6th Year Weekly Grinds

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Our 6th Year Weekly Grinds are designed to help students achieve success in the 2025 Leaving Certificate exams.

Throughout the 29 weeks, our expert teachers help to develop the subject knowledge and key examination skills students need to reach their full academic potential.

 

Students can choose to study through fully interactive online and/or onsite classes, at our three Dublin locations; Leeson Street, Killester and Westmanstown. 

All students attending online classes will receive their exam-focused course notes in the post. Those attending onsite classes will receive their notes in the classroom.

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To learn more about what will be covered in each course please select from the subject list below:

Accounting (H)

The course focuses on continuous practise of likely Leaving Certificate Higher level Accounting topics, with particular emphasis on the marking scheme and how students can maximise their grades in the exam. Time is spent studying the Theory section of the course, which is essential if students hope to achieve a H1 grade in the exam. Comprehensive notes with fully worked solutions will also be provided.

Topics from:

  • Club Accounts.
  • Service Firms.
  • Farm Accounts.
  • Incomplete Records.
  • Cash Budgeting.
  • Product Costing.
  • Tabular Statements.
  • Ratio Analysis.
  • Marginal Costing.
  • Flexible Budgeting.
  • Production Budgeting.
  • Depreciation/Revaluation.
  • Control Accounts.
  • Cash Flow Statements.
  • Suspense.
  • Published Accounts.
  • Final Accounts.

 

Applied Maths (H)

The Applied Maths syllabus covers a variety of topics, designed to solve problems arising in physics, computer science, business and finance. This course explores each topic in turn by first explaining the ideas behind, and motivation for the topic at hand, as well as applications to further study and professions. More concrete problems are then tackled, and once a level of proficiency and understanding is achieved focus is shifted to exam papers.

The topics are listed below in the order they will be covered.

  • Linear Motion
  • Projectiles
  • Connected Particles
  • Collisions
  • Circular Motion
  • Networks and Graphs
  • Algorithms on Graphs
  • Project Scheduling
  • Dynamic Programming
  • Difference Equations
  • Differential Equations

Comprehensive notes will be given to students in advance of classes. They are designed not only to be followed during the first contact with a topic, but also to be an adequate revision tool after the fact. Multiple worked examples are provided, as well as questions to be worked through during class time, and optional homework to be completed after each class.

 

Biology (H)

The practical aspects of the course are examined in great detail and the reasons for various procedures are explained. Students are encouraged to participate actively in class by asking questions and taking notes. If a student cannot attend a particular class they have the option of taking that class at an alternative time of their choosing.  All notes are made available to students with genuine reasons for absences.

Topics from:

  • The Cell.
  • Osmosis.
  • Cell Division.
  • Scientific Method.
  • Flowering Plants.
  • Germination.
  • Food & Nutrition.
  • Blood.
  • Photosynthesis.
  • Water Transport.
  • Respiration.
  • Excretion.
  • Nervous System.
  • Eye & Ear.
  • Hormones.
  • Reproduction.
  • Meiosis & DNA.
  • Genetics.
  • Evolution.
  • Ecology.
  • Microbiology.
  • Skeleton.

 

Business (H)

These classes prepare students for success in the Leaving Certificate Higher Level Business exam.

The course is divided into the following seven sections:

Unit 1 – Business Laws:

  • People in Business
    Relationships between key stakeholders (investors & entrepreneurs or employers & employees).
    The Law of Contract.
  • Consumers Laws
    The Consumer Protection Act 2007.
    The Sale of Goods and the Supply of Services Act 1980.
    The relationship between retailers & consumers.
  • Industrial Relations
    Employer & employee relationships.
    Trade unions & industrial disputes.
    The LRC/WRC & the Labour Court.
    Unfair dismissal & discrimination.

Unit 2 – Enterprise:

  • Enterprise
    Characteristics & skills of entrepreneurs characteristics.
    The notion of intrapreneurship.

Unit 3 – Management:

  • Introduction to Management
    Characteristics of a manager.
    How managers and entrepreneurs differ.
  • Management Skills 1
    The skills of Leadership and Motivation.
    Delegation.
  • Management Skills 2
    The skill of Communications.
    Business documents.
    Information Communication Technology.
  • Management Activities
    Planning.
    Organising.
    Controlling.

Unit 4 – Management in Action:

  • Human Resource Management
    Six functions of a HR manager.
  • Change
    Modern business techniques and systems.
    Modern facilitating mangers.
    Strategies to introduce change into a business.
  • Taxation
    Tax calculations.
    Taxes a business must pay.
  • Insurance
    The principles of insurance & risk management.
    Types of insurance a business can use to financially protect itself.
  • Finance
    Types of short, medium & long term finances available to a business.
    Cash Flow Forecast analysis & calculations.
  • Ratios
    Calculation of six major accounting ratios.
    How to interpret the results.

Unit 5 – Marketing:

  • Identifying Opportunities
    Methods to generate new business ideas.
  • Marketing
    Market research.
    Market segmentation.
    Target markets.
    Marketing strategies.
    The marketing concept.
  • Product & Price
    First two elements of the marketing mix – Product & Price.
  • Place & Promotion
    Next two elements of the marketing mix – Promotion & Place.
  • Break Even Charts
    How to do break even calculations.
    How to draft a break even chart.
  • Expansion
    Why a firm will expand.
    Organic & inorganic methods of expansion.
  • Getting Started
    How to get money to set up your firm.
    Production options (job, batch & mass production).
    Formulating a Business Plan.

Unit 6 – The Domestic Scene:

  • Business Scene
    Primary, secondary & tertiary sectors of the economy.
  • Business Organisations
    Focus on nine organisational structures.
  • Ethics
    Business ethics.
    Business social responsibility.
  • Government & the Economy
    Government role in the economy.
    The six economic variables.
  • Community Development
    Developing urban & rural disadvantaged areas.

Unit 7 – The International Scene:

  • International Trade
    Trade.
    Balance of payments.
    Trading blocs.
    Opportunities & challenges firms face in international trade.
  • Globalisation
    The impact of globalisation on Irish firms.
    Global adaptions to the marketing mix.
    Transnational companies & their impact on economies.
  • European Union
    The benefits and challenges of the EU to Irish firms.
    EU institutions and decision making process of the EU.
    The Common Policies of the EU.

 

Chemistry (H)

This course focuses on all aspects of the Leaving Certificate Chemistry syllabus, with particular emphases on exam technique and past papers. Chemistry practicals are also discussed in detail.

Topics from:

  • Atomic Theory: History, electronic configuration, orbitals ionisation energies, trends in the periodic table, shapes of molecules, and radioactivity.
  • Stoichiometry: Calculations involving moles, molecules, grams, and volume of chemicals, limiting calculations, and Gas Laws.
  • Bonding: intramolecular bonds and intermolecular bonds.
  • Acids and Bases: Definitions, strengths, amphoteric, conjugate pairs, and salt and anion tests.
  • Volumetric Analysis/ Titrations: Acid and base titrations.
  • Volumetric Analysis/ Titrations: Redox titrations.
  • Rates of Reaction: Conditions, definitions, catalysts, and graphs.
  • Equilibrium: Factors that affect equilibrium, and calculations.
  • pH: Calculations, indicators, and graphs.
  • Organic Chemistry: Experiments, reactions, and fuels.

Please bring periodic table and calculator

 

Classical Studies (H)

The Four Strands of Study:

Strand 1. The World of Heroes: Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid.

Strand 2. Drama & Spectacle: Greek theatre, Euripides’ Medea, the Roman Games, the Circus Maximus and the Colosseum.

Strand 3. Power & Identity: Alexander the Great.

Strand 4. Gods & Humans: Greek and Roman funerary practices, Greek and Roman temples and religious festivals, philosophy in Plato’s Crito and Horace’s Odes and Epodes.

Assessment: A research essay on an aspect of the ancient world must be completed by January of 6th year. This essay is worth 20% of the final assessment. The remaining 80% comes down to a single two and a half hour exam paper.

These are the books required for both 5th & 6th years:

    1. G. Lloyd, Alexander the Great: Selections from Arrian, Cambridge University Press.
    2. Homer, The Odyssey, Penguin Classics (Must be translated by E.V. Rieu)
    3. Virgil: Selections from the Aeneid, Cambridge University Press, translated by Graham Tingay.

 

Economics (H)

Our 6th Year Economics grinds help students to develop the knowledge and critically, the flexibility, needed be successful at Higher Level by assisting them in developing a deep understanding of all aspects of the Economics course. Having a broad knowledge across the entire course is an absolute pre-requisite for success and our exam focussed classes assist students to develop that breadth of knowledge. Students will learn how to apply that knowledge to exam style questions and will become familiar with the attention to detail consistent with H1 standards. Furthermore, students are encouraged to understand and evaluate real world economic events as this is another essential component for success in both the written examination and the research project.

In addition to expert guidance on the completion of the research project, the following topics are covered:

Strand 1: What Is Economics About?

1.1 Economics as a way of thinking

1.2 The economic concepts of scarcity and choice

1.3 Economic, social and environmental sustainability

Strand 2: How Are Economic Decisions Made?

2.1 The market economy

2.2 The consumer

2.3 The firm

2.4 Government intervention in the market

Strand 3: What Can Marketers Do?

3.1 Market structures

3.2 The labour market

3.3 Market failure

Strand 4: What Is The Relationship Between Policy and Economic Performance?

4.1 National income

4.2 Fiscal policy and the budget framework

4.3 Employment and unemployment

4.4 Monetary policy and the price level

4.5 Financial sector

Strand 5: How Is The Economy Influenced By International Economics?

5.1 Economic growth and development

5.2 Globalisation

5.3 International trade and competitiveness

 

 

English (H)

This class is designed to give 6th Year students a comprehensive understanding of the coursework that is set for examination in Leaving Cert Higher Level English 2025 and to give students effective exam question answering techniques in the subject.

Topics Covered:

Paper 1

  • Explanation of the 5 prescribed language genres:
    • The Language of Argument
    • The Language of Persuasion
    • The Language of Information
    • The Language of Narration
    • The Aesthetic use of Language
  • Comprehensive analysis of past examination tasks, with focus on how to approach the Reading Comprehension Part A and Part B tasks.
  • Guidelines on the types of questions / tasks set and sample answers provided with a breakdown of the marking scheme.
  •         The Composition task is worth 25% of the final grade. Guidelines and examples will be provided on how to write an effective:
  • Personal Essay
  • Short Story
  • Discursive Essay-Speeches/Newspaper Articles etc.
  • Descriptive Essay.

Paper 2

Single Text – The single text being taught in these classes is William Shakespeare’s King Lear.

NB Significant class time will be given to the exploration of the single text.

Classes will cover:

  • Characters and their Relationships
  • Shakespeare’s effective use Dramatic Techniques to tell the story
  • A number of thematic concerns, including:
    • Blindness and ‘Seeing’/Appearance V Reality
    • Madness and Wisdom
    • Loyalty & Treachery
    • Power and ambition
    • Justice

Analysis of past questions, suggested approaches to the construction of effective LC Single Text answers plus sample answers.

 

Comparative Studies

Classes will offer guidelines on an approach to:

  • Studying effectively the Comparative element of the course
  • Writing an effective Comparative Essay
  • Past Examination Questions
  • The three prescribed modes of comparison for Leaving Cert. 2025 are:
    • Theme and Issue
    • Cultural Context
    • Vision and Viewpoint

Specific notes will be provided on a selection of prescribed comparative texts.

Poetry

Analysis of:

  • Unseen Poetry tasks, including guidelines and sample responses to past questions
  • 5 of the 8 prescribed poets will be taught in class
  • Approaching the Prescribed Poetry Question-how to structure your answer plus sample answers to past questions
  • Notes will be provided on all eight of the prescribed poets:
    • Eavan Boland
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Thomas Stearns (T.S.) Eliot
    • Gerard Manley Hopkins
    • Patrick Kavanagh
    • Derek Mahon
    • Sylvia Plath
    • Tracey K. Smith

 

French (H)

This course covers all the four competencies necessary for success in the Leaving Certificate Higher level French exam – Aural, Oral, Reading and writing. While the content is similar to the 5th year course, the complexity of material covered is designed to reflect the demands of the Leaving Certificate.

Topics from:

  • Letter writing.
  • Diary entries.
  • Abstract topics.
  • Response pieces.
  • Comprehensions (method and content).
  • Listening comprehensions.
  • Oral French.

 

Geography (H)

This course prepares students for exam success in Leaving Certificate Higher Level Geography.

Topics from:

Core Unit 1 – Physical Geography

  • Physical Geography
    Plate Tectonics.
    Earthquakes & Volcanoes.
    Folding and Faulting.
    The Rock Cycle.
    Human Interaction with the Rock Cycle.
    Weathering.
    Karst Landscapes.
    Landform Development.
    Human Interaction with Surface Processes.
  • Geographical Skills
    Map Reading
    Aerial Photograph

Core Unit 2 – Regional Geography

  • Types of Region
    Case Study – Irish Region: West of Ireland.
    Case Study – Irish Region: Greater Dublin Area.
    Case Study – Non-Irish European Region: The Paris Basin.
    Case Study – Non-Irish European Region: The Mezzogiorno.
    Case Study – Sub-Continent Regions: India, Brazil and South-West USA.
  • Geographical Skills
    Graph Interpretation.
    Statistical Interpretation.

Elective Units
Students only study one Elective Unit: Both Units will be covered. Students need only study the elective covered in their own school.

  • Human Elective
    Population Density and Distribution.
    Population Growth.
    Migration.
    Over-population.
    Urban Growth.
    Urban Land-Use.
    Urban Problems.
    Ordnance Survey Maps.
    Aerial Photographs.
  • Economic Elective
    Economic Development – Developed Economies.
    Economy and Environment.
    Impact of Globalisation.
    MNC’s.
    Sustainable Development.
    Ordnance Survey Maps.
    Aerial Photographs.

Option Units
Students only study one Option Unit. The large majority study the Geoecology Unit. Students studying other Options will be facilitated.

  • Geoecology
    Formation of Soils
    Characteristics of Soil
    Soil Processes
    Soil Types
    Human Impact on Soils
    Biomes
    Human Impact on Biomes

 

German (H)

This course helps students achieve their maximum potential in their Leaving Certificate Higher Level German exam. The classes are exam focused and homework is given throughout the year.

Topics from:

  • Oral Exam
    Exam format.
    General questions.
    Role play.
    Picture sequence /  project work.
    Option to discuss a film or novel in the oral will be covered.
  • Aural Comprehension
    Practice using CDs and authentic listening material.
    Focus on listening skills required for the test.
    Reading comprehension.
    Introduction to journalistic and literary styles of texts.
  • Writing
    Answering skills & techniques for the written exam.
    Letter writing.
    short essay.
    Opinion of issue practice.
  • Grammar
    Techniques needed for the examination.
    Formal grammar.

 

History (H)

This course is designed to help students prioritise their work that needs to be done in preparation for the Leaving Certificate Higher Level History exam in June 2025. In the first term of Sixth Year, each of the four course modules will receive attention. Students will be provided with useful exam advice and study aids to facilitate learning.  Many of the online class sessions will also feature short video clips to add to the learning experience, encourage student engagement and invite questions and discussion. Students will receive an additional study pack of sample essay answers from each of the course modules.  These answers will serve as a useful study aid as well as demonstrate to students how to manage and structure course content to create effective and high scoring essays.

The four Leaving Cert History course modules that feature are:

  • The United States and the World, 1945-1989
  • Dictatorship and Democracy, 1920-1945
  • Politics and Society in Northern Ireland, 1949-1993
  • Sovereignty and Partition, 1912-1949

 

Topics from Irish and European History

Irish History

Module 1: Politics and Society in Northern Ireland, 1949-1993.

Topics that will feature form the Northern Ireland course module will include:

  • Lord Brookeborough and the emergence of the welfare state in Northern Ireland, 1943-1963.
  • Cultural identity and symbolism in Northern Ireland.
  • Case Study: The Apprentice Boys of Derry.
  • The O’Neill era, 1963-1969.
  • Case Study: The Coleraine University controversy.
  • The Civil Rights Movement, 1967-1969.
  • The outbreak of the Troubles, the collapse of Stormont and Direct Rule, 1969-1972.
  • Case Study: The Sunningdale Agreement 1973.
  • Impact of the Troubles on Northern Ireland and political efforts that tried to establish peace.
  • The contributions of Bernadette Devlin, John Hume, Margaret Thatcher, Ian Paisley, and Seamus Heaney to Northern Irish affairs.
  • The contribution of Capt. Terence O’Neil to Northern Ireland.
  • The contribution of Brian Faulkner to Northern Ireland.
  • How the Troubles impacted on music, sport, and the arts.

Key personalities, core course content and material outside the syllabus will be analysed to give the student extra insight and understanding of these modules to aim for the higher grades in the state exams.

Throughout the year, students will gain access to data, content and personalities that often do not feature in mainstream textbooks. The students will have a stronger grasp of each course topic and a greater range of content with which to answer any exam question.

Students will also be introduced to the several core-course themes that run through each of the modules. These themes influence the frame-working of exam questions. Knowledge of these themes and how they feature throughout the various course topics will help students achieve a deeper understanding of the subject and ensure they are better prepared for the state examination.

Information and tips regarding managing content, effective writing and essay structure will be referred to throughout the year.

Students will be instructed how to address and effectively answer the compulsory documents section of the exam paper.


Module 2: Sovereignty and Partition, 1920-1949

During parts of Term 1 and most of Term 2 core course material will be revised from the Sovereignty & Partition module; the topics that will get most emphasis from this module will be taught as intended targets for the 2022 state exam paper as well as being designed to allow students gain insight into the key events and personalities from this era.

  • Unionist resistance to Home Rule, 1912-1914.
  • The 1916 Rising.
  • The rise of new Sinn Féin, 1916-1918.
  • The War of Independence.
  • Case Study: The Treaty Negotiations.
  • The contribution of Countess Markievicz, Padraig Pearse, Arthur Griffith, and Michael Collins to Irish affairs.
  • Socio-economic developments in the Irish Free State.
  • Case Study: The 1932 Eucharistic Congress.
  • Social morality in the Irish Free State.
  • Law and Order in the Irish Free State.
  • Steps to assert Irish sovereignty, 1922-1949.
  • Anglo-Irish relations, 1922-1949.
  • The path to partition, 1912-1949.
  • The role of education, the Irish language and religion in the Irish Free State.
  • The contribution of Cosgrave and de Valera to Irish affairs.
  • Case Study: The Belfast bombings, 1941 and a comparative analysis with the war experience in Dublin.

 

 European History

Module 1: The United States and the World, 1945-1989.

Topics that will feature from the USA module include:

  • The growth of the US economy after World War II.
  • How economic growth changed the way people lived.
  • The changing role of women in the USA.
  • Urban crime and poverty.
  • Background to racial conflict and tension in the United States.
  • Case Study: The Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1955-1956.
  • The contribution of Martin Luther King to US affairs and key Civil Rights legislation.
  • Black militancy, urban riots and blaxploitation.
  • Overview of US foreign policy, 1945-1961.
  • The Age of Consensus.
  • Case Study: Lyndon B. Johnson and the Vietnam War.
  • US military tactics in the Vietnam War and the impact on society.
  • The collapse of the Age of Consensus.
  • The contribution of Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson to US affairs.
  • Case Study: The Moon Landing, 1969.
  • The era of détente, 1969-1979.
  • Advances in military and information technology.
  • The Reagan era and the end of the Cold War, 1980-1989.

 

Throughout the year, students will gain access to data, content and personalities that often do not feature in mainstream textbooks. The students will have a stronger grasp of each course topic and a greater range of content with which to answer any exam question.

Students will also be introduced to the several core-course themes that run through each of the modules. These themes influence the frame-working of exam questions. Knowledge of these themes and how they feature throughout the various course topics will help students achieve a deeper understanding of the subject and ensure they are better prepared for the state examination.

Information and tips regarding managing content, effective writing and essay structure will be referred to throughout the year.

Students will be instructed how to address and effectively answer the compulsory documents section of the exam paper.

 

Module 2: Dictatorship and Democracy, 1920-1945. (Compulsory Documents Case Study Section for the 2025 Leaving Certificate exam)

Emphasis will be given to the three document case studies. Other areas of the course will also feature to enable the student to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of events that influenced each of the case study topics.

 

  • The Rise of Hitler, his totalitarian regime, and life in Nazi Germany.
  • Nazi Propaganda.
  • Case Study: The Nuremberg Rallies.
  • The characteristics of fascism.
  • Britain between the Wars.
  • Case Study: The Jarrow March
  • Stalin’s Russia – ‘Fear and Transformation’.
  • Case Study: Stalin’s Show Trials.
  • Propaganda in Stalin’s Russia.

 

Over the course of the year, students will also be coached in how to address and answer the DBQ section of the exam paper. They will also have the marking scheme for this section of the exam paper explained to them.

Sample answers will also be provided to aid the students in their study and understanding of the Documents section of the exam.

 

Home Economics (H)

This course covers the theory section using very precise notes. Past exam questions linked to the area being studied are analysed, providing a valuable insight into how the marking scheme is applied.

Topics covered include :

FOOD STUDIES 

  • Nutrients
  • Analysis of tables/charts for Question 1.B
  • Food groups
  • Food Additives
  • Food Spoilage
  • Preservation
  • Microbiology
  • Food Processing/Packaging /Labelling
  • Special Diets

HOME MANAGEMENT 

  • Textiles
  • Consumer Studies
  • Finance topics
  • Household Technology
  • Resource Management

SOCIAL STUDIES (CORE)

  • Marriage
  • Family Law
  • Sociology Terms
  • Other topics if time allows

There will be an emphasis on exam technique and  marking schemes throughout the programme.

 

Irish (H)

These classes cover all areas of the Leaving Certificate Higher level Irish exam.

Students receive sample answers in all areas of Poetry and Prose, with significant emphasis on exam technique. Weekly emphasis on the Oral and Aural sections, which cover 50% of the entire exam, is also included.

Topics from:

  • Aiste   Díosóireacht   Scéal   Oráid
  • Gramadach
  • Léamhthuiscint
  • Filíocht
  • Prós
  • An Triail
  • Filíocht bhreise
  • Cluastuiscint

 

Maths (H)

The course covers all the essential methods, formulae and procedures required for success in the Leaving Certificate Higher Level Maths papers. Comprehensive notes are provided on a weekly basis, with fully worked solutions.

Topics from:

  • Numbers & Algebra.
  • Algebra.
  • Algebra & Functions.
  • Algebra & Graphs.
  • Algebra: Powers and Logs.
  • Geometry.
  • Geometry: Constructions.
  • Trigonometry.
  • Co-ordinate Geometry.
  • Probability.
  • Differentiation.
  • Sequences & Series.
  • Financial Maths.
  • Complex Numbers.
  • Integration.
  • Statistics.
  • Inferential Statistics.

Please bring log tables and calculator

 

Maths (O)

This course covers the essential methods, formulae and procedures required for success in the Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level Maths exam.

Paper 1 – Topics from:

  • Algebra.
  • Complex numbers.
  • Calculus (Differentation).
  • Number Patterns.
  • Financial Maths.

Paper 2 – Topics from:

  • Coordinate Geometry of the Line.
  • Coordinate Geometry of the Circle.
  • Trigonometry.
  • Probability.
  • Statistics.

 

Physics (H)

These classes cover all material on the Leaving Certificate Higher Level Physics syllabus. Strong emphasis is placed on the exam and past paper questions. Classes are taught in a friendly, relaxed and structured manner that is conducive to understanding the principles of physics. Detailed, accessible notes are provided on all topics, and fully worded solutions are provided for all past paper questions dating back to 2002, the first year that the present syllabus was examined.

Topics from:

  • Mechanics 1
    Linear motion.
    Newton’s laws.
  • Mechanics 2
    Moments.
    Circular motion.
    Planetary motion.
    S.H.M.
  • Sound and Waves
    Doppler Effect.
    Standing waves.
    Sound intensity.
  • Light
    Reflection.
    Refraction.
    Diffraction.
  • Electricity 1
    Nature of charge.
    Coulomb’s law.
    Capacitance.
  • Electricity 2
    Resistivity.
    Resistance.
    Conductivity.
    Semiconductors.
  • Heat and temperature
    Thermometers.
    S.H.C.
    Latent heat.
  • Electromagnetism
    Magnets.
    Electromagnetic induction.
  • Modern Physics
    Photoelectric effect.
    X-rays.
    Radioactivity.
    Nuclear energy.
  • Particle physics
    Cockcroft and Walton.
    Mass-energy.
    Quarks.
  • Exam Focus
    How to study physics.
    How to prepare for the exam.
    How to correctly read exam questions.
    How to “answer what is asked”.

Please bring log tables, past papers and calculator

 

Politics & Society (H)

This course operates in a manner that places more responsibility on its students to engage with content and concepts than a traditional ‘grinds’ environment. Central to its specifications are the theories of 16 Key Thinkers, who range from political philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Karl Marx, to modern Feminist thinkers such as Sylvia Walby and Martha Nussbaum.

Handling supporting data (Section B, the “Data-Based Question”) and integrating relevant contemporary case studies from home and abroad into Section C (“Discursive Essays) form the backbone of the course content covered in these grinds. This is supplemented by a detailed examination of national, international, and supranational institutions, treaties, and Non-Governmental Organizations.

The course explores four interconnected strands thought the 29 weeks:

  • Power & Decision Making
  • Human Rights & Responsibilities
  • Globalisation and Localisation
  • Active Citizenship.*

*In addition to traditionally examined materials, the subject also includes an “Active Citizenship Project” worth 20% of the students’ final grade. Given the very wide range of possible topics that students investigate in this process, this revision course offers guidance on the projects, such as layout, focus and drafting of each section, and clear engagement with the marking scheme, but the projects will not be undertaken within this structure.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

***Any students undertaking Politics and Society as a subject outside their normal timetables school subjects must ensure that they have a cooperating teacher in their own school who will be in a position to “sign-off” on their Citizenship Project and verify that it has been completed by the student. They must also ensure that they have informed their school principal that they intend to sit the exam and that their school exam centre will be in a position to facilitate this.***

 

Spanish (H)

This course prepares students for success in the Leaving Certificate Higher Level Spanish exam. Initial emphasis is placed on developing grammar skills. Once this important foundation has been established, students then practice with past papers and learn strategies to maximize their marks in the Oral, Aural, Reading and Written sections.

Topics from:

  • General overview of the exam paper.
  • Key grammar points
    – Verbs: present, future, conditional, 3 past tenses, subjunctive, imperative and gerund
    – Some special verbs: gustar, ser and estar
    – Pronouns
  • Reading Comprehension
    – Exam techniques and vocabulary from past papers.
  • Writing
    – Opinion piece (Structure, topics, vocabulary, idiomatic expressions…)
    – Writing techniques for Diary entries and Notes.
    – Sentence building. Work on common errors.
  • Listening comprehension
    – Vocabulary from past papers
    – Vocabulary for the weather report
    – Strategies to maximise marks
  • Oral
    – Understanding the oral exam.
    – Interview. Expanding on common topics.
    – Sample answers.
    – Role-plays

Below are the timetables for each of our weekly grinds locations for the Academic Year 2024/25.

NOTE: All classes are 75 minutes in duration.

*Students may join at any stage throughout the year, subject to availability.

Weekly schedule

WeekWeek CommencingNote
12nd Sept 2024First Week
29th Sept 2024
316th Sept 2024
423rd Sept 2024
530th Sept 2024
67th Oct 2024
714th Oct 2024
821st Oct 2024
No Classes30th Oct 2024Mid-Term
94th Nov 2024
1011th Nov 2024
1118th Nov 2024
1225th Nov 2024
132nd Dec 2024
149th Dec 2024
No Classes16th Dec 2024Christmas
No Classes23rd Dec 2024Christmas
No Classes30th Dec 2024Christmas
156th Jan 2025
1613th Jan 2025
1720th Jan 2025
1827th Jan 2025
193rd Feb 2025St. Brigid's Bank Holiday, Classes as normal this week, including Bank Holiday Monday 3rd February 2025
2010th Feb 2025
No Classes17th Feb 2025February Mid Term
2124th Feb 2025
223rd March 2025
2310th March 2025
No Classes17th March 2025St Patrick's Week
2424th March 2025
2531st March 2025
267th April 2025
No Classes14th April 2025Easter Break
No Classes21st April 2025Easter Break
2728th April 2025
285th May 2025**May Bank Holiday. No classes Mon 5th May. Classes as normal Tuesday 6th to Saturday 10th May.
2912th May 2025

*Classes will be taught on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd Feb ’25.
**Classes will not be taught on Bank Monday 5th May’25. These classes will be taught on Monday 19th May’25.

 

Online Timetable

DayTimeSubject
Monday17:30Biology (Higher)
17:30Chemistry (Higher)
17:30 English (Higher)
17:30German (Higher)
17:30Irish (Higher)
17:30Maths (Higher)
19:00Classical Studies (Higher)
19:00Irish (Higher)
19:00Applied Maths (Higher)
19:00Physics (Higher)
Tuesday17:30Business (Higher)
17:30 English (Higher)
17:30French (Higher)
17:30Maths (Higher)
19:00Biology (Higher)
19:00French (Higher)
19:00Irish (Higher)
19:00Physics (Higher)
19:00Spanish (Higher)
19:00Chemistry (Higher)
Wednesday 17:30Economics (Higher)
17:30English (Higher)
17:30Geography (Higher)
17:30Irish (Higher)
17:30Maths (Higher)
19:00Accounting (Higher)
19:00Home Economics (Higher)
19:00Spanish (Higher)
19:00Biology (Higher)
Thursday17:30History (Higher)
17:30Maths (Ordinary)
19:00Biology (Higher)
19:00Chemistry (Higher)
19:00English (Higher)
19:00Irish (Higher)
19:00Maths (Higher)
19:00Politics & Society (Higher)
Friday17:30Biology (Higher)
17:30Chemistry (Higher)
17:30English (Higher)
17:30Maths (Higher)
Saturday09:00Biology (Higher)
09:00English (Higher)
10:30English (Higher)
10:30Maths (Higher)
10:30Irish (Higher)
12:00Politics & Society (Higher)

 

Leeson Street Timetable

DayTimeSubject
Saturday9:00Accounting (Higher)
9:00Biology (Higher)
9:00Chemistry (Higher)
9:00English (Higher)
9:00German (Higher)
9:00History (Higher)
9:00Irish (Higher)
9:00Maths (Higher)
9:00Maths (Ordinary)
9:00Physics (Higher)
9:00Spanish (Higher)
Saturday10:30Applied Maths (Higher)
10:30Biology (Higher)
10:30Chemistry (Higher)
10:30Economics (Higher)
10:30English (Higher)
10:30French (Higher)
10:30Geography (Higher)
10:30History (Higher)
10:30Irish (Higher)
10:30Maths (Higher)
10:30Maths (Ordinary)
10:30Physics (Higher)
Saturday12:00Biology (Higher)
12:00Business (Higher)
12:00English (Higher)
12:00French (Higher)
12:00Maths (Higher)
12:00Maths (Ordinary)
12:00Spanish (Higher)

 

Killester Timetable

DayTimeSubject
Tuesday17:30Maths (Higher)
17:30English (Higher)
Tuesday19:00Irish (Higher)

 

Westmanstown Timetable

DayTimeSubject
Monday17:30English (Higher)
17:30Maths (Higher)
19:00Irish (Higher)

Number of SubjectsPay In FullInstallment Plan Payment 1Installment Plan Payment 2Total Installment Price
1 Subject€1,195€770€545€1,315
2 Subjects€2,055€1,325€935€2,260
3 Subjects€2,665€1,720€1,210€2,930
4 Subjects€3,280€2,115€1,495€3,610
5 Subjects€3,895€2,510€1,775€4,285
6 Subjects€4,505€2,905€2,050€4,955
7 Subjects€5,120€3,300€2,330€5,630
Each Subsequent Subject€615€395€280€675

Onsite and online fees are the same.

All students joining our weekly classes will receive access to recordings of all the classes for which they have enrolled.  In addition, they will have access to recordings of the classes that have already taken place since the start of the course. This is an invaluable aid when it comes to revision. Class recordings are available to the end of State Exams 2025.

Please note:

  • Card payments accepted.
  • 10% reduction for the second and subsequent members of the same family, attending the same courses. Please contact our office to avail of this discount.
  • Fees are non-transferable.
  • Installment plan payment 2 is due week of 20th January 2025

Onsite Classes 

 

Q: What subjects are available in Leeson Street/Killester/Westmanstown?

A: Please click here to view the timetable of subjects on offer at Leeson Street/Killester/Westmanstown.

 

Q: If I enrol in a class in Leeson Street, can I also avail of classes online or in Killester/Westmanstown?

A: Yes, you can enrol in a combination of online and onsite classes. However, a student can only attend the classes they are enrolled in.

 

Q: Are my onsite classes recorded?

A:  Yes, All classes, whether online or onsite, are recorded and available to students to watch back online for revision. All students will be sent login details for our student platform; Moodle, where they can watch back any of their classes.

 

Q: Are the class notes available online?

A: Yes. A soft copy is available on the Moodle Course page for each class booked. In addition, if you are attending a class onsite, class notes will be provided to you in the classroom. If you are attending an online class, class notes will be posted directly to you. Please ensure you include your Eircode when registering to ensure notes are posted to the correct location.

 

Q: If I am doing weekly grinds, can I change my choice of subject or class-time during the year?

A: Yes.  We will allow class changes up to Easter, subject to available places. Please contact our office to arrange changes on 01 661 3511.

 

Q: How long is each weekly grinds class?

A: Each class lasts 75 minutes.

 

Q: How much is the fee per subject?

A: This depends on the number of subjects taken. Please refer to the fees table to see a list of fees.

 

Q: Can I cancel my classes and get a refund?

A: Yes, though please note: Classes are taught for 29 weeks. A refund (or partial refund) can be given for requests made before Week 15, 8th January 2024. A request for a refund can be made by contacting our office on 01 6613511 or helpdesk@instituteofeducation.ie

 

Q: How many weeks of tuition are there in the weekly grinds course?

A: There are 29 weeks (29 classes) of tuition between September and May. Students will have one class per subject booked per week.

 

Q: If I start weekly grinds later in the year, will this be reflected in the fees I pay?

A: Yes, fees are reduced 3 times throughout the year. The website will always show the most up-to-date pricing.

 

Q: Is attendance at weekly grinds and part-time courses monitored?

A: Yes, students are required to sign a roll sheet at each class they attend. The Institute however accepts no responsibility for students who fail to attend class.

 

Q: Are there any breaks or holidays during the year for students attending weekly grinds or part-time courses?

A: Yes, the classes schedule generally follows the normal school calendar with breaks at mid-terms, Christmas & Easter.  Please refer to the timetable for more details

 

Q: Can part-time students take up an extra subject or a subject that is not available to them in their own school?

A: Yes, with consideration being given to the suitability of the subject. It is advisable that a student only takes on a new subject at the start of the academic year and notify their teacher. Our 6th year program covers each subject in full. Please note that our classes cover the theory of the curriculum and do not carry out any practicals.

 

Q: What subjects would you recommend to take on as an extra subject?

A: The most popular subjects would be: Accounting, Agricultural Science, Applied Maths, Business, Classical Studies, Economics,  and Politics and Society.

 

Q: Are the classes conducted ‘lecture style’ or are students free to ask questions?

A: Our classes are run in more lecture style than most students might be used to in school. However they are also interactive and our teachers use a variety of methods to ensure that students can ask questions and contribute to the class.

 

Q: For weekly grinds, does the beginning of a new term mean the start of a new course?

A: No, in the weekly classes each subject commences in September and runs through to the end of the academic year in May. Students can catch up on what they have missed by reviewing the previous class recordings and notes.

 

Q: If I want to join weekly grinds during the year, can you tell me what remains to be covered on the course and what the student has missed?

A: Teachers have their own individual teaching plan for the year, and should be able to advise on this.

 

Q: My son/daughter cannot attended the course. Can we buy the notes?

A: No. Teaching is a central part of all our courses. The notes are to facilitate recall and revision of the day’s work covered by the teacher.

Online Weekly Grinds

 

Q: What subjects are available Online?

A: Please click here to view the timetable of subjects on offer online.

 

Q: If I enrol in an online class, can I also avail of onsite classes?

A: Yes, you can enrol in other classes at Leeson Street/Killester/Westmanstown/Malahide. Click here for details.

 

Q: How do I access my online grinds classes?

A: Students enrolled on the course will receive an email from us containing their unique login details and links to access their chosen subjects. Login credentials will be sent in advance of course start date. Only those details sent to you will enable you to successfully access classes online.

 

Q: How are the online grinds hosted?

A: All online classes are hosted live on Microsoft Teams. The links to the weekly classes are accessed via Moodle. Students must sign into both Moodle and MS Teams with the @instituteofeducation.ie login credentials sent to the student.

 

Q: Are the online grinds pre-recorded?

A: No, each online grinds class is streamed live as per the timetable. Recordings of classes will be available after each live class is completed. These can then be replayed as a revision aid.

 

Q: Will I have access to recordings of the live grinds classes?

A: Yes, recordings of classes will be available after each live class is completed. These can then be replayed as a revision aid. These will be available up until the end of the State exams 2024.

 

Q: Are there any specific requirements to attending online grinds?

A: We would advise that all students enrolling in our online grinds have the following:
• Access to a reliable wifi service.
• Access to a PC, Laptop, Tablet, or similar device.
• We would not recommend using a mobile phone.
• Headphones/earphones.

 

Q: Are the class notes available online?

A: Yes. A soft copy is available on the Moodle Course page for each class booked. In addition, if you are attending a class onsite, class notes will be provided to you in the classroom. If you are attending an online class, class notes will be posted directly to you. Please ensure you include your Eircode when registering to ensure notes are posted to the correct location.

 

Q: What style are the classes conducted in? Can students ask questions?

A: Our classes run in a more lecture style than most students might be used to in school, but they are also interactive, and teachers will use a variety of methods to ensure that students can learn and understand and feel comfortable asking questions and contributing to the class.

Weekly Grinds Locations

Our Weekly Grinds courses are available in multiple locations across Dublin and also as Online Classes. For more information please select a location below.

The Institute of Education
79 – 85 Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
D02 PX56

Leeson Street Location

St. Mary’s Holy Faith School
Brookwood Meadow,
Killester,
Dublin 5,
D05 K588

Killester Location

Westmanstown Sports & Conference Centre
Westmanstown,
Dublin 15,
D15 Y2DH

Westmanstown Location

Can’t make it to our onsite locations?

Join our Online Weekly Grinds classes. Get the additional support you need with our fully interactive LIVE classes.

Please note:

Login details for online classes will be issued to students by email before the start of the course.

Testimonials