Q: How are grades valued in points by the CAO?

The CAO awards points, as you would expect, by taking scores from the six best subjects you have been examined on. Points from Grades across Ordinary Level (OL) and Higher Level (HL) are shown on the table below. You will note that a maximum of 56 points can be scored at ordinary level; an O1 is equivalent to a H5. You can calculate points from grades obtained with the Qualifax points calculator: https://www.qualifax.ie/points-calculator (https://www.qualifax.ie/points-calculator)

Q: What are the course qualification levels used in the Irish education system?

There are 10 levels of educational qualification in Ireland. This is referred to as the National Framework of Qualifications (https://www.qqi.ie/)(NFQ), and was established in order to locate any and all qualifications on one scale. The kinds of qualifications in question include those rewarded at second level, such as the Leaving Cert. At third level, they are the qualifications obtained through recognised institutions. The framework guarantees that qualifications are valued as they should be nationally and internationally. Second Level School Studies: Junior Cycle: Level 1 Certificate Level 2 Certificate Level 3 Certificate Leaving Certificate: Level 4 Certificate Level 5 Certificate Third Level; Undergraduate Studies: Level 6: Advanced Certificate Level 7: Ordinary Bachelor Degree Level 8: Honours Bachelor Degree Fourth Level; Postgraduate Studies: Level 9: Masters Degree or Postgraduate Diploma Level 10: Doctoral Degree or Higher Doctorate

Question 1

What is the CAO?

Accepted Answer

CAO is an abbreviation for Central Applications Office which is the organisation that processes applications for places at third level institutions in the Republic of Ireland.

https://www.cao.ie/ (https://www.cao.ie/)

Question 2

How many students do the Leaving Cert exams each year?

Accepted Answer

Between 55,000 and 65,000

2024: 62,700
2023: 58,006
2022: 58,056
2021: 57,952

Question 3

How many points do most students score in the Leaving Cert?

Accepted Answer

Statistics from the CAO show most students scoring from 400 to 499 points.

2023 Scores:
625 points                     952         1.6% 
600 - 624                    1,848        3.2% 
500 - 599                  11,378      19.6% 
400 - 499                  15,852     27.3% 
300 - 399                  13,902     24.0% 
200 - 299                     8,233     14.2% 
100 - 199                     4,022      6.9% 
Less than 100            1,819       3.1% 
Total:                           58,006

2022 Scores:
625 points                  1,122            1.9%         
600 - 624                    2,083           3.6%      
500 - 599                  11,353           19.6% 
400 - 499                 15,367         26.5% 
300 - 399                  13,667         23.5% 
200 - 299                     8,466        14.6% 
100 - 199                      4,083           7.0% 
Less than 100             1,915           3.3%
Total:                           58, 056

2021 Scores:
625 points                    1,342         2.3%  
600 - 624                      1,988         3.4% 
500 - 599                    12,133        20.9% 
400 - 499                    16,189      27.9% 
300 - 399                     12,865      22.2% 
200 - 299                        7,544      13.0% 
100 - 199                         3,623        6.3% 
Less than 100                2,268        3.9% 
Total:                               57,952

Question 4

How and when do I apply for a third level course in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that you will be considered for a place on a third level course, you need to make an application through the CAO by 1st February (17:00) in the year of your LC exams. Late applications, in some circumstances, are accepted up to 1st May (17:00). You are not allowed to make more than one application in any given year. Applications open in November of the year before you do your LC exams. If you want to begin third level in 2025, then, you would need to submit your application between November 2024 and 1st February, 2025.

CAO Handbook with lists of available courses:

https://www.cao.ie/handbook.php (https://www.cao.ie/handbook.php)

You can make your application on-line through the CAO website:

https://www.cao.ie/ (https://www.cao.ie/)

Question 5

How are grades calculated from marks scored in the English Leaving Cert exams?

Accepted Answer

The grade you obtain in English in the leaving cert would be finalised by calculating the percentage of marks you scored over the two papers. English is allocated a total of 400 marks: 200 for Paper 1, and 200 for Paper 2. This percentage would then be valued in terms of the points system used to determine eligibility for third level courses.

Example:
If you scored 280 out of a possible 400 marks across both papers, you would have a score of 70 percentage marks ((280/400) x 100). This would give you a H3 grade at higher level and a O3 grade at Ordinary level.

Grades are referred to in abbreviated form;  higher level are prefixed with H, and grades at Ordinary level are prefixed with O.

The grade in this example is highlighted below on the table showing distribution according to percentage marks:

Note: 70 < 80 means any score from 70 up to 79; more than 69 and less than 80.

Question 6

How are grades valued in points by the CAO?

Accepted Answer

The CAO awards points, as you would expect, by taking  scores from the six best subjects you have been examined on.

Points from Grades across Ordinary Level (OL) and Higher Level (HL) are shown on the table below. You will note that a maximum of 56 points can be scored at ordinary level; an O1 is equivalent to a H5.

You can calculate points from grades obtained with the Qualifax points calculator:

https://www.qualifax.ie/points-calculator (https://www.qualifax.ie/points-calculator)

Question 7

What are the course qualification levels used in the Irish education system?

Accepted Answer

There are 10 levels of educational qualification in Ireland. This is referred to as the National Framework of Qualifications (https://www.qqi.ie/)(NFQ), and was established in order to locate any and all qualifications on one scale.

The kinds of qualifications in question include those rewarded at second level, such as the Leaving Cert. At third level, they are the qualifications obtained through recognised institutions.

The framework guarantees that qualifications are valued as they should be nationally and internationally.

Second Level School Studies:

Junior Cycle:
Level 1 Certificate
Level 2 Certificate
Level 3 Certificate

Leaving Certificate:
Level 4 Certificate
Level 5 Certificate

Third Level; Undergraduate Studies:

Level 6: Advanced Certificate
Level 7: Ordinary Bachelor Degree
Level 8: Honours Bachelor Degree

Fourth Level; Postgraduate Studies:
Level 9:   Masters Degree or Postgraduate Diploma
Level 10: Doctoral Degree or Higher Doctorate

Question 8

What kind of points are required for degree (level 8) courses in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

The points for third level courses vary year by year according to the number of places available, and the number of applicants for those places. It should be noted, also, however, that some courses will require higher scores than others in some subjects.  You would need to have a high aptitude for mathematics to begin a degree in physics or engineering. If you were to study literature or history, on the other hand, that level would not be required but it would be an advantage or necessary to have scored well in English.

Qualifax,(https://www.qualifax.ie/course/99) for example, details how the points required to obtain a place in the degree (level 8) in Accounting & Finance at Dublin City University varied over a four year period:

2023:  509
2022:  529
2021:  544
2020:  510

A general idea of the kinds of points needed for a variety of degree (level 8) courses in 2024:

Over 600:
Architecture, Technological University Dublin: 645
Interior Design, Technological University Dublin: 638
Dental Science, Trinity College Dublin: 625
Dentistry, University College Cork: 625
Pharmacy, University College Cork: 613

500 to 600:
Music, Cork School of Music: 600
Business Studies and French, Trinity College, Dublin: 564
Actuarial Mathematics, Dublin City University: 577
Business and Law, University College Dublin: 555
Art, ATU, Galway: 552
Computational Thinking, Maynooth University: 532
Mechanical Engineering, University of Galway: 532
Psychology, University of Galway: 531
Accounting and Finance, Dublin City University: 509
Architecture, University of Limerick: 511
Computer Science, University College Cork: 510
Philosophy, Trinity College, Dublin: 500

400 to 500:
AI and Machine Learning, University of Limerick: 498
Education (Primary Teaching), Mary Immaculate College: 497
Agricultural Science, University College Cork: 496
Biotechnology, University of Galway: 463
Law, Maynooth University: 462
Social Science, University College Cork: 445
Humanities, University College Dublin: 444
Applied Language & Translation Studies, Dublin City University: 442
Music, Trinity College Dublin: 442
Biotechnology, Maynooth University: 431
Journalism, University of Galway: 418
Languages, University of Limerick: 403
Communication Studies, Dublin City University: 400

300 to 400:
Journalism, Dublin City University: 388
Arts, English, University College Dublin: 378
IT Management, MTU Cork: 353
Business, TUS Limerick: 339
Architectural Technology, ATU Galway: 332
Agricultural Engineering, ATU Galway: 327
Hospitality Management, MTU Cork: 326
Creative Design, ATU Sligo: 323
Arts, English, Maynooth University : 310
Computer Science, ATU Donegal: 308
Architectural Technology, MTU Cork: 306
Agricultural Engineering, MTU Kerry: 301

200 to 300:
Veterinary Bioscience, MTU, Kerry: 300
Accounting, MTU, Cork: 293
Construction Management, Dundalk IT: 288
Business, ATU, Donegal: 282
Arts, Mary Immaculate College: 280
Sports Coaching and Performance, SETU, Waterford: 265
Business, SETU, Carlow: 260
Accounting and Finance, Griffith College, Dublin: 252
Community and Addiction Studies, TUS, Limerick: 235
Sports Science, TUC, Thurles: 219
Business, TU Dublin, Talaght: 211
Arts, SETU, Waterford: 210

The same degree at different institutions will not  require the same points. Here are some comparisons in 2024:

A degree (level 8) in Early Childhood Care & Education:
Mary Immaculate College, Limerick:  390 
Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Athlone : 263

An Arts degree (level 8) in English:
University College Dublin:  378
Maynooth University: 310

An open Arts degree (level 8) :
Mary Immaculate College: 280
University College Cork: 300
Dundalk Institute of Technology: 228

A degree (level 8) in Mechanical Engineering:
University of Galway: 532
TUS, Athlone: 309

A degree (level 8) in General Nursing:
University of Limerick: 423
Dundalk Institute of Technology: 380
University College Dublin: 403

The Leaving Cert Frequently Asked Questions

The Leaving Cert
Frequently Asked Questions