Your CAO questions answered: What students and parents need to know

Over 83,000 students applied to the CAO this year as Leaving Cert results and college offers collide in a record-breaking admissions season

Over 83,000 students applied to the CAO this year

Q: What’s happening today?

A: Today at 2pm, the first round of college offers will be released to students through the CAO. 

Earlier this year, the CAO received 83,424 applications — an increase on previous years due to rising demographics. 

Last Friday, students collected their Leaving Cert results after a record number sat exams in June.

Q: How are college places issued through the CAO?

A: Students’ Leaving Cert results are sent to the CAO, which checks if they meet the entry requirements for each chosen course. It then calculates a points score for every course the student is eligible for.

Each student is ranked by their points score. Colleges instruct the CAO to make a set number of offers for each course, and offers are given in order of merit.

For example, the student with the highest score is offered the first place, the second-highest the second place, and so on.

The points score of the last student to receive an offer becomes the cut-off point for that course.

Q: Are CAO points likely to rise or fall this year?

A: Predicting changes in CAO points isn’t exact. Cut-off points are determined mainly by supply and demand.

This year, additional college places are coming onstream, but more students are applying. Grade inflation is lower than previous years, but how this will affect points is still unclear.

Q: If I get offered a course today, when do I need to decide?

A: If you receive an offer and wish to accept, you must do so online by the reply date stated in your offer email.

Accepting a lower-preference offer does not stop you from receiving a later offer for a higher-preference course.

Q: What if I don’t receive an offer?

A: If you don’t get an offer today, stay calm. More CAO rounds will follow in the coming weeks. Guidance counsellors also advise exploring other options such as further education and training, as later CAO rounds are not guaranteed.

The CAO will soon open its ‘Available Places’ facility, which lists unfilled courses. Other options include waiting for Leaving Cert appeal results or considering repeating your exams — a major decision with many factors to weigh.

Q: When are the later rounds of CAO?

A: Round Two offers will be released on Monday, September 8. Round Three will follow on Tuesday, September 16.

Offers continue until Round Five, which will be released on Tuesday, September 30.

Q: I am appealing my Leaving Cert results. How does that affect the CAO?

A: If your results improve on appeal, your order of merit will be updated. If you then qualify for a place, you will receive an offer. If all places are filled, you may receive a deferral for the following year. 

This decision rests with the higher education institution, not the CAO.

Q: If I get an offer today and want to defer, what should I do?

A: Deferral decisions are made by the college, not the CAO, though the CAO provides instructions. Students should not accept the offer but instead email the admissions office of the college immediately with their request.

The email should include:

• Your name as it appears on your CAO application 
• Your CAO application number 
• The course code of the offer you wish to defer 
• Your reasons for requesting a deferral

The first round of CAO offers will be released today at 2pm. More details are available at www.cao.ie. A free Leaving Cert helpline will reopen this Saturday, August 30, from 10am to 2pm. Call 1800 265 165 or text GUIDANCE to 086 1800 685.