Login Logáil
Articles Ailteanna

Back to Articles

Leaving Cert Grades and Points

Irish Leaving Certificate Examination Grades & Points

New examination grade levels will be in place from 2017 onwards. Under the new system, the percentage grade acheived in a Leaving Certificate exam paper will be valued as follows:





NEW COMMON POINTS SCALE 2017

The Common Points Scale (CPS), used by the CAO to determine entry into higher education institutions, has also been revised. The table below shows the CAO points values for use from 2017 onwards:

 

Bonus Points for Maths

25 Bonus points will be added to the points score for Leaving Certificate Higher Level Maths.

  • Students achieving a grade H6 or higher will have 25 Bonus Points added to their total score for Honours Maths - the grade itself does not change.
  • No bonus points are given for H7 in Honours Maths, or for any Ordinary Level Maths grade.

NOTE: The 25 Bonus points for Honours Maths are not counted unless Maths (following the addition of the bonus points) is included in the top six subjects counted for the purpose of calculating CAO points.

Example:

7 Subjects taken

Level

Grade

LC Score

Irish

Higher

H2

88

English

Ordinary

O2

46

Maths

Higher

H5

56+ 25 = 81

French

Higher

H6

46

Biology

Higher

H3

77

Geography

Ordinary

O3

37

History

Higher

H5

56

Best 6 Scores shown in BOLD

Total Points = 394

Source: CAO Handbook 2017

 

Foundation Level Grade

Points

F1

20

F2

12

 

Points for Foundation level Mathematics will be awarded by certain institutions. Applicants should refer to the literature available from each HEI for full details.

 

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme 

LCVP Grade

Points

Distinction

66

Merit

46

Merit

38

 

All HEIs award points for results in Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules, in place of a sixth Leaving Certificate subject. However, not all HEIs count LCVP as meeting eligibility requirements in regard to passing subjects. Applicants should refer to HEI literature for full details.

 

Accompanying conditions:

  1. The six best results, in recognised subjects, in one Leaving Certificate Examination will be counted for points computation.
  2. One sitting only of the Leaving Certificate Examination will be counted for points purposes.
  3. In the case of certain subjects, e.g. Home Economics (General), Foundation Level Mathematics or Foundation Level Irish, some HEIs may not award the points shown above. If in any doubt, check with the Admissions Office of the appropriate HEIs..
  4. Remember, you must first meet the minimum entry requirements in order to be considered for entry to a course. The bonus points are included in the overall points calculation only when Mathematics is one of the applicant's best six subjects following the addition of the bonus.