• More than 60,000 Leaving Cert candidates received their results online this morning
• Grades this year have been inflated to match the record-breaking results of recent years out of “fairness” for this year’s students
• Top grades in higher level maths – criticised by some as excessively “unfair” – have dipped this year, but 99.5 per cent have passed the exam
• A live helpdesk for the 2023 Leaving Cert results, staffed by our team of guidance counsellors, is available to answer all your queries online from 11am today to 8pm
• Leaving Cert points calculator: How many CAO points are your results worth?

Helpful reads:

• Five key lessons from this year’s Leaving Cert
• What impact will the 2023 Leaving Cert results have on the CAO?
• Looking beyond Leaving Cert results: what’s the next step?
• How to get into college outside the CAO points race

‘They were definitely kind with the results ... a lot of people are saying they’re happy’

My colleague Ronan McGreevy visited Lucan Community College in Dublin today.

Teaching staff at the school expressed delight for this year’s students, while students were happy, relieved, surprised and proud of their results.

Warning over ‘credibility’ of inflated grades

A university registrar has criticised Minister for Education Norma Foley’s to keep Leaving Cert students’ grades inflated this year as an “astonishing” move which may lead to some students dropping out of college.

Prof Pól Ó Dochartaigh, University of Galway’s deputy president and registrar, said the extent of high grades means universities will have to use some level of random selection when selecting candidates for some courses.

He told The Irish Times this week that inflated grades were creating “false expectations” for students who may end up struggling in their courses.

He said provisional figures show student dropout levels - which fell to a historic low in the early years of Covid - have since climbed back to pre-Covid levels and “possibly might end up worse.”

In addition, he told RTÉ's News at One that the move was affecting cross-border mobility by making it “extremely hard” for students in the North to access universities in the Republic given that A-level results have begun to return to normal.

Ms Foley said earlier today that she directed exam authorities to keep grades for the class of 2023 at last year’s inflated levels out of “fairness” for this year’s students.

“This group of children [this year] are quite unique ... they didn’t have the privilege nor the experience of taking a State exam in terms of the Junior Cycle. They did have to grapple with remote teaching and learning,” she told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

“In the interests of fairness. I did make the decision that the overall grade profit would be similar to last year.”

Results joy for 16 year old Ukrainian student who tackled Leaving Cert curriculum in just one year

Among the happy students at Donahies Community School today was 16-year-old Mykyta Topcheiv, originally from Kyiv in Ukraine.

He arrived in Ireland in March 2022 and while he was placed in third year initially, he decided to tackle the two-year Leaving Cert curriculum in just one full academic year – while also attending online lessons for his school in Kyiv.

Mykyta collected an impressive 447 points from the exams, which he hopes will secure him a spot on a computer science course.

He told the PA news agency: “I didn’t know if my visa would be continued for a few years more so I just wanted to be able to pass the exam, just to try, because I didn’t want to lose this opportunity.”

The teenager added: “I needed to learn the two-year programme in one year and actually I still study in my Ukrainian school online.”

Mykyta has final-year examinations in that school next year, but added: “I hope I won’t do them because if I would be here in university, I don’t need to finish in the other school.”

Leaving Cert points calculator: how much are your results worth?

Even if you did ace your maths paper one exam, it can be tricky figuring out how many points you actually received.

We here in The Irish Times are glad to be of service: check out our Leaving Cert points calculator here, or below.

The CAO first round college offers will be out online from 2pm on Wednesday, August 30th

I’ve got my results. What do I do next?

Depending on your results and chosen career path, there are some key dates over the coming days you need to be aware of.

Brian Mooney has compiled a handy list of dates here, and we’ve a shorter version below.

Tuesday, August 29th: access to detailed information on Leaving Cert grades

- 12pm: Detailed information on students’ grades will be available at the State Examinations Commission candidate self-service portal. This will give added information on the component marks, post-marking adjustment mark and final mark.

- 5pm: Applications to view Leaving Cert scripts opens and closes at 8pm on Wednesday, August 30th.

Wednesday, August 30th: CAO round one offers

- CAO round one offers are available from 2pm online to all applicants applying on the basis of school leaving exam results, regardless of the year completed.

Applicants have until 3pm on Tuesday, September 5th to accept or reject the offer. If you want to defer a place, you’ll need to contact the relevant college immediately.

Thursday, August 31st: CAO available places

- CAO Available Places facility opens at 12pm. Available places are places that remain unfilled in particular courses after all offers have been made and waiting lists have been exhausted. You don’t need points to get them, but you do need to meet minimum entry requirements for the course.

Saturday, September 2nd: Viewing of exam scripts in school and online

- This will help candidate figure out whether it’s worth appealing a grade or not.

Sunday, September 3rd - Monday, 4th: application to appeal

- Candidates can formally appeal their results. The date on which appealed grades will issue has yet to be announced.

‘Life is long, life is full of opportunities:’ Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s career advice to class of 2023

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar knows a thing or two about the twists and turns that come with career pathways.

The former doctor turned political leader has shared some advice today for students about seizing opportunities when they come by.

“I know that for the vast majority of people, you’re going to be vary happy with your results you get. It means you’ll get access to the course you want to do. And that’s great - it’s a whole new chapter in your lives about to begin,” he says.

“But I know as well for some people you’re going to be disappointed. And all I’d say is bear this in mind: life is long, life is full of opportunities. They come along all the time. It’s just a case of seizing them when they do.”

What impact will this year’s grades have on CAO points?

Many students are celebrating a bumper haul of grades today.

But, as Brian Mooney writes, the joy for some Leaving Cert students may be short-lived when the CAO issues first round offers next Wednesday.

He says points are likely to be at or close to 2022 levels. However, there are some hopeful signs of a potential reduction for some medical and paramedical courses.

We won’t know for sure until Wednesday afternoon, when the CAO issues its first round offers.

You can read his analysis here.

And we have the latest trends in CAO applications - what’s up and what’s down following the July 1st deadline - here.

Didn’t get the results you wanted? 10 things to consider

Every year, thousands of students take a deep breath, look at their Leaving Cert results – and feel utterly crushed.

These days, however, there are many more options.

What was once last-gasp fallbacks such as PLCs are now viable first choices; growing numbers of students ignore the CAO altogether and study abroad out of choice; and it’s less common for students to repeat.

Peter McGuire has compiled a useful list of 10 options to consider in order to follow your career dreams.

You can read it here.

If you have any questions, our live helpdesk for the 2023 Leaving Cert results, staffed by guidance counsellors, is available to answer all your queries online from 11am today to 8pm.

‘It was a team effort’: Cork student gets 8 H1s and nine classmates achieve maximum grades

Christian Brothers College in Cork, is celebrating a bumper haul of points for its students today.

Andrew O’Sullivan managed to achieve 8 H1s in this year’s exams, while nine of his classmates received 7 H1s, or a maximum of 625 points.

In total, 144 students at the school are receiving their results today - 20 per cent of them obtained at least 600 points.

“It is a fantastic morning for the lads,” said principal David Lordon. “It takes a team effort to get results like this and it is testament to the parents, teachers and especially the students for the hard work they put in over the last few years.

“These students faced very challenging circumstances and the Leaving Cert was the first State exam they sat, which makes today’s results all the more impressive.”

It’s a celebratory scene likely to play out in other schools later today.

Grade inflation has seen the number of high achievers climb dramatically.

For example, just over 200 candidates achieved 625 points in the year before the pandemic. It jumped to some 1,122 candidates last year.

Given that this year’s results are similar to last year’s, expect to hear lots of Champagne corks popping over the course of the day.

Leaving Cert points calculator: how much are your results worth?

Even if you did ace your maths paper one exam, it can be tricky figuring out how many points you actually received in total.

We in The Irish Times are here to help.

Check out our Leaving Cert points calculator here.

The CAO first round college offers will be out online from 2pm on Wednesday, August 30th

‘Family and perspective - more important than any points in the whole world’: Tubridy talks to Leaving Cert students

Ryan Tubridy often had a word for stressed Leaving Cert students at the start of his radio show.

This morning, he’s taken to Instagram to share his thoughts.

“Leaving Cert people of Ireland: if you got what you wanted in your points and results, congratulations, you did well.

“If you didn’t, don’t worry - this is the most important part - because, it’s something in the cosmos, the universe, who knows, nudging you somewhere where you weren’t expecting to be. Now, take it from someone who knows about this a little bit: the old guy.

“If that happens, embrace it, run into it, take it somewhere exciting and interesting ... because, that’s somewhere you’re obviously meant to be. Don’t panic, take it on. Remember: family and perspective - more important than any points in the whole world.

“Now, go and have some fun tonight. And then get on with the rest of your life and have fun getting there. Well done.”

Results out early online

While Leaving Cert results are due out - officially - at 10am, many students are reporting that they have been able to access them for the past 15 minutes or so.

Many have received a pleasant surprise given that this year’s results have been artificially inflated by, on average, almost 8 per cent.

Some schools are already celebrating a bumper haul of grades for their students.

College applicants will have to wait until Wednesday afternoon to find out whether they have secured entry to their chosen CAO courses.

‘It’s a fantastic morning for the lads’: 10 students in Cork school achieve maximum grades

While students get their results at 10am online, schools received a breakdown of their students’ results by old fashioned snail mail earlier this morning.

The principal of Christian Brothers College in Cork, David Lordon, was up early to check the post where there was good news.

Ten students at CBC received a maximum 625 points, with one student achieving 8 H1 grades. Four students were awarded 7 H1s.

In total, 144 students at the school are receiving their results today. He says 20 per cent obtained at least 600 points.

“It is a fantastic morning for the lads,” said Mr Lordon. “It takes a team effort to get results like this and it is testament to the parents, teachers and especially the students for the hard work they put in over the last few years.

“These students faced very challenging circumstances and the Leaving Cert was the first State exam they sat, which makes today’s results all the more impressive.”

It’s a celebratory scene likely to play out in other schools later today.

Grade inflation has seen the number of high achievers climb dramatically.

For example, just over 200 candidates achieved 625 points in the year before the pandemic. It jumped to some 1,122 candidates last year.

Given that this year’s results are similar to last year’s, expect to hear lots of Champagne corks popping over the course of the day.

Sophie Brohoon, Rebecca Kavanagh and Niamh Woods, students at Donahies Community School, Dublin - pictured below - are just of the many students celebrating their Leaving Certificate results today.

Despite maths paper one trauma, the numbers add up for most students

“Easily the hardest exam I’ve ever sat,” said one student. “It was an awful shock,” said another. “I saw so many leave the exam hall in tears,” one candidate said.

While maths paper one was a source of trauma for many students, there will be relief for many this morning.

A breakdown of the results shows 99.5 per cent of students passed the exam. Just 0.5 per cent failed it, or just over 100 students out of more than 20,000.

However, top grades dipped this year. The proportion who achieved a H1-H3 – traditionally known as an “honour” – fell from 60 per cent last year to 49.5 per cent this year.

The State Examinations Commission said that it adjusted the marking scheme towards the “more lenient end of the normal range” in light of feedback.

It concluded that there was “no systemic issue” with the paper one.

Many of the questions that were the subject of criitcism were “answered well” by candidates, it said, in comparison to their answering of other questions that did not attract any such comment.

You can read more about it here.

‘This is a unique cohort of students ’

Minister for Education Norma Foley has explained why she directed exam authorities to keep grades for the class of 2023 at last year’s inflated levels.

“This group of children [this year] are quite unique ... they didn’t have the privilege nor the experience of taking a State exam in terms of the Junior Cycle. They did have to grapple with remote teaching and learning,” she told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

“In the interests of fairness. I did make the decision that the overall grade profit would be similar to last year.”

On the controversy over maths paper one, Ms Foley was asked about the dip in top grades in higher level maths this year.

Ms Foley said the State Examinations Commission had listened to how the paper was received and had autonomy on how the paper should be marked.

While there was a difference between what was achieved last year and this year, Ms Foley said there was a greater increase in H1s in subjects such as Irish and chemistry this year.

“If students haven’t benefited in maths this year, they can certainly look around at other subjects where they most certainly have benefited,” she said.

Ms Foley declined to be drawn on whether grades will begin to reduce next year.

“Next year’s students will have a unique set of circumstances, so we will look at each group of students and give them the due consideration that they require.”

How will this year’s inflated grades affect CAO points?

It’s a question many Leaving Cert students will be asking when they get their results later this morning.

Candidates won’t find out for sure until the CAO offers issue on Wednesday afternoon.

However, as Brian Mooney reports, the fact that this year’s grades are being maintained at the same level as last year means points on the whole are likely to stay at last year’s high levels.

They will, of course, jump around for individual courses based on year-on-year changes in application numbers and other factors.

This graphic, below, shows what’s up and what’s down in CAO first preferences for level 8 courses, as of the July 1st cut-off date.

Grade inflation: what it looks like

Many students may be in for a pleasant surprise this morning: this year’s results have been artificially inflated by, on average, 7.9 per cent.

Why? It follows a surprise direction from Minister for Education Norma Foley that this year’s results should match the record high results of 2022.

The graphic, below, gives a sense of how grades have climbed over recent years due to Covid-measures such as teacher-predicted grades.

For example, the proportion of H1s has climbed from between 5-6 per cent in the years before the pandemic to more than 14 per cent over recent years.

There are downsides to grade inflation, though.

It will likely keep pressure on CAO points, increase the risk of random selection in some and make it even more difficult for students from Northern Ireland to access courses here.

Good morning and welcome to The Irish Times live coverage of the Leaving Cert results for 2023.

It’s a nerve-jangling time for students (and parents), but the wait is almost over.

From 10am, the results will be available online for candidates on the State Examinations Commission portal. CAO offers are due to issue on Wednesday next.

In the meantime, we have a breakdown of trends in this year’s exams.

In summary, here’s what we know:

• Grades have been inflated to last year’s levels out of “fairness” for this year’s students, on foot of a direction from Minister for Education Norma Foley
• This means all candidates’ marks have been lifted, artificially, by an average of almost 8 per cent
• These high grades mean it is likely that CAO points, generally, will remain at similar levels to last year
• Despite criticism of an “unfair” higher level maths paper one, just 0.5 per cent (or 102 students) failed the paper. Top grades, however, are down with the proportion of H1s down from rom 18 per cent last year to 11 per cent this year.

We’ve a wrap of the main points here.