Question 1

How many assessments are in the school package?

Accepted Answer

The school package includes 14 assessments and quizzes that a guidance counsellor can assign: 12 assessments (Course Compass, Subject Interest Profile, Learning Style Assessment, Metacognitive Awareness, Personality & Teamwork Style, Career Values & Motivation Assessment, Study Skills & Exam Readiness Profile, Digital Skills & Future Readiness, Wellbeing Reflection, Transition Ready Assessment, PLC Compass and Apprentice Compass) and 2 quizzes (CV Knowledge Quiz and ATS & CV Basics Quiz).

Question 2

How long does the assessment take?

Accepted Answer

The complete CourseCompass assessment takes approximately 50 minutes or more and includes 8 comprehensive sections: Interests (RIASEC), Aptitudes (Numerical, Spatial, Verbal, Logical, Technical), Personality (Big Five), Values, Learning Styles, Emotional Intelligence, University Preferences, and Subject Interests. Please allow enough time to finish in one sitting for the most accurate results.

Question 3

Is CourseCompass free?

Accepted Answer

CourseCompass offers flexible pricing for individual students: Subject Interest Test (€14.99), Course Compass (€34.99), or both in a Bundle (€44.99). School students receive full access through their school at no personal cost.

Question 4

What do I get with each test?

Accepted Answer

Subject Interest Test includes full subject rankings, AI summary, and certificate. Course Compass includes 13-stage assessment, personalized course matches from 1,402 Irish CAO courses, guidance booklet, AI summary, and certificate. The Bundle includes both tests at a discounted price.

Question 5

I'm part of a school – do I pay?

Accepted Answer

No. If your school provides CourseCompass, you'll receive an access code at no cost to you.

Question 6

Can I use this outside school?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Individual students can sign up directly and purchase access starting at €14.99 for the Subject Interest Test, €34.99 for Course Compass, or €44.99 for both in a Bundle.

Question 7

How many times can I take the assessment?

Accepted Answer

Each user can take the complete assessment once. This ensures fair usage and maintains data quality. The comprehensive nature of our assessment is designed to provide accurate, long-lasting insights into your career preferences and aptitudes.

Question 8

Do I need to create an account?

Accepted Answer

Yes, creating an account allows us to securely save your results, provide personalized recommendations, and give you access to our AI career chatbot. Your data is completely secure and private with enterprise-grade encryption.

Question 9

How secure is my personal data?

Accepted Answer

Your data security is our top priority. We use enterprise-grade encryption (Supabase) with bank-level security standards. Your assessment results and personal information are never shared with third parties, universities, or employers. You maintain complete control over your data and can request deletion at any time.

Question 10

Can I share my results with others?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you control who sees your results. You can choose to share your assessment results and course recommendations with parents, teachers, guidance counselors, or other trusted advisors. We provide easy-to-understand reports that can be printed or shared digitally.

Question 11

How long is my data stored?

Accepted Answer

Your assessment data is stored securely for as long as your account remains active, giving you permanent access to your results and recommendations. You can request complete data deletion at any time by contacting our support team, and we'll remove all your information within 30 days.

Question 12

Are you GDPR compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes, CourseCompass is fully GDPR compliant. We follow strict European data protection standards, provide transparent data usage policies, obtain explicit consent for data processing, and respect your rights to access, modify, or delete your personal data at any time.

Question 13

Are the assessments scientifically validated?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Our assessments are based on well-established psychological theories: RIASEC (Holland's Career Interest Theory), Big Five personality model, validated aptitude tests, multiple intelligence theory, and established learning style frameworks. All have extensive research backing their effectiveness in career guidance.

Question 14

What exactly does the assessment measure?

Accepted Answer

Our comprehensive assessment measures: (1) Career Interests using RIASEC model, (2) Aptitudes in 5 areas (Numerical, Spatial, Verbal, Logical, Technical), (3) Personality using Big Five traits, (4) Work Values and motivations, (5) Learning Styles preferences, (6) Emotional Intelligence, (7) University location and type preferences, (8) Subject-specific interests, and optionally your Leaving Certificate results for enhanced matching.

Question 15

How does the AI career analysis work?

Accepted Answer

Our AI analyzes your assessment results across all 8 dimensions and matches them against our comprehensive database of 1,402 Irish CAO courses. The AI considers RIASEC compatibility, aptitude requirements, personality fit, learning preferences, values alignment, and your university preferences to generate personalized recommendations with match percentages and detailed explanations.

Question 16

Do I need to include my Leaving Certificate results?

Accepted Answer

Leaving Certificate results are optional but highly recommended. When provided, our AI uses your grades to suggest realistic course options based on typical CAO points requirements, ensuring recommendations match both your interests and academic achievements.

Question 17

How are Irish university courses matched to my profile?

Accepted Answer

Our AI analyzes your assessment results and matches them against our database of 1,402 Irish CAO courses (NFQ Levels 6-8) from universities, institutes of technology, and colleges nationwide. The matching considers career interests, aptitude requirements, personality fit, learning preferences, subject interests, and location preferences.

Question 18

Do recommendations include CAO points and entry requirements?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Each course recommendation includes current CAO codes, typical points requirements, specific entry requirements (e.g., required subjects, portfolio requirements), course duration, NFQ level, exact location, and direct links to official university pages for detailed information.

Question 19

How current is the course information?

Accepted Answer

Our course database is updated annually before the CAO application period with the latest information from Irish universities and institutes. However, we always recommend checking official university websites for the most current details before making final decisions, as requirements can change.

Question 20

How accurate are the course matches?

Accepted Answer

Our AI provides match percentages (typically 70-95% for top recommendations) and detailed explanations for why each course suits your profile. While highly accurate for guidance, these are sophisticated recommendations rather than definitive answers - your personal interests and goals should always be the final deciding factors.

Question 21

What happens after I complete the assessment?

Accepted Answer

After completing your assessment, you'll immediately access: (1) Detailed results dashboard with personality, aptitude, and interest analysis, (2) Personalized course recommendations with match percentages, (3) Comprehensive written analysis reports, (4) Downloadable reports for sharing, and (5) Lifetime access to revisit and explore your results.

Question 22

What devices and browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

CourseCompass works on all modern devices and browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge (latest versions recommended). The platform is fully responsive and optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile use. For spatial reasoning tests, larger screens provide the best experience.

Question 23

Can I take the assessment on my phone?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our platform is fully mobile-optimized and works seamlessly on smartphones and tablets. However, for the best experience with aptitude tests (especially spatial reasoning), we recommend using a tablet or larger screen when possible.

Question 24

What if I experience technical problems?

Accepted Answer

If you encounter any technical issues, please contact our support team immediately at info@coursecompass.ie. We typically respond within 24 hours and will help resolve any problems quickly. Your assessment progress is automatically saved, so you won't lose any work.

Question 25

Can parents access their child's results?

Accepted Answer

Student privacy is paramount. Only students can access their assessment results directly. However, students can choose to share their results with parents, teachers, or guidance counselors. We provide family-friendly reports that explain results in accessible language for supporting career discussions.

Question 26

Do you offer packages for schools?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Schools receive volume-based pricing: €18 per student/year (50-149 students), €16 per student/year (150-399 students), or €14 per student/year (400+ students). All plans include full platform access for students, teacher dashboards, analytics, and administrative tools. Contact us to get started.

Question 27

What's the minimum age to use CourseCompass?

Accepted Answer

Our assessments are designed for students aged 16+ (typically 5th year and above) who are making serious career and education decisions. Younger students may find some concepts challenging, but they're welcome to participate with parental guidance and support.

Question 28

How can guidance counselors use CourseCompass?

Accepted Answer

Guidance counselors can recommend CourseCompass to students as a comprehensive career exploration tool. The detailed reports and AI analysis provide excellent starting points for career guidance conversations. We're developing professional tools specifically for counselors.

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