Leaving Cert results sky high as university leaders call for swift return to normality

More than 61,000 Leaving Cerificate students across Ireland will be receiving their exam results at 10am on Friday, September 2.

According to the State Examinations Commission, this year marked another where students clocked up exceptionally high points thanks to a promise made by Minister Norma Foley.

Although grade inflation trends are a concern since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, there was an outcry from students and politicians over ensuring this year’s students weren’t at a disadvantage.

READ MORE: Leaving Cert 2022 results day for more than 61,000 students as 'significant milestone' reached

Therefore, the State Examinations Commission has added marks to the exam scores achieved by this year’s students on a sliding scale basis to ensure that the 2022 outcome matches last year’s.

The State body said that prior to the changes made there was an "across the board" gap between this year’s results and last year’s - naturally this year’s were lower.

In order to evenly distribute additional points without fueling inflation, any student who scored 50 out of 100 had seven points added, while anyone who scored 100 out 100 will be given just three additional points.

Adjustments were made to all subjects and levels, according to the SEC.

Last year's results were unnaturally high because students were given their highest mark - whether that be in an exam they sat or their teacher’s predicted grade.

The agreement to keep grade inflation at last year’s level - in the interest of fairness - has sparked calls from university professors for a swift return to normality in order to protect the integrity of the Leaving Cert.

Meanwhile, Minister Foley congratulated students receiving their results today, saying: “Congratulations to one and all of you. You have reached this significant milestone in your education journey and that alone is an enormous achievement.”

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