Leaving Cert figures suggest points may fall
Although three students will find out this morning that they got nine A1s in higher-level subjects, those with four or more A1s fell from 709 last year to 637.
These figures, combined with a drop in honours levels in a number of core subjects, resulted in a drop in high points scoring among those of the 57,422 Leaving Certificate students who have applied for college places.
The first round of offers will be issued by the Central Applications Office next Monday.
The results for this year’s school leavers - including 3,353 who completed the Leaving Certificate Applied programme - will arrive in the country’s 750 second level schools this morning.
Figures provided by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) show 5,267 students got at least one higher-level A1 - worth 100 points for college applications - compared to 5,485 in 2004.
There were fewer honours grades - A1 to C3 - than last year in higher-level English, Irish, biology, business, physics, history and construction studies.
While there was a slight increase in the honours rate in higher-level maths, almost one-in-eight of the 36,773 who sat ordinary-level maths failed.
Failure rates in ordinary-level biology and chemistry have also risen, despite Government attempts to encourage more young people to study science subjects.
Teachers Union of Ireland president Paddy Healy said the overall results highlighted the international reputation of the Leaving Certificate.
“Far from being dumbed down, as some misguided comment has recently suggested, the exam is rigorous and thorough,” he said.
Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland president Sheila Parsons said it was vital that students kept their exam results in perspective and explore all options carefully.
National Parents Council - Post Primary (NPC-PP) president Eleanor Petrie suggested families should offer students their full support.
“While parents should help their children make difficult choices where asked, they should also be able to stand back and not put too much pressure on them,” she said.
Students who are overseas or unable to attend their school can check results on the SEC website (www.examinations.ie) from midday or by phone (1530-719290 or, from abroad, 00-353-1-2589001 or 2588588).
The NPC-PP helpline (1800-265165) is open from 8am-10pm today and tomorrow and 8am-4pm on Friday.
9 A1s - 3 students (0).
8 A1s - 9 (4).
7 A1s - 47 (38).
6 A1s - 86 (103).
5 A1s - 192 (242).
4 A1s - 300 (322).
3 A1s - 502 (591).
2 A1s - 995 (1,061).
1 A1 - 3,133 (3,124).
*Figures in brackets show the numbers with similar grades in 2004.
