Central Applications Office - The Points System

The Points System

Higher Level
Percentage Grade Points
90+ A1 100
85 - 89 A2 90
80 - 84 B1 85
75 - 79 B2 80
70 - 74 B3 75
65 - 69 C1 70
60 - 64 C2 65
55 - 59 C3 60
50 - 54 D1 55
45 - 49 D2 50
40 - 44 D3 45
Ordinary Level
Percentage Grade Points
90+ A1 60
85 - 89 A2 50
80 - 84 B1 45
75 - 79 B2 40
70 - 74 B3 35
65 - 69 C1 30
60 - 64 C2 25
55 - 59 C3 20
50 - 54 D1 15
45 - 49 D2 10
40 - 44 D3 5

The CAO awards points to students based on their achievements in the Leaving Certificate examination. A student's points are calculated according to these tables, counting their best six subjects only (resulting in a maximum score of 600 points). If a student has sat the Leaving Certificate examination on more than one occasion, their points are calculated according to their best year's performance. Students' points are used as a queuing system for over-subscribed courses, with the available places offered to those students ranked highest by the points scale.

Points can also be scored for results in other examinations, such as UK A levels. The current CAO point allocation for these exams is: A* (150), A (135), B (120), C (100), D (75) and E (40).

In the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, students may obtain a Distinction (70 points), Merit (50 points), or Pass (30 points) that can be used as well as their 6 best subjects.

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