Leaving Cert students with almost perfect grades double

THE rate of students getting almost perfect grades in the Leaving Certificate has doubled in the last decade, according to Central Applications Office (CAO) figures.

While only 3.8% of the 1995 Leaving Certificate cohort got 500 or more points out of a maximum 600, just under 8% of CAO applicants scored similar grades this year.

The 4,228 who got at least 500 points when they received their results last week represent 7.8% of the 54,069 Leaving Certificate students applying for college places through the CAO.