Leaving Cert results helpdesk: Our experts answer your questions

Welcome to the 2024 Irish Times Leaving Cert results and CAO helpdesk. The helpdesk, staffed by a team of guidance counsellors, is live from midday on Friday until 8pm to answer queries from students and their parents about their results, or about CAO offers, which will be issued next Wednesday.
The helpdesk will be open at the following times over the coming days:
Q: Does the CAO points calculator include additional points you receive for sitting you LC as Gaeilge and bonus points for Higher Maths? Michelle
A: Yes. The grade you get in Irish takes into account you sat the LC through Irish and the CAO will work with this grade. In relation to Maths, if you get over 40% in Higher Level Maths (H6 or above) and maths is in your top 6 subjects then the CAO will award the 25 bonus points.
Q: Do you think 577 points will be enough for TR035 course? Is there any risk the points can go up to 2021-2022 levels which is 590-593? Anne.
A: This course was 554 pts in final round last year. I would be confident that your 577 points will secure you entry given that you meet subject requirement etc. However, I cannot be certain until Wednesday 25th when CAO release offers for 2024. Deirdre
Q: If a course requires specific subjects for entry, do you have to count them for points or just meet the requirements? Mum
A: The CAO firstly checks to see if an applicant meets the course entry requirements. If the applicant meets the requirements, then the computer will calculate the applicant’s points from their 6 best subjects. These don’t necessarily have to be the subjects that met the entry requirements. Brian
Q: My Daughter is eligible for the DARE scheme. She got 521 points vs. 541 points in 2023 for her first choice course in Trinity. Are the allocated DARE spaces on any given course allocated based on the next highest points of the DARE eligible applicants? Barry.
A: Yes. DARE applicants are competing against other DARE applicants for the qouta of DARE places. Please view link regarding Trinity and DARE allocation https://www.tcd.ie/study/apply/alternative-paths-to-trinity/
Q: Sat the Leaving Cert in 2022 and achieved 555 points. Have reapplied to CAO this year in order to change course. Will my points be adjusted by 7.5% (on average). Brendan
A: No. I am afraid not. Deirdre
Q: If I receive and accept an offer in Round 1 and get a higher preference offer in Round 2 in a different college can I accept it instead of Round 1? Liz
A: Yes and this can be done in any furtehr rounds. Best of luck. Deirdre
Q: I did better than expected and I regret not putting another course as my top choice. Is there anything I can do now to change my first choice? Claire
A: The CAO’s Available Places are vacanies on courses for which there were insufficient applicants before Round 1 offers. Available Places will be published on the CAO’s website. The facility opens at noon on August 29th and you can apply for a course free of charge. You could also look at Further Education (PLC) and choose one that has potential for you to enter into year one of your first choice course next year. Please do get back on if you need more support. Glad to help. Deirdre
Q: When and how can I get my exact exam result score per subject?
A: Exact exam results will be made avaialble to you through your self portal on Tuesday 27th August at 12 noon.
Q: If I didn’t get enough points for my number one course can my HEAR application still help me get it because i was told by the CAO that I am eligible. Elizabeth
A: If you have qualified for HEAR then that will be factored into each of your course choices and a determination will be made on your elligibility for those courses. Each college has its own procedures for dealing with HEAR applications. If you are deemed eligible for your first preference you will be offered this course. Remember the points required for a course by a HEAR elligible candidate are often less than the normal cut off points for a course.
Q: When are the appeal results out? Is it on one day? Norma
A: Friday, September 27th at 11 am.
Q: Two subjects said I was absent for components but I attended. Kian
A: Please contact the State Examinations Commission on 0906 442700. Deirdre
Q: If I am offered my 2nd preference but decline it because I no longer want to study that course, could I be offered my 1st preference in Round 2 – will I receive anything because I don’t accept in Round 1?
A: Yes you could be offered your first choice in Round 2 regardless of what you do with today’s offer. You will receive an offer in Round 2 if you meet the points and course requirements for your first choice. Best of luck.
Q: What happens to the leaving cert student in 2025? Will they get bumper grades? Tiffany.
A: Grade inflation is likely to be in the region of 5.5 per cent for the class of 2025. The grade inflation given this year was 7.5 per cent. Deirdre
Q: If I fail 2 subjects in the leaving cert (and I am not interested in college) do I have to rsit all the exams to pass Leaving Certificate? Caroline
A: No you did not fail the Leaving Certificate. You only need to pass six/five subjects for college matriculation requirements and course specific requirements. Best of look on your new journey. Please get back on if you would like more support. Deirdre
Q: I’m looking at studying at University in Ireland next year. Currently I reside in Perth Australia. How should I apply and go about looking at my options? Ruairi
A: A non EU student should contact the admissions office of the college of interest. They will advise you on whether you should apply directly to them or via the CAO. EU students apply directly to the CAO system. Please find teh link to useful resources where you can look up colleges and courses. https://www.cao.ie/courses.php
Q: How does UCAS know if I’ve met the grades to meet my conditional offer? Do I need to phone admissions of the relevant university to let them know as an ROI applicant? Dara.
A: The State Exams Commission sent a copy of the LC results to UCAS. The British colleges can then get the results for applicants from UCAS. There is nothing stopping you from emailing admissions in the college you are hoping to enter and giving them your grades but it is not necessary. Brian
Q: I sat A levels and got A*AA. These grades would be considered excellent, and I am not aware of any course which would require higher grades in the UK. Grades in the North went down significantly this year as there was a return to 2019 grade thresholds. On the UCD website, grades for courses are given but when I emailed them, they said that places would be allocated on the basis of points. Do you know which system will be used (grades or converted points) and whether there will be any recognition of the reduction in grades in the North? I am a “*”/4 points short of the grade asked for the Economics and Finance course. I also have an accepted DARE application. Diarmuid
A: Information relating to UK grades and resulting points can be found at this location https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/undergraduateapplicants/a-levelentry/ In relation to recognition of the reduction in grades in NI, I am not sure, it would be best to speak to admissions in UCD. Brian