematics Teachers’ Association, he is a popular teacher amongst students due to his mastery of the Project Maths Syllabus, and is well-known for his ability to stimulate students’ interest in Maths.

The Easter Revision Course will focus n the 6 questions on the listening paper:

• The Beatles
• Berlioz
• Mozart
• Deane
• Irish Music
• General Aural Skills

We will also cover the 2 questions on the composition paper:

• Harmony
• Melody

About the teacher: With over 12 years post-primary teaching experience, Lorraine brings a passion for music education to her role here at Dublin Academy of Education. With a Master’s Degree in Music Performance, experience in preparing students for exams in the Royal Irish Academy of Music along with being a practical examiner for the State Exams Commission, Lorraine is well equipped in preparing students for the exam.

All attendees of this course will take away a complete and compact 100-page set of notes covering the entire course and every experiment write-up at a glance. The course will follow a proven point-grabbing path through topic selection. Bring the past papers, the Formulae and Tables booklet and your calculator to class. This course has an emphasis on streamlining study, exam-readiness and hitting the marking scheme.

About the Teacher : About the Teacher: Kieran Mills has 25 years’ experience teaching Physics. He has co-written several books including Leaving Certificate Sample Papers. Kieran has been an expert contributor on Physics on RTÉ Radio.

Topics Covered:

• Search for meaning and value
• Christianity Origins and Contemporary Expression
• World Religions
• Religion and Gender
• Exam technique and coursework

About the teacher: John has 25 years experience of teaching and management in secondary schools. He has been assistant examiner for the Leaving Certificate in both History and Classical studies, which gives him an in-depth knowledge of what is required by students. He is also the publisher author of the Leaving Cert exam strategy articles in education supplements in the national express. 

This course focuses on manipulating the exam to your advantage. Firstly, this course focuses on building an awareness of what the examiner wants and then on providing the confidence to be able to supply it. You will learn what your examiner is looking for and be given notes on all topics.

About the teacher: Katie Lenehan holds a degree in French and Spanish, and a Professional Masters in Education. Her training as a teacher was based on the most up to date education models and methodologies and is designed to ensure all students are catered for and can reach their goals in the most efficient way possible. Her knowledge of languages and linguistics, as well as teaching in some of the most prestigious schools in Dublin, will ensure that students obtain the best possible grades in their exams.