The reversal of Leaving Cert grade inflation will be fair to future students, the Education Minister has pledged.

Almost 61,000 students will receive their Leaving Cert results at 10am today. 

Many students can once again expect high grades – with the results artificially inflated to bring them in lines with the record high results handed out in the years since COVID.

This year’s inflation saw the State Exams Commission (SEC) increasing grades by an average of 7.5% - with the increases ranging from 4.8% to 12.1%.

The SEC increased 68% of all grades this year – down from the 71% increased last year but up on the 50% increased the year before.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Ms Foley said the post-marking adjustment system will now be phased out – but insisted the change will not harm next year’s students.

She said the SEC will begin to decrease average grades “over a number of years” from 2025. 

“It will be determined by the State Examinations Commission,” she said. “Over time, gradually, we would return to the pre-COVID experience. 

“I have been clear in the interest of fairness, it would be a very slow, small decline over a number of years.” 

Education Minister Norma Foley speaking on The Hard Shoulder, 7-11-23. Image: Newstalk

Minster Foley said people must consider the perspective of students taking the exams and the stress of results. 

“We have to place ourselves in the situation of the young person taking the exam,” she said. 

Ms Foley noted there are post-COVID changes that will remain part of the Leaving Cert exams in the future, such as more choices on exam papers.

Grade inflation

Grade inflation was first introduced in the interests of fairness following the decision to replace the 2020 Leaving Cert with calculated grades due to the pandemic.

The following year, students had the option of calculated grades or an exam, with the higher result contributing towards the student’s final grades.

Minister Foley said the calculated grades might not have been the perfect system – but it’s easy to criticise in hindsight. 

“The calculated grades were a brand-new experience for the entire county,” she said. 

“You could say you’d do anything differently from decisions made during COVID. 

“We now look back and say, ‘In the interest of fairness, how do we manage the system?’

Leaving Cert results

According to the SEC, the post-marking adjustment “maintained the aggregate Leaving Certificate Results at the same level as 2022”. 

“The 2024 results are at the same level on the aggregate as in 2023 and there is no grade inflation,” it said. 

Some 14.3% of 2024 Higher Level students received a H1, the highest grade, compared to 14.9% in 2023 and 14.8% in 2022. 

Some 5.7% of Ordinary Level students received an O1 this year, compared to 5.9% the previous year. 

Students will receive first round offers from the Central Applications Office for third-level on August 28th.