Leaving results suggest no hike in college points

THE Leaving Certificate results issued to almost 58,000 students today suggest there will not be a jump in the points required for most college courses next week.

The Central Applications Office (CAO) will work with admissions staff from colleges over the next few days to determine which students should be offered places in the first significant stage of this year’s process next Monday.

Any changes in the number of places on each course and the individual Leaving Certificate performance of those applying are significant factors in determining whether the CAO points needed for any course rise or fall compared to last year.

But statistics from the State Examinations Commission (SEC) suggest there is no reason to expect wholesale jumps in points, particularly when combined with the fact that almost 2% fewer people have applied for places through the CAO this year.

Among these 76,238, the 44,769 CAO applicants who sat the Leaving Certificate in June is down by a similar level on 2010.

The proportion of top grades awarded in higher level subjects is very similar to other years, with 12.7% of all 207,200 higher level grades awarded today being an A1 or A2. This compares to 12.6% this time last year, while the 76.2% of As, Bs and Cs given for higher level is practically unchanged from 2010.

Although a proportionally small sample of all Leaving Certificate students, the number of high achievers is also slightly down on last year. For example, the 5,888 students with at least one higher level A1 is 4.4% less than last year and those with three or more A1s on honours papers (1,271) is 7% less than a year ago.

More than 7,000 places have already been allocated since early July to mature students, overseas students requiring visas, or on courses with places reserved for mature students or others not directly competing with school leavers.

But these numbers are similar to other years, making the numbers still competing for almost 40,000 places still available broadly the same as in earlier years.

The only other key signal of likely changes in points is which categories of study programmes are gaining popularity, with figures made available last month showing a rise in interest in science, engineering and technology courses from the level 8 (honours bachelor degrees) list. Nursing degrees have increased slightly among applicants’ first preferences, but there were slight falls in the numbers listing business and teaching degrees as their top choices.

While most CAO applicants must wait until Monday to find out if they have been offered a place, applications for student grants can still be made to local councils or VECs, with the deadline just a fortnight away.

The National Parents Council-Post Primary Leaving Certificate helpline (1800 265 165) is open from 8am to 7pm today and from 10am to 3pm tomorrow.

* The Irish Examiner will publish the points for entry to all CAO courses next Monday in a 16-page Choices for College supplement.