Five essential career guidance assessments designed for Senior Cycle students — course matching, apprenticeship matching, learning style, PLC options, and career exploration.
Top 5 CAO matches with full PDF booklet
Top 10 PLC matches from 1,870+ courses
Top 20 SOLAS apprenticeship matches
VARK profile with study strategies
60+ career paths with AI feedback
Secure payment • Instant access • One-time purchase
Real sample results from each assessment
Based on your comprehensive assessment, we've analyzed 830+ Irish CAO courses to find your perfect matches. These recommendations consider your interests, aptitudes, personality, and career values.
Assessment completed: 14/10/2025
In-depth career guidance analysis based on your unique profile
Visit university websites, attend open days, and speak to current students
Applications open in November for the following September entry
Work towards achieving the points needed for your preferred courses
Recommendations based on analysis of 830+ verified Irish CAO courses from universities, technological universities, and institutes of technology. Employment data from Higher Education Authority reports.
⚠️ Disclaimer: All assessments and recommendations provided by Course Compass are intended for informational and educational purposes only. Results are generated using AI and psychometric analysis, and should not be taken as definitive or professional advice. Course Compass accepts no liability for educational or career decisions made based on these results.
Matched against all 77 SOLAS-registered apprenticeships
How your preferences map across the 12 apprenticeship trait dimensions
Strongest
Precision & Detail
4.7/5
2nd Strongest
Tech Complexity
4.6/5
3rd Strongest
Safety & Regulation
4.3/5
Growth Area
Outdoor Exposure
1.8/5
AI-Generated Insight
Your exceptionally high precision & detail score (4.7) combined with strong safety awareness (4.3) makes you a natural fit for electrical work. Electricians need exactly this combination — meticulous attention to wiring specifications and strict compliance with IS 10101 safety standards. Your high tech complexity score (4.6) also means you'd thrive with modern smart-home systems, renewable energy installations, and EV charging infrastructure that are transforming this trade.
AI-Generated Insight
This is an excellent match because it combines your two strongest traits — technology complexity (4.6) and precision & detail (4.7) — in a specialised field. Electrical instrumentation involves calibrating and maintaining precision measurement systems in pharmaceutical and manufacturing plants. Your strong maths (4.2) is crucial for interpreting sensor data and control system parameters.
AI-Generated Insight
Your technology complexity score (4.6) is one of the highest we see, and paired with strong maths (4.2) and a preference for structured problem-solving (3.8), software development is a strong alternative pathway. This is one of the newer apprenticeships — only 2 years — and leads directly into a career where demand far outstrips supply in Ireland.
Your trait profile paints a clear picture: you're a precision-oriented, technology-driven learner who values safety and structured work environments. This combination is relatively rare and highly valued in Ireland's current skills landscape.
Your top cluster is firmly in the Electrical sector, where your precision (4.7), tech complexity (4.6), and safety awareness (4.3) align almost perfectly with what these trades demand. The Electrician apprenticeship scored 94% — one of the highest matches we've computed — because it requires exactly your blend of careful, detail-oriented work within strict regulatory frameworks.
The ICT sector is your strong secondary pathway. Software Development (82%) and Network Engineering (78%) leverage your tech complexity and maths scores without the physical component. If you prefer desk-based work, these 2-year apprenticeships offer faster entry to employment.
Your lower scores in outdoor exposure (1.8) and physical intensity (2.1) suggest you'd be more comfortable in controlled indoor environments — workshops, labs, server rooms, or manufacturing floors — rather than construction sites or agricultural settings.
💡 Key Recommendation
Explore both the Electrician and Software Developer apprenticeships in parallel. Attend SOLAS open days for both, and consider which work environment appeals more — workshop-based hands-on electrical work or office-based coding. Both paths offer excellent long-term career prospects and strong earning potential in Ireland.
If any of these apprenticeships interest you, these resources can help you explore further, find vacancies, and start your application.
Completed 25/01/2026
You learn best through images, diagrams, charts, and visual representations. Colour-coding, mind maps, and flowcharts are your friends.
Aoife is a strongly Visual learner with a secondary preference for Reading/Writing. She processes information most effectively through images, diagrams, and structured written notes. Her high visual score suggests she benefits greatly from colour-coding, spatial organisation, and graphic representations of information. To maximise study effectiveness, Aoife should combine her visual strengths with her reading preference by creating annotated diagrams and illustrated summaries.
You learn best through images, diagrams, charts, and visual representations. Colour-coding, mind maps, and flowcharts are your friends.
Example Study Methods
You learn best by listening — discussions, lectures, podcasts, and talking things through. Explaining concepts aloud helps you remember.
Example Study Methods
You learn best through text — reading, writing notes, making lists, and summarising information in your own words.
Example Study Methods
You learn best by doing — hands-on experiments, practice problems, building models, and real-world experiences.
Example Study Methods
You learn best by combining multiple approaches — mixing visual, auditory, reading, and hands-on methods.
Example Study Methods
Your Holland Code is AS, which means your strongest interests are Artistic and Social. You thrive when designing, performing, or creating something new. You also enjoy teaching, supporting, and working closely with people. This combination is a great foundation for finding PLC courses that match who you really are.
These PLC courses best match your interest profile. We've found the most relevant courses for you based on your RIASEC scores, showing between 6-20 matches depending on how well they align with your interests.
This course is an excellent match for your Artistic interest profile. Art, Craft & Design at Coláiste Dhúlaigh is a hands-on creative programme that lets you explore drawing, painting, sculpture, and design — all areas where your strong creative drive would shine. It also includes a group exhibition component that draws on your Social interest.
View Course & ApplyCreative Media Production matches your creative strengths in a modern, technology-focused way. You'd learn video production, audio editing, and digital storytelling — blending artistic expression with practical media skills. This is a great pathway to degrees in film, media, or digital design.
View Course & ApplyYour Social interest score (65%) makes Applied Social Studies a strong match. This programme focuses on understanding people, community development, and social care — areas where your desire to work closely with and help others would be directly applied. It's a common pathway to Social Work or Psychology degrees.
View Course & ApplyTheatre & Drama taps directly into your top Artistic interest. This course develops performance confidence, creative expression, and collaboration — all skills that transfer well to many careers beyond the stage, including teaching, communications, and media.
View Course & ApplyEarly Childhood Care & Education is a practical pathway that combines your Social interest with creative activities like art, music, and play-based learning. It leads to a recognised professional qualification that's in high demand across Ireland.
View Course & ApplyGraphic Design channels your Artistic interest into a career-focused programme. You'd develop skills in typography, layout, digital illustration, and brand design — all highly employable skills. This course commonly leads to degree programmes in Visual Communication or Design.
View Course & ApplyPLC courses (Post-Leaving Certificate) are 1–2 year programmes at NFQ Levels 5 and 6. They're offered at colleges of further education across Ireland and don't require CAO points. Many PLC courses also provide a pathway to progress into university degrees.
Click on any course above to visit the college website and learn more about applying. You can also share these results with your guidance counsellor or parents to discuss your options.
1 of 4 — Course Compass
Detailed breakdown of each assessment
~30 mins • RIASEC-based matching
Our flagship assessment matches you to your top 5 CAO courses based on the RIASEC interest framework. Includes a full PDF guidance booklet with AI-powered career pathway analysis.
Based on your comprehensive assessment, we've analyzed 830+ Irish CAO courses to find your perfect matches. These recommendations consider your interests, aptitudes, personality, and career values.
Assessment completed: 14/10/2025
In-depth career guidance analysis based on your unique profile
Visit university websites, attend open days, and speak to current students
Applications open in November for the following September entry
Work towards achieving the points needed for your preferred courses
Recommendations based on analysis of 830+ verified Irish CAO courses from universities, technological universities, and institutes of technology. Employment data from Higher Education Authority reports.
⚠️ Disclaimer: All assessments and recommendations provided by Course Compass are intended for informational and educational purposes only. Results are generated using AI and psychometric analysis, and should not be taken as definitive or professional advice. Course Compass accepts no liability for educational or career decisions made based on these results.
~14 mins • Holland Code matching
Explore Post-Leaving Certificate options from 1,870+ courses across Ireland. Uses the RIASEC framework to match your interests to PLC programmes with direct links to apply.
Your Holland Code is AS, which means your strongest interests are Artistic and Social. You thrive when designing, performing, or creating something new. You also enjoy teaching, supporting, and working closely with people. This combination is a great foundation for finding PLC courses that match who you really are.
These PLC courses best match your interest profile. We've found the most relevant courses for you based on your RIASEC scores, showing between 6-20 matches depending on how well they align with your interests.
This course is an excellent match for your Artistic interest profile. Art, Craft & Design at Coláiste Dhúlaigh is a hands-on creative programme that lets you explore drawing, painting, sculpture, and design — all areas where your strong creative drive would shine. It also includes a group exhibition component that draws on your Social interest.
View Course & ApplyCreative Media Production matches your creative strengths in a modern, technology-focused way. You'd learn video production, audio editing, and digital storytelling — blending artistic expression with practical media skills. This is a great pathway to degrees in film, media, or digital design.
View Course & ApplyYour Social interest score (65%) makes Applied Social Studies a strong match. This programme focuses on understanding people, community development, and social care — areas where your desire to work closely with and help others would be directly applied. It's a common pathway to Social Work or Psychology degrees.
View Course & ApplyTheatre & Drama taps directly into your top Artistic interest. This course develops performance confidence, creative expression, and collaboration — all skills that transfer well to many careers beyond the stage, including teaching, communications, and media.
View Course & ApplyEarly Childhood Care & Education is a practical pathway that combines your Social interest with creative activities like art, music, and play-based learning. It leads to a recognised professional qualification that's in high demand across Ireland.
View Course & ApplyGraphic Design channels your Artistic interest into a career-focused programme. You'd develop skills in typography, layout, digital illustration, and brand design — all highly employable skills. This course commonly leads to degree programmes in Visual Communication or Design.
View Course & ApplyPLC courses (Post-Leaving Certificate) are 1–2 year programmes at NFQ Levels 5 and 6. They're offered at colleges of further education across Ireland and don't require CAO points. Many PLC courses also provide a pathway to progress into university degrees.
Click on any course above to visit the college website and learn more about applying. You can also share these results with your guidance counsellor or parents to discuss your options.
~25 mins • 12-trait matching
Find your top 20 apprenticeship matches from all SOLAS-registered programmes. Uses a 12-dimension trait profile with radar chart and AI-generated explanations.
Matched against all 77 SOLAS-registered apprenticeships
How your preferences map across the 12 apprenticeship trait dimensions
Strongest
Precision & Detail
4.7/5
2nd Strongest
Tech Complexity
4.6/5
3rd Strongest
Safety & Regulation
4.3/5
Growth Area
Outdoor Exposure
1.8/5
AI-Generated Insight
Your exceptionally high precision & detail score (4.7) combined with strong safety awareness (4.3) makes you a natural fit for electrical work. Electricians need exactly this combination — meticulous attention to wiring specifications and strict compliance with IS 10101 safety standards. Your high tech complexity score (4.6) also means you'd thrive with modern smart-home systems, renewable energy installations, and EV charging infrastructure that are transforming this trade.
AI-Generated Insight
This is an excellent match because it combines your two strongest traits — technology complexity (4.6) and precision & detail (4.7) — in a specialised field. Electrical instrumentation involves calibrating and maintaining precision measurement systems in pharmaceutical and manufacturing plants. Your strong maths (4.2) is crucial for interpreting sensor data and control system parameters.
AI-Generated Insight
Your technology complexity score (4.6) is one of the highest we see, and paired with strong maths (4.2) and a preference for structured problem-solving (3.8), software development is a strong alternative pathway. This is one of the newer apprenticeships — only 2 years — and leads directly into a career where demand far outstrips supply in Ireland.
Your trait profile paints a clear picture: you're a precision-oriented, technology-driven learner who values safety and structured work environments. This combination is relatively rare and highly valued in Ireland's current skills landscape.
Your top cluster is firmly in the Electrical sector, where your precision (4.7), tech complexity (4.6), and safety awareness (4.3) align almost perfectly with what these trades demand. The Electrician apprenticeship scored 94% — one of the highest matches we've computed — because it requires exactly your blend of careful, detail-oriented work within strict regulatory frameworks.
The ICT sector is your strong secondary pathway. Software Development (82%) and Network Engineering (78%) leverage your tech complexity and maths scores without the physical component. If you prefer desk-based work, these 2-year apprenticeships offer faster entry to employment.
Your lower scores in outdoor exposure (1.8) and physical intensity (2.1) suggest you'd be more comfortable in controlled indoor environments — workshops, labs, server rooms, or manufacturing floors — rather than construction sites or agricultural settings.
💡 Key Recommendation
Explore both the Electrician and Software Developer apprenticeships in parallel. Attend SOLAS open days for both, and consider which work environment appeals more — workshop-based hands-on electrical work or office-based coding. Both paths offer excellent long-term career prospects and strong earning potential in Ireland.
If any of these apprenticeships interest you, these resources can help you explore further, find vacancies, and start your application.
Self-paced • 60+ career paths
Explore real career paths through structured research activities. Get AI-powered feedback on your answers and earn certificates for each career path you investigate.
Law & Legal
Engineering
Construction
Electrical
Agriculture
Plumbing~10 mins • VARK + Multimodal profiling
Discover your VARK learning profile with AI-generated study strategies tailored to your preferences. Includes radar chart, detailed style breakdown, and certificate.
Completed 25/01/2026
You learn best through images, diagrams, charts, and visual representations. Colour-coding, mind maps, and flowcharts are your friends.
Aoife is a strongly Visual learner with a secondary preference for Reading/Writing. She processes information most effectively through images, diagrams, and structured written notes. Her high visual score suggests she benefits greatly from colour-coding, spatial organisation, and graphic representations of information. To maximise study effectiveness, Aoife should combine her visual strengths with her reading preference by creating annotated diagrams and illustrated summaries.
You learn best through images, diagrams, charts, and visual representations. Colour-coding, mind maps, and flowcharts are your friends.
Example Study Methods
You learn best by listening — discussions, lectures, podcasts, and talking things through. Explaining concepts aloud helps you remember.
Example Study Methods
You learn best through text — reading, writing notes, making lists, and summarising information in your own words.
Example Study Methods
You learn best by doing — hands-on experiments, practice problems, building models, and real-world experiences.
Example Study Methods
You learn best by combining multiple approaches — mixing visual, auditory, reading, and hands-on methods.
Example Study Methods
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