Normal Leaving Cert outcomes to make ‘gradual return' next year

Earlier today, Minister for Education Norma Foley announced that the gradual return to normal Leaving Certificate results will begin in 2025.

Leaving Cert results are currently 7% points higher than the outcomes that were seen pre-pandemic. 

This ‘gradual return’ to normal results will see this grade inflation drop to around 5.5%, according to the Minister for Education. 

From next year, the State Examinations Commission will apply a post-marking adjustment which will bring the overall Leaving Certificate results in the aggregate to a point roughly between 2020 and 2021 levels. 

For students in 2024, there will be no change from last year’s marking, with grades to stay at the same level on average.

It was also confirmed that this year’s Leaving Cert results will be issued to students on Friday, August 23.

When speaking about the announcement today, Minister Foley explained, “As is widely recognised, we must return aggregate results towards pre-pandemic levels. However, given the disruption to teaching and learning for students, it was right to maintain overall results at their current level in the last two years through a post-marking adjustment”.

“It is right to do so again in 2024, with the majority of students this year not having had the opportunity to sit Junior Cycle examinations given that most students sitting the Leaving Certificate examinations in 2024 would have completed Junior Cycle in 2021”.

“We must over time return to the normal arrangements for the Leaving Certificate outcomes, and by making a modest, gradual reduction in the level of post-marking adjustment applied, we will minimise the impact on students in so far as possible”.

Foley continued, “I can confirm that the process of returning Leaving Certificate outcomes to pre-pandemic levels will begin for 2025 students and it will be a gradual process, in line with my commitment that there would be no cliff-edge in terms of a return to pre-pandemic outcomes”.

“This means there will still be a post-marking adjustment exercise in 2025 that will seek to bring the overall set of results on the aggregate to a point no lower than broadly midway between the 2020 and 2021 levels. While lower than the 2024 outcomes, results on the aggregate in 2025 are expected to be above 2019 levels by at least 5.5 percentage points. on average.”