Over 65,000 students across Ireland accessed their Leaving Certificate results this morning, with 437,710 individual results issued to 65,444 candidates marking a significant milestone in the gradual return to normal grading standards.
This year’s cohort represents the first group to experience full formal state examinations throughout their secondary education, having also sat Junior Cycle exams after pandemic disruptions ended.
Subject popularity showed notable shifts, with music seeing a 21% increase in uptake, agricultural sciences and Spanish both rising 13%, while German declined 2% and accounting dropped 12%. The two newest Leaving Certificate subjects continued gaining traction, with Physical Education up 19% and Computer Science increasing 25%.
Ukrainian was examined for the first time this year, becoming the largest non-curricular subject provided by the State Examinations Commission with 549 candidates.
State Examinations Commission chair Jacinta Stewart confirmed that this year’s results represent a calibrated adjustment positioned “broadly midway between the 2020 and 2021 levels, still well above the 2019 levels when examinations were last run as normal.”
The gradual return to pre-pandemic grading standards, announced by former Education Minister Norma Foley in April, aims to avoid a “cliff-edge” transition while ensuring fairness for students.
Higher Education Minister James Lawless offered encouragement to all students, emphasizing that “Leaving Certificate results day is an important milestone, but it is only one of many in life.”
Current Education Minister Helen McEntee reinforced this message, noting there are “now more ways than ever to build a career and a life that suits you,” whether through further education, apprenticeships, or alternative pathways.
Students can access additional information through the Candidate Self Service Portal from Tuesday, while CAO Round 1 offers will be available Wednesday at 2pm.
Support services remain available, including the National Parents and Students Leaving Cert Helpline operating weekdays 10am-5pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm through August 30th.