Points set to rise as more students make the grade

THE points needed for college courses could be much higher this year after a marked improvement in Leaving Certificate results.

The nervous wait for the 59,525 students who sat the exam will end this morning when the results are made available in schools, on the internet and by phone.

The number of students who scored five A1s or more 500 CAO points rose from 362 last year to 391. A further 1,659 candidates received top marks in either three or four subjects, compared to 1,428 last year.