More students pass Leaving Cert maths

The long wait is finally over for 55,000 Leaving Cert students this morning as they get their results today.

Much of the attention this year has been on Higher Level Maths, with a 35% increase in the number taking the Higher Level paper.

Also more students passed Ordinary and Higher Level Maths than last year, boosting their chances of a third-level place.

Thousands of Leaving Cert students will be able to access their results at their schools this morning or from midday through the State Examinations Commission website and telephone line.

Much of the focus this year was on Maths after the introduction of parts of the new Project Maths syllabus.

More students than ever sat the Higher Level exam - with over 11,000 taking the paper - up from just over 8,000 in 2011.

Close to 98% of those students picked up the 25 bonus points on offer for students achieving a D3 or higher at that level.

Meanwhile, less students failed Ordinary Level Maths giving themselves a better chance of a place at third level.

The other major change this year was to Irish, where 40% of all marks are now allocated to the Oral Exam.

As a result, there has been a marked increase in students at all levels passing the exam, as well as those achieving A Grades.

The next step for many students will be the release of first-round CAO offers on Monday.

The National Parents Council Post-Primary is running a helpline for students and their parents. It is available at 1800 265 165.