Leaving Cert adjustment effect on college admissions will persist for years, academics warn

Irish Dental Association president Bridget Harrington-Barry said she wanted students to know 'it isn’t a failure on their part. It's the system that has failed them.'

The effects of the Leaving Cert post-marking adjustment on the college admissions process will persist until 2032, academics have warned. 

It comes as the first round of college place offers sees some students unsuccessful in securing their preferred course despite strong marks. 

On Wednesday, the Central Applications Office (CAO) issued 90,866 Round One offers to 62,166 CAO applicants. 

More than (52%) of students missed out on their top choice of degree course. 

Random selection, where entry to a course is determined by a lottery, also featured across popular courses again this year. 

Medical and dental entry decided by random selection

Entry to each of the country's three university courses training dentists was determined this year by random selection. Entry to five of the country's six undergraduate medical degree courses was also determined by random selection, despite an increase in places available on medicine courses this year. 

Both dental science at Trinity College Dublin and dentistry at University College Cork (UCC) attracted cut-off points of 625, the maximum number of CAO points available, and entry was determined by lottery.

“I’d like to acknowledge how disappointing it must be for students to receive the maximum points, and they don’t get the course they want,” said Dr Bridget Harrington Barry, the president of the Irish Dental Association (IDA). She said: 

I’d like to acknowledge the work they put in, and to say it isn’t a failure on their part. It's the system that has failed them. 

More places are needed, she added. 

“We need to be educating more dentists, and we need to be retaining more dentists. We don’t have enough dentists in the country as it is.” 

Capacity review needed

Dr Harrington Barry called for a capacity review, adding that the population has increased in recent years without increasing the workforce. 

The gradual reduction of the post-marking adjustment in Leaving Certificate results continues to generate volatility in the university admissions system, according to Orla Sheils, Trinity College Dublin vice-provost and chief academic officer.

The adjustment is set to be phased out in 2028, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) confirmed last week as it issued the 2026 Leaving Cert results.

This year, grades were adjusted more modestly than in previous years as exam authorities continue to take steps to address pandemic-era grade inflation.

“Although the adjustment is being phased out, its effects will persist for up to four years after its final removal, due to deferred entrants from earlier cohorts and the resulting turbulence in points attainment year on year,” Prof Sheils said.

The relationship between demand and CAO points remains less predictable than in a normal admissions cycle as a result, she added.

Medical Council president Prof Deirdre J Murphy said the council "recognises the hard work, dedication and commitment that students have demonstrated in reaching this important milestone". 

“Unfortunately, there will be students out there today who were unsuccessful in securing a place to study medicine at this time," she added. The CAO is "only one pathway" to study medicine, and other options are available to gain entry to medical school, she said.

• Jess Casey, Education Correspondent