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New LeavingCertificate GradingScale and RevisedCommon Points ScaleSeptember 2015
New Leaving CertificateGrading Scale and revisedCommon Points ScaleThe Universities and the Institutes of Technology have beenworking in partnership with the Department of Educationand Skills to bring about progressive and incrementalenhancements of the transition from second to third level.The central focus of this work has been to agree reforms ofLeaving Certificate assessment and grading and the admissionsprocesses to higher education, in order to mitigate some ofthe undesirable effects of the so-called ‘points system’.As part of this process, it has been agreed tochange how the Leaving Certificate examinationsare graded, using fewer broader grade bands. Thecurrent 14-point grading scale (A1, A2, B1, B2, B3,etc. where the grade bands typically cover 5%) willbe replaced by an 8-point scale (based on a gradeband 10% wide). This requires a new CommonPoints Scale.The revisions to the Common Points Scale andassociated adjustments are being made jointly bythe universities and the Institutes of Technology.These revised arrangements have been the subjectof extensive discussions with the Higher EducationInstitutions (HEIs) and their governance structuresduring the period of development. The revisedarrangements will be applied by all universities,institutes of technology and their linked providersfrom 2017.New Leaving Certificate Grading Scale in 2017The Department of Education and Skills willintroduce a new Leaving Certificate grading scalein 2017. The new scale has 8 grades, the highestgrade is a Grade 1, the lowest grade a Grade 8. Thehighest seven grades 1-7 divide the marks range100% to 30% into seven equal grade bands 10%wide, with a grade 8 being awarded for percentagemarks of less than 30%. The grades at higher leveland ordinary level are distinguished by prefixingthe grade with H or O respectively, giving H1-H8 athigher level, and O1-O8 at ordinary level.This new 8-point grading scale will replace thecurrent 14-point scale at both Higher and Ordinarylevels. Currently, the majority of students receivinga given grade are within 3 percentage marks of ahigher grade, and 5 extra points, creating pressuretowards rote learning and using the markingscheme to gain those few additional marks.Table 1: New LC grading scale,to be introduced in 2017NEW GRADES% MARKSH1 / O190-100H2 / O280 90H3 / O370 80H4 / O460 70H5 / O550 60H6 / O640 50H7 / O730 40H8 / O80 30
The new broader grade bands will ease thepressure on students to achieve marginal gainsin examinations and encourage more substantialengagement with each subject. The new gradingsystem will also allow for greater flexibility, varietyand innovation in Leaving Certificate assessments.The broader objective is to allow for an enhancedlearner experience in senior cycle, with agreater focus on the achievement of broaderlearning objectives.The new 8-point scale moves the Irish LeavingCertificate closer to school leaving examinationsin other countries, such as Scotland, England,Wales and Northern Ireland, Finland, and to theInternational Baccalaureate.Revised Common Points Scale in 2017The Irish universities, Institutes of Technology and all other colleges which accept applicationsthrough the CAO, will introduce a revised Common Points Scale in 2017, as follows:Table 2: Revised Common Points Scale, to be introduced in 80The main features of this revised Common Points Scale can be summarised as follows:n A revised points scale is required as a resultof the new 2017 LC grade bands.n The revised points scale maintains the currentalignment between the points awarded forachievement at Higher Level and the pointsawarded for achievement at Ordinary Level.The validity of this alignment has beenconfirmed by research conducted by theEducation Research Centre. This ensures thatdue recognition is given to a broad range ofsecond-level learning achievements and willencourage and promote wide participation inhigher education.n The revised points scale will minimise theuse of random selection in the admissionsprocess, by minimising the number ofcandidates presenting with identical pointsscores. This is achieved by using a non-linearpoints scale, which distributes candidatesacross the full range of possible points scores(0 – 600). The new scale has been optimisedbased on extensive mathematical analysisand modelling of the distributions of pointsscores that would result from different nonlinear scales.
n The revised points scale will award pointsfor the new H7 grade. This is designedto encourage the take-up of higher levelcurricula in senior cycle, and to reduce therisk of taking higher level examinations.At present, many students (up to 20% insome subjects) withdraw from higher levelclose to the LC examination. Furthermore,the research conducted by the EducationResearch Centre confirms that the levelof achievement represented by a H7 isequivalent to the level of achievementrepresented by an O3, and the StateExaminations Commission will reinforce thisalignment through its standard-setting andgrading processes. Given that points will beawarded for an O3, it is appropriate to awardthe same number of points for a H7 grade.n The revised points scale is also designed toreward high levels of performance in somesubjects above more even performance acrossa broader number of subjects. The revisedscale distinguishes between applicants whowould otherwise, under the existing pointsscale, achieve equal aggregate points scores.For example, under the current points scale,an applicant with 6 higher level C1 gradesis awarded 420 points. An applicant with 3higher level C3 grades and 3 higher level B2grades is also awarded 420 points. Under thenew points scale, in 2017 an applicant with 6H4 grades will be awarded 396 points, whilean applicant with 3 H3 grades and 3 H5 gradeswill be awarded 399 points.Given the non-linear design and other features of the new points scale, a simple comparison of anapplicant’s points score under the new scale with the pre-2017 points scale will not be possible. Studentswill, on average, receive slightly less points than under the current system. However, all students applyingthrough the CAO from 2017 will be awarded the new points, no matter when they sat the LeavingCertificate. This means that all students applying through the CAO will be on a level playing-field.Bonus points for Mathematics25 bonus points will continue be awarded in 2017 for higher level mathematics, at grades H6 and above,in a manner similar to the present scheme.Revised Basic Matriculation requirements in 2017As a result of the new Leaving Certificate grades, in2017 the universities and Institutes of Technologywill also introduce revised basic matriculationrequirements, as follows:n Where the requirements are currently 2higher level C3 grades and 4 ordinary levelD3 grades, in 2017 these will become 2 H5and 4 O6/H7 grades.n Where the requirements are currently 5ordinary level D3 grades, in 2017 these willbecome 5 O6/H7 grades.n Where the requirements are currently 3higher level C3 grades and 3 ordinary levelD3 grades, in 2017 these will become 3 H5and 3 O6/H7 grades.Subject requirements which form part of basic matriculation remain unchanged.Any revised subject requirements specific to individual courses for 2017 will beapproved and published by each HEI over the coming period.
Revised scoring for QQI-FET awardsFrom 2017 the points awarded for QQI-FET(formerly FETAC) awards will also be revised.This is required to maintain the existingequivalence with the current points scale, andreflects the overall marginal reductions in studentpoints scores under the new points scale.Currently the maximum possible total score of 360(120 credits x 3 for a distinction) is multiplied by 10and divided by 9 to give a maximum overall pointsscore of 400. From 2017, this maximum possibletotal score of 360 will be multiplied by 13 anddivided by 12, to give a revised maximum overallpoints score of 390 for applicants from furthereducation and training.Revised scoring for LCVP Link ModulesGrades for Leaving Certificate VocationalProgramme (LCVP) Link Modules are aligned withthe current Leaving Certificate grading schemeand equivalent points. With the introduction in2017 of the new Leaving Certificate grades, pointswill be awarded for LCVP Link Modules as follows:Table 3: Revised points for LVCP LinkModules, to be introduced in 2017LCVP ion7066Merit5046Pass3028Scoring for pre-2017 Leaving Certificate applicantsAll of the current (pre-2017) LC grades from D3A1 can be mapped directly to a grade on the newgrading scale. For example, the existing A2 andB1 grade bands are both collapsed into the newgrade 2. This means that for students who sat theLeaving Certificate before 2017, the A2 and B1grade should both be treated the same as a newgrade 2. The points to be awarded from 2017 forpre-2017 Leaving Certificate grades are set outin the tables below. In line with the decision toaward points to students who achieve a grade ofH7 under the new Leaving Certificate gradingscheme, students who achieved an E grade atHigher Level under the earlier grading schemeswill from 2017 be awarded points.The current (pre-2017) E grade band covers from25–39% and does not map directly onto the newH7 grade band, which covers the range 30-39%.Therefore, the points awarded for a pre-2017 higherlevel E grade will be less than for a H7 and havebeen calculated mathematically on the non-linearscale at 33 points.
Points will be therefore awarded to students who sat the Leaving Certificate from 1992-2016 as follows:Table 4: Points for pre-2017 Leaving Certificate applicants, to be introduced in 2017CURRENT (PRE-2017)LEAVING CERTIFICATEGRADING SCALENEW LEAVINGCERTIFICATEGRADING SCALENEW POINTS ATHIGHER LEVELNEW POINTS ATORDINARY LEVELA1H1 / O110056H2 / O28846H3 / O37737H4 / O46628H5 / O55620H6 / O64612330A2B1B2B3C1C2C3D1D2D3EThe pre-1992 grade bands have been converted to the new grade that matches 2/3rd of thepercentage range. These grades will from 2017 then be scored under the revised points scale.It should be noted that all applicants presenting these pre-1992 results will be mature students.Table 5: Points for pre-1992 applicants, to be introduced in 2017CURRENTPOINTSAWARDEDORDINARYLEVELNEW LCGRADEEQUIVALENTNEW POINTSAWARDEDHIGHERLEVELNEW POINTSAWARDEDORDINARYLEVELPRE-1992LC GRADENEW GRADESCURRENTPOINTSAWARDEDHIGHERLEVELA85 - 1009555H1/O110056B70 858040H3/O37737C55 706525H4/O46628D40 555010H6/O64612E25 4000330F10 25NG 10
Leaving Certificate before 2017, the A2 and B1 grade should both be treated the same as a new grade 2. The points to be awarded from 2017 for pre-2017 Leaving Certificate grades are set out in the tables below. In line with the decision to award points to students who achieve a grade of H7 under the new Leaving Certificate grading
