The Leaving Certificate is essential for students going from secondary school into further education in Ireland. Its standardised grading and points system means exam results are converted into CAO points. These points determine eligibility for university and college courses. Let's explore how it all works.
How the Leaving Cert Grading and CAO Points System Works
The Irish Leaving Certificate (Leaving Cert) is the final set of exams that secondary school students will take. They'll study for their Leaving Cert during the last two years at secondary school. Students can take Higher Level (HL) or Ordinary Level (OL) papers for the subjects they choose.
students sit the Leaving Cert examinations each year in Ireland
Upon completion of their exams, they receive grades that translate into points. These points allow university admissions to compare students and determine whether they're eligible for certain undergraduate degree programs.
Since the point system is standardised across Ireland, it allows universities to select students objectively. The points system is also used by Irish educational authorities and policymakers to allocate resources to different schools and areas. Students may have a few questions about the system and how it works. Lucky for you, we'll be going through everything you need to know in this article.
Leaving Cert grades are the results students receive after completing their final secondary school examinations in Ireland. Each exam is assessed using a percentage-based grading scale, which places students into bands such as H1 to H8 for Higher Level papers and O1 to O8 for Ordinary Level papers.
These grades form the foundation of the Leaving Cert grading system, as they are later converted into CAO points for university and college applications.
The Leaving Cert Grading System Introduced in 2017
From 1992 to 2016, the Leaving Cert had a slightly different points system. The grading scale went as follows:
- A1
- A2
- B1
- B2
- B3
- C1
- C2
- C3
- D1
- D2
- D3
- E
grading bands across Higher and Ordinary levels
In 2017, a new Leaving Cert system was introduced following an agreement among universities, institutes of technology, and the Department of Education and Skills. Previously, the old system had 14 bands. There are now 8 bands across two levels. The two levels are higher (H) and ordinary (O).
The Leaving Cert grading system was introduced in 2017 to replace the older A1–E scale. It applies across all subjects and uses a consistent percentage range to award grades at both Higher and Ordinary levels.
This standardised LC grading system helps ensure fairness across written examinations taken by students nationwide, regardless of subject or school.
These bands are based on the percentage a student gets on an exam: 90-100% is H1/O1, down to any score under 30%, which is given as H8/O8. Higher and Ordinary papers are not worth the same number of points. The best possible band achieved for an ordinary paper (O1) is the equivalent of a higher paper grade H5.
Students can choose to sit most Leaving Cert subjects at either Higher Level or Ordinary Level, depending on their ability, confidence, and course requirements. Higher Level papers are more demanding and are awarded more CAO points for the same percentage score.
For example, the highest Ordinary Level grade (O1) is equivalent in points to a mid-range Higher Level grade, which is why students aiming for competitive university courses often choose Higher Level subjects where possible.
Students applying to universities with a Leaving Cert from this time won't have the same number of points as if they'd done the Leaving Cert after this time. Still, their applications will also be understood to be using the older system.
Higher Level (HL)
- More challenging examination papers
- Wider curriculum coverage and deeper assessment
- Higher CAO points awarded for the same percentage score
- Required for many competitive university courses
- Eligible for bonus points in Higher Level Mathematics
Ordinary Level (OL)
- Less demanding exam papers
- More accessible syllabus for many students
- Lower maximum CAO points awarded
- Suitable for courses with lower points requirements
- No bonus points available for Mathematics
Maths Bonus Points Explained
For both systems, Higher Level Mathematics (HL) can be awarded bonus points. For the newer system, a student who earns H6 or above receives 25 additional points.
This is on top of the points that they would get for such a grade in maths.
Leaving Cert Points Table
| Higher Level Grade | Points | Ordinary Level Grade | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| H1 | 100 | ||
| H2 | 88 | ||
| H3 | 77 | ||
| H4 | 66 | ||
| H5 | 56 | O1 | 56 |
| H6 | 46 | O2 | 46 |
| H7 | 37 | O3 | 37 |
| H8 | 0 | O4 | 28 |
| O5 | 20 | ||
| O6 | 12 | ||
| O7 | 0 | ||
| O8 | 0 |
Which Leaving Cert Subjects Count for CAO Points?
Upon completion of the Leaving Cert, students receive their grades and, subsequently, their points. The points for university applications only take into account a student's best six subjects. This means that the maximum possible points are either 600 or 625 if a student takes Higher Level Mathematics. Generally, a student who is likely to gain 600 would probably be encouraged to take Higher Level Maths as well.
The maximum Leaving Cert points a student can achieve is 625. This is calculated using the best six subjects, including bonus points for Higher Level Mathematics if the required grade is achieved.
Without Higher Level Maths bonus points, the maximum score is 600 points. This points cap applies across the CAO system and is used when assessing eligibility for third-level education programmes.
At Leaving Cert, the three compulsory subjects are Maths, English, and Irish, though there are sometimes exceptions for the latter. Certain schools may also make other subjects compulsory.
including maths bonus points
Is There a Pass Mark for the Leaving Cert?
For the Irish Leaving Cert, there's not really a pass-or-fail system in place. As you've seen, there are points for the various bands from H1 to H8 and O1 to O8. In the cases of H8, O7, and O8, no points are awarded. Rather than pass or fail, what you could consider a pass or fail would be the number of points you need for your desired course.
Again, not achieving the required number of points isn't necessarily a failure, and there may still be other options available to you. Generally, courses in demand at higher-ranking educational institutions tend to require more points because they're more selective in their admissions.
What Is the Average Leaving Cert Points Score?
Typically, students at Leaving Cert achieve around 400 points. This amount changes every year, but in 2022, the average was between 400 and 419 points. Initially, 300 was the average number of points given to students, and 52% of students received more than this amount. The remaining 48% got less.
Which Leaving Cert Subjects Are Considered the Hardest?
Every student is different, so there's not such a thing as an easy or difficult subject. However, there are specific subjects where students are usually awarded fewer CAO points and others where students are often awarded more. In 2022, for example, many foreign languages were awarded a high percentage of H1 grades. Russian, Italian, Polish, and Spanish were among the 10 subjects receiving the most H1s. Applied maths, music, and physics are also featured in this list.
Subjects such as history, higher maths, physics, chemistry, geography, agricultural science, classical studies, business, and French received the fewest H1 grades. Just remember that the popularity of subjects also makes them more competitive, so you needn't avoid a subject just because it's "statistically" more difficult. Similarly, you can't necessarily boost your grades by choosing the easiest subjects. Instead, pick the subjects that you like, tend to do well in, and will help you in your future academic or professional career.
Can You Fail the Leaving Cert?
While you can't fail the Leaving Cert, the grades that receive 0 points are often wrongly considered a "fail". Getting 0 points from one of your Leaving Cert subjects isn't ideal, but there's a common misconception that getting 0 points in certain subjects (like maths) causes you to fail automatically.
This isn't true, and your points will be allocated according to your Leaving Cert grades, the same as any other student. Passing or failing the Leaving Cert is subjective and depends on the student and their overall objectives. This isn't a label that the CAO gives students, so it's up to you to work out the score you want to achieve and work out what you have to do to get it.
How Many CAO Points Do You Need for University Courses?
Different universities and courses have different requirements for Leaving Cert points. Trinity College, for example, has several very selective courses that require a maximum of 625 points. Just remember that you don't have to get a perfect result in every subject to get 625 points, and if your results look off, there is the option to appeal.
Students wanting to study dental science, management science and information systems, and economics and history would need the full 625 points. Eight different courses required over 600 points: medicine, actuarial and financial, economics and finance, and biomedical and health science. However, these are the most selective courses.
At University College Dublin, for example, courses like agricultural science, city planning and environmental policy, and landscape architecture require less than 500 points. As the average number of points awarded increases, the requirements for university courses typically rise as well.
Most courses at the University of Galway, for example, are for students with Leaving Cert points between 500 and 599 points. So while you can go to university with at least 400 points, the more exclusive courses require between 500 and 600 points, and the most exclusive courses require perfect points or near-perfect Leaving Cert points. Find out exactly when is Leaving Cert results day, and put your mind at ease over the summer months!
Get Help with Leaving Cert Subjects from a Private Tutor
Whether it's for a specific subject or for general study skills, a private tutor can help you get better results for your Leaving Cert. On the Superprof website, you have to search for the kind of tutoring you'd like, and you can start browsing the profiles of different private tutors. There are three main ways you can enjoy private tutoring: face-to-face, online, or as part of a group. Each type of tutoring has its pros and cons.
Face-to-face tutoring, for example, is typically the most cost-effective. Every minute or every session can be spent focusing on you and what you need to learn. However, face-to-face tutors tend to charge more per session since they have to travel to their students.
Online tutoring offers a cheaper alternative, and for academic subjects, they can be almost as effective as face-to-face tutoring, which is great for those difficult Leaving Cert subjects. While you can find tutors all over the world, when studying for something like the Leaving Cert, which is only in Ireland, you might want to ensure your student is from the same country.
Last but not least, group tutoring offers an affordable way for several students to learn at once. While they won't get every lesson tailored to them, you and a few classmates could enjoy tutoring for certain subjects or study skills together.
Since most private tutors on Superprof offer their first session for free, you can try a few out. We'd recommend making a list of your requirements and shortlisting potential candidates rather than arranging too many free sessions, which would be a waste of your and the tutors' time. To get started, simply search for what you want to learn today on the Superprof website!
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