The viewing of examination scripts and the examinations appeals processes are there so that you can see exactly how your work was marked and so that you can have an opportunity to make an appeal if you think there has been a mistake.
Candidate Information Guide to Results and Appeals - State Examinations Commission
Every candidate can use the Leaving Cert appeals process to have their exam results reviewed or corrected. You might be a few marks from your dream course or want peace of mind. Either way, here's what you need to know about the whole process.
Understanding the Leaving Cert Appeals Process
Before we go through how to appeal Leaving Cert results, you should be aware of what the appeals process actually involves and whether it's even worth doing. Thousands of students check their grades every year after they receive their Leaving Certificate results in August. If you feel something isn't right, you can request a review from the State Examinations Commission (SEC).
The Leaving Cert appeals process ensures that every exam script is marked in accordance with the official mark scheme. This isn't just about questioning the examiner's opinion; it's about checking for clerical errors that may have affected your grades, even for passing grades. Since appeals are handled independently, you can trust that your paper will be reviewed by someone who wasn't involved in the original marking.
What the Appeals Process Covers
Most written subjects in the Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert Applied programmes can have their grades appealed. Certain components, like orals, practicals, and coursework, can also be appealed, too.
- ✔️ You can appeal written scripts, marking totals, and calculation errors in exam results.
- ✔️ You can view your scripts before applying for an appeal to understand where marks were lost.
- ❌ You cannot appeal grades that were awarded through school-based assessment or teacher-estimated processes from past years.
- ❌ You cannot argue that your answer “deserved more marks” unless there was an error applying the marking scheme.
The appeals system was designed to ensure fairness and transparency for all candidates. Because human examiners complete marking, a small percentage of scripts can contain marking or totalling errors. The SEC allows appeals so that:
- All students can verify their exam results.
- Mistakes in marking or calculation can be corrected.
- Candidates can gain confidence that their results are accurate and independently verified.
Step-by-Step: How to Appeal Leaving Cert Results
The appeals process is handled entirely through the Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) on the State Examinations Commission website. Remember that each stage has a tight deadline.
Step 1: View Your Exam Scripts
Before you submit an appeal, you should carefully review the exam paper that produced the grades. Sometimes a disappointing result may simply be down to it being a difficult Leaving Cert subject. You want to see whether or not the Leaving Cert appeal will be worthwhile. What to look for when viewing scripts:
If you notice something that looks wrong, record every detail: the subject, the question number, and the mark discrepancy. You cannot change the script, but these notes will help you when applying.
Step 2: Decide Whether to Appeal
Once you've reviewed your script, consider whether an appeal is worth pursuing. It can obviously feel disheartening to not get the grades you were looking for, especially if you felt it was an easy subject, but that doesn't always mean that your script is wrong. Ask yourself the following questions:
Step 3: Apply for the Appeal Online
Applications open on the Candidate Self Service Portal shortly after the viewing sessions. Once you've decided to appeal your Leaving Cert result, you can proceed online. Here's how you do it.
Step 4: Wait for the Independent Re-mark
Your Leaving Cert script will be sent to a different examiner. They will be completely independent of the first marker. They will re-mark it using the official mark scheme to ensure fairness. The possible outcomes are:
- Upgrade – Your grade increases, and your fee is refunded.
- No change – The mark remains the same.
- Downgrade – Extremely rare, but possible if an original error favoured you.
of grades are upgraded. However, remember that the remaining 75% remains unchanged.
Step 5: Review Your Final Result and Next Steps
If your grade improves after the appeal, your CAO points will be recalculated. After that, the result will be automatically sent to the CAO. This may result in a new or upgraded offer.
Key Deadlines and Reminders
appeals were upgraded in 2023.
What Happens After You Appeal
After you've submitted your application through the Candidate Self Service Portal, your work is done. The rest of the process will be handled by the State Examinations Commission (SEC). The re-marking process is as follows:
- Reviews your entire paper, question by question.
- Checks that marks were awarded consistently and added correctly.
- Applies the official marking scheme published by the SEC.
- Note any differences or corrections in the marks awarded.
When Will Leaving Cert Appeal Results Be Released?
If you're waiting on CAO offers for a place on a course, it can feel like an age before you get your appeal results. Generally, the SEC aims to have all appeals reviewed and the results issued before the end of September. This means that updated grades will be fed into the CAO system before second-round offers close.
When appeal results are ready, you'll get an email notification. You can view your revised grades in the Candidate Self Service Portal. Your fee is refunded automatically if your grades improve, and if your new points qualify for a higher-preference course, you may receive an upgraded offer in the following CAO round.
Key Dates to Watch
Keep an eye on these general markers each year (exact dates vary slightly):
Mid-August
Leaving Cert results available.
Late August
Script-viewing window opens.
Early September
Appeals close.
Late September
Appeal results released; CAO Round 2/3 offers issued.
How Appeals Affect CAO Offers and College Places
Most students who choose to appeal their Leaving Cert results are seeking the extra points they need for their preferred CAO course, especially if their points feel below average. Since the appeals process overlaps with college offer rounds. You should always accept your existing offer first, since you can always move to a higher course later if the appeal results in a points increase.
If your upgraded result arrives after all rounds close, contact your college’s admissions office. Many universities in Ireland allow successful appeal candidates to defer entry to the next academic year if the results arrive too late for admission.
Example Scenarios
Example 1
A student needed 510 points for Psychology at UCD but achieved 508. After appealing Higher Level Biology, the grade rose from H3 to H2 (+13 points), pushing the total to 521, enough to qualify for the offer in the next round.
Example 2
Another candidate appealed to two subjects but received no upgrades. Their CAO place in a Level 8 Science course remained secure, and the €80 appeal fees were not refunded.
Key Reminders
Top Tips Before You Submit an Appeal
Double-check everything before you submit an appeal. You want to avoid mistakes, save time, and make sure you're using the process effectively. Failing a subject (though not technically possible) isn't a reason in itself to appeal.
Focus your appeal on subjects where you’re within a few marks of the next grade or where you can identify clear inconsistencies. A focused, evidence-based appeal has the best chance of success.
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