When Are Leaving Cert Results Out 2026? Date, Points & Grading

Few moments in the Irish school year carry as much weight as the day Leaving Cert results land. For the class of 2026, that date is now confirmed: results will be released on Friday, 21 August 2026, at 10 AM IST. This guide walks through everything you need to know — from the exact release time and grading scale to what your points mean for CAO offers.

Leaving Cert 2026 results date: Friday, 21 August 2026 ·
Typical release time: 10:00 AM IST ·
Number of candidates: approximately 60,000 ·
CAO Round 1 offer date: Wednesday, 26 August 2026 (expected) ·
Points system: From H1 (100) to H8 (0)

When do Leaving Cert results come out 2026?

Leaving Cert results for 2026 will be released on Friday, 21 August 2026, as confirmed by RTÉ News (Ireland’s national broadcaster). This date aligns with the typical late-August release window. Results will be available online from 10 AM IST on the State Examinations Commission portal at examinations.ie.

What time are Leaving Cert results released?

• 10:00 AM IST on Friday, 21 August 2026 (RTÉ News)

How to access results online

• Log into the Candidate Self Service Portal on examinations.ie using your examination number and PIN.
• The portal opens at 10 AM on results day.

The implication: having login details ready before the date avoids last‑minute stress on a high-pressure morning.

How do I get my Leaving Cert results from years ago?

If you need old Leaving Cert results, contact the State Examinations Commission directly or use the SEC’s online archive portal. The SEC provides archived results for a fee; allow several weeks for processing. For recent years, the Candidate Self Service Portal may still have your data.

What this means: the 21 August date is solid, but the path to CAO offers depends on points which are not yet known.

Is 400 points in Leaving Cert good?

400 points is above the median of approximately 300–350 points but is not considered exceptional. Many competitive courses (e.g., medicine, law) require 500+ points, while others accept 400 or below.

What is a good Leaving Cert points score?

• Median points in 2025 were around 340 (The Irish Times analysis).
• 400 points places you in the upper half but still below the thresholds for extremely competitive courses.

How points translate to CAO offers

• Points are calculated from your best six subjects, with higher‑level grades weighted more.
• The CAO Common Points Scale assigns H1=100, H2=88, H3=77, H4=66, H5=56, H6=46, H7=36, H8=0 (CAO PDF).

The pattern: 400 points opens doors to many courses, but for competitive degrees you’ll need a stronger result.

What percentage is a H7 in Leaving Cert?

H7 corresponds to 30–39% at higher level and earns 36 points (out of 100). This is part of the H1–H8 scale used for calculating CAO points.

Leaving Cert grading bands H1 to H8

• H1 = 90–100% (100 points)
• H2 = 80–89% (88 points)
• H3 = 70–79% (77 points)
• H4 = 60–69% (66 points)
• H5 = 50–59% (56 points)
• H6 = 40–49% (46 points)
• H7 = 30–39% (36 points)
• H8 = 0–29% (0 points)

Ordinary level grades (O1–O8) follow a similar percentage scale but award fewer points.

What percentage corresponds to each grade

• Above scale from CAO Common Points Scale PDF.

Why this matter: a H7 may feel like a low grade but still contributes 36 points — every bit counts when building your total.

Will points go down in 2026?

Points may decrease as grading returns to pre‑pandemic distributions after COVID‑19 adjustments. However, CAO points depend on supply and demand; high‑demand courses may still see stable or rising points.

Factors affecting points changes

• Grading distribution normalisation after pandemic adjustments (The Irish Times).
• Number of applicants and course places – more competition pushes points up.

Trends since 2020

• During 2020‑2022, grades inflated due to teacher‑estimated marks; points rose sharply.
• 2023‑2025 saw a gradual return to pre‑pandemic grade distributions.

The trade‑off: no official prediction is possible until results are in, so students should prepare for either scenario.

What is the hardest subject to get a H1 in?

Traditionally, subjects such as Applied Mathematics, Classics, and certain sciences (e.g., Physics) have lower H1 rates due to rigorous marking. Subjects with larger cohorts (English, Irish) also see fewer top grades proportionally.

Subjects with lowest H1 rates

• Applied Mathematics: H1 rate often below 5% (The Irish Times).
• Physics: H1 rate around 10%.
• Classics: small candidate pool but very high standards.

Factors like marking scheme

• Rigour of marking, small candidate numbers, and specific skill requirements all play a role.

The catch: “hardest” varies by your own strengths — a subject you love may feel easier despite low national H1 rates.

How to access your 2026 Leaving Cert results: step by step

1. Before 21 August: Ensure you have your SEC examination number and PIN. If missing, contact your school.
2. On the day: From 10 AM, go to examinations.ie and log into the Candidate Self Service Portal.
3. View and save: Download a PDF of your results statement.
4. Apply to CAO: If you haven’t already, submit your CAO application before the late deadline (usually mid‑July).
5. Check CAO offers: Round 1 offers appear on 26 August 2026 at 2 PM (as per CAO).

Timeline: key dates for Leaving Cert 2026

• 27 May 2026 – RTÉ announces results date (RTÉ News)
• 21 August 2026 – Leaving Cert results released at 10 AM IST (RTÉ News)
• 26 August 2026 – CAO Round 1 offers released (expected Wednesday) (Central Applications Office)

What’s confirmed and what’s still unknown

Confirmed facts

• Results date of 21 August 2026 confirmed by RTÉ News.
• Results available online from 10 AM IST on examinations.ie (RTÉ News).
• CAO Round 1 offers on 26 August 2026 (CAO).

What’s unclear

• Exact time of CAO offers may vary slightly.
• 2026 points thresholds are unknown until results and applications are processed.

“This year’s Leaving Certificate results will be published on Friday 21 August.”

– RTÉ News, source

“Students should check the CAO website for exact offer dates and times.”

– Citizens Information, source

For Irish Leaving Cert students, the 2026 results date is set — but the real anxious wait is for CAO offers on 26 August. With points trends uncertain, the best strategy is to prepare both for competitive entry and for fallback options. Students should have their login details ready, think about their course priority list, and give themselves room to adjust if points shift.

Related reading: New Primary School Curriculum Ireland 2026: Key Changes

Understanding how the Leaving Cert points system works is essential for interpreting your final results and CAO offer.

Frequently asked questions