Leaving Cert results due out one week early

• Published date: 25 May 2023
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

Leaving Cert results for tens of thousands of students are due to issue on Friday, August 25th, a week earlier than last year

It is likely that CAO offers for students applying for college courses will issue several days later.

The move to issue grades earlier than last year has been welcomed by universities who have been forced to delay the start of the academic year for first year students since the Covid pandemic.

It will also ease some of the pressure facing students applying for college abroad or first year students at home who have faced a last-minute scramble for accommodation.

However, this year's release date is still later than the pre-Covid norm of mid-August and may, in some cases, delay the start of the new academic year in some colleges.

Minister for Education Norma Foley welcomed what she described as a "significant and very welcome step towards pre-pandemic norms" in the timing of results.

Additional time

She said additional time is required by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to run deferred exams for candidates affected by bereavement or big illness, as well as a "postmarking adjustment" following completion of marking to avoid a cliff edge in grades as compared to the pandemic years.

"I want to acknowledge the SEC's huge effort and commitment to deliver this timeline, including its intensive campaign to recruit teachers as examiners. I want to take this opportunity also to thank all those teachers who are engaging in this important work," she said.

Junior and Leaving Cert exams are due to get under way on Wednesday, June 7th for about 130,000 candidates. A date for the release of Junior Cycle results is not expected until autumn.

In a statement, the SEC said the number of written examiners available to mark the exams is at a higher level than at this time last year on foot of a new recruitment campaign, enhanced rates of payment and active support from teacher unions...