Changes to Leaving Certificate grade inflation are designed to impact students in “as minimal a way as possible”, the Education Minister has said. 

During the pandemic, post-marking adjustment meant all students had their CAO points increased to compensate for the disruption in their education. 

Last year, students had their CAO points boosted by 7%, while the class of 2025 will have theirs increased by 5.5%. 

Students who sat their Leaving Cert in 2024 will retain the marks they were given last year. 

This means if they re-apply to the CAO this year, they will have an advantage over those students who sat their exams this summer. 

With Leaving Cert exams underway across the country, Helen McEntee defended the decision to gradually reduce grade inflation. 

“Any of the changes that have been made, it is with the best interests of students at heart,” she told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“The changes that are happening this year are much lower and much smaller than could have been and previously had been.” 

Leaving Cert

Minister McEntee continued that regardless of grade inflation, “about 80 to 90% of students” get a course that is in their top three choices. 

“What’s actually happened over the last number of years with the inflated grades is you have students who are getting top marks and higher marks - and are still not getting their place because of the grade inflation, because of the fact that there is a lottery in place,” she said. 

“It is the case any year that students may not get their course, for whatever reason, but there are more students not getting their course because of the inflation. 

“So, I have [decided] this year… to move ahead with this to make sure that this impacts students in as minimal a way as possible. 

“But also, we know that there are additional courses being put on.” 

A student sitting his Leaving Cert. Picture by: AG News/Alamy Live News

For any student who is feeling stressed or anxious during the exam period, Minister McEntee urged them to ask for help. 

“There are different supports within the schools,” she said. 

“For some children, this might be a more stressful or anxious time than others. 

“There’s obviously different supports being provided for children who may have learning difficulties, who might have physical impairments. 

“In fact, about a quarter of students sitting the exams this morning will have some kind of support or assistance in the exam or outside of the exam. 

“It’s really important that students know, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, if you are finding it extremely difficult, that there are people you can turn to.”

Leaving Cert results will be released on August 22nd.

Main image: Minister for Education Helen McEntee. Picture by: PA Wire/PA Images.