Leaving Cert Appeal Results Released Today as Thousands of Students Await Revised Grades
The results of Leaving Certificate appeals are being released today, September 25, with thousands of students across the Republic of Ireland finding out whether their grades have been revised upward following the formal appeals process administered by the State Examinations Commission. For students who received grades in August that they believed did not reflect their performance, today's results represent the final opportunity to secure the points needed for their preferred college course — and for some, a successful appeal could trigger a late round CAO offer that changes the trajectory of their academic year.
Background
The Leaving Certificate appeals process is one of the most significant quality assurance mechanisms in the Irish education system. Students who believe their examination scripts were marked incorrectly or inconsistently can apply to have their work re-examined by a senior examiner, with the appeal fee refunded if the grade is revised upward. The process covers all Leaving Certificate subjects, including both written papers and practical components, and is administered by the State Examinations Commission from its headquarters in Athlone.
The 2026 Leaving Certificate was sat by approximately 65,000 students in June, with results issued in August. The examination was the first to be held under the revised Leaving Certificate framework introduced in 2025, which includes changes to the assessment structure in several subjects, including English, Irish, and mathematics. The revised framework was designed to reduce the emphasis on terminal examination performance and to provide a more rounded assessment of student achievement, but it also introduced new uncertainties for students and teachers navigating the changed assessment landscape for the first time.
The number of appeals lodged in 2026 is understood to be broadly in line with previous years, with the State Examinations Commission typically receiving between 15,000 and 20,000 individual subject appeals annually. The vast majority of appeals result in no change to the original grade, but a significant minority — typically around 15 to 20 per cent — result in an upward revision, and a small number result in a downward revision, which the student can choose to accept or reject.
Key Developments
Students who receive upgraded grades today and who are not already holding a college place may be eligible for late round CAO offers, which are typically issued in October. The Central Applications Office has confirmed that it will process any grade changes arising from today's appeal results and will issue late round offers to eligible applicants in the coming weeks. Students who are already holding a college place but who receive an upgraded grade may also be able to apply for a transfer to a higher-points course, subject to the availability of places.
The State Examinations Commission has emphasised that the appeals process is rigorous and independent, with all appeal scripts re-examined by experienced senior examiners who have no connection to the original marking of the script. The commission has also noted that the introduction of the revised Leaving Certificate framework has required additional training for appeal examiners to ensure consistency in the application of the new assessment criteria.
For students who are disappointed with today's results, the State Examinations Commission has indicated that there is no further formal appeals mechanism beyond the current process. Students who believe there has been a procedural error in the handling of their appeal can make a complaint to the commission, but this is distinct from a further substantive review of the grade awarded.
Why It Matters
The Leaving Certificate remains the primary gateway to higher education in Ireland, and the appeals process plays a crucial role in ensuring that the system is fair and that individual students are not disadvantaged by marking errors or inconsistencies. The introduction of the revised Leaving Certificate framework in 2025 has added a new layer of complexity to the appeals process, as examiners and students alike navigate the changed assessment criteria for the first time. The Department of Education has committed to a comprehensive review of the revised framework after the first full cohort of students has completed their examinations, and the appeals data from 2026 will be an important input into that review.
The broader context is one of significant pressure on the Irish higher education system. Demand for college places continues to outstrip supply in several high-demand areas, including medicine, law, and engineering, and the points race that characterises the Leaving Certificate system shows no sign of abating despite the introduction of the revised framework. The National Access Plan, which aims to increase participation in higher education among students from disadvantaged backgrounds, has made progress in recent years, but advocates argue that the points-based admissions system continues to disadvantage students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who may not have access to the same level of grinds and supplementary tuition as their more affluent peers.
Local Impact
In Dublin, the CAO's offices in Galway have been processing appeal results overnight, with students across the country checking their results online from early this morning. Secondary schools in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford have been in contact with students who lodged appeals, offering guidance on the implications of today's results for their college applications. In rural areas, where access to grinds and supplementary tuition is more limited, the appeals process is particularly important as a safeguard against the disadvantages that can arise from inconsistent marking. The National Parents Council Post-Primary has welcomed the release of today's results and has called on the Department of Education to publish a comprehensive analysis of the appeals data to inform future improvements to the examination and marking system.
What's Next
Students who receive upgraded grades today and who wish to apply for late round CAO offers should contact the CAO directly to confirm their eligibility. Late round offers are typically issued in mid-October, and students have a short window to accept or decline any offer made. The State Examinations Commission will publish a statistical report on the 2026 appeals process in November, including data on the number of appeals lodged, the proportion resulting in grade changes, and the subjects with the highest appeal rates. The Department of Education's review of the revised Leaving Certificate framework is expected to begin in early 2027, with a report due before the end of that year.
