The morning of Friday 22 August 2025 felt like a held breath for thousands of students across Ireland, as the State Examinations Commission opened the digital gates to the Leaving Cert results at 10am. Here is a fact‑packed guide to the 2025 results – from release timing to the official statistics on top scores, and what to do once you have your number.

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Maximum points possible: 625 ·
Candidates achieving 625 points (2025): 737 (1.2%) ·
H1 grade threshold: 90% or above ·
Release time: 10:00 AM Irish time

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact release date for 2026 has not been announced (SEC)
  • Official average points are not published by the SEC (SEC FAQ)
3Timeline signal
  • CAO Round One offers: 27 August 2025, 2pm (Irish Examiner)
  • Appeals results expected 26 September 2025 (Irish Examiner)
4What’s next
  • Accept Round One offer by 2 September (3pm) (The Journal)
  • Round Two offers: 8 September 2025, 2pm (The Journal) (The Journal)

Six facts from the official CAO distribution give a clear picture of the 2025 cohort. The table below shows the banded points breakdown among 60,937 candidates who scored 100 points or more.

Points range Number of candidates Percentage of scored candidates
625 (maximum) 737 1.2%
600–624 1,645 2.7%
500–599 11,334 18.6%
400–499 17,255 28.3%
300–399 15,168 24.9%
200–299 8,850 14.5%
100–199 3,998 6.6%

The pattern: nearly half of all scored candidates (47.2%) landed between 300 and 499 points – a wide middle that includes many course offers.

What time are Leaving Cert results out in 2025?

Official release time

The Leaving Cert results for 2025 were issued at 10:00 AM Irish time on Friday 22 August 2025, as confirmed by the Irish Examiner reporting from the State Examinations Commission (the national body that runs the exams).

How to check results online

  • Log in to the Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) at examinations.ie – the SEC’s official online portal (Irish Examiner).
  • You will need your exam number and the PIN provided by the SEC (CAO Information Sheet 2025 PDF).
  • Results are also available from your school, but the online portal is the fastest route.
The catch

The portal shows grades and marks in each subject – but it does not automatically calculate your total CAO points. Use the CAO points calculator to convert grades into points.

The implication: students must manually compute their points score, a step that can be overlooked on results day.

What was the average Leaving Cert points in 2025?

Average points across all subjects

The SEC does not publish an official “average points” figure. However, the CAO Leaving Certificate Examination Points Statistics 2025 PDF (the official points distribution) shows 60,937 candidates scored 100 points or more. If we estimate the midpoint of each band, the average sits around 380–400 points – a figure that matches the dominant cluster of 300–499 points (47.2% of candidates).

Distribution of points

  • 46,055 candidates scored 300 points or more (CAO PDF)
  • 8,850 candidates scored 200–299 points
  • 3,998 candidates scored 100–199 points

What this means: the middle of the bell curve is thick – a solid 300–400 points puts you in a competitive bracket for many university courses, while the top 1.2% occupy the 625 ceiling.

What is the highest points in the Leaving Cert?

Maximum points possible (625)

The highest possible score is 625 points, achieved by taking six higher‑level subjects and scoring a H1 (90–100%) in each. The CAO 2025 statistics confirm 737 students reached the maximum – 1.2% of all scored candidates.

How many students achieved 625 points in 2025?

“737 candidates achieved the maximum 625 points.”

– CAO Points Statistics 2025 PDF, the official CAO scoring document

Another 1,645 students scored between 600 and 624 points, meaning roughly 2.4% of the cohort hit the 600+ club.

The upshot

For the 98.8% of students who didn’t get 625, the relevant question is not “how many got top marks” but “what points do I need for my preferred course?” – and that varies widely by college and demand.

The pattern: the overwhelming majority of students should focus on course-specific thresholds rather than the maximum.

Is 450 points in Leaving Cert good?

What 450 points means for CAO offers

450 points sits well above the 300‑point median and places you in the 400–499 band, which held 28.3% of candidates in 2025 (CAO PDF). Many popular courses – including nursing, primary teaching, and most arts programmes – have entry points between 350 and 450. You are competitive for a wide range of university options.

Comparison to average and median points

  • 450 points beats the estimated average (≈380–400).
  • It is below the 500‑point threshold needed for highly competitive courses like medicine, veterinary, and law at top universities.

The trade‑off: 450 is a strong score that opens many doors, but it may not be enough for the most selective courses. Check the 2025 CAO points for your specific course – they are published on the CAO website.

How to access leaving cert results 2025?

Online access via the SEC portal

The Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) is the official channel. You can log in at examinations.ie using your exam number and PIN, as described by the Irish Examiner.

What you need (exam number, PIN)

  • Exam number – printed on your exam timetable or available from your school.
  • PIN – issued by the SEC in the weeks before results day. If you lost it, contact your school or the SEC directly.

The CAO Information Sheet 2025 confirms that the CAO uses the same exam number supplied by the applicant to access results.

Steps to check your results

  1. Go to examinations.ie and click “Candidate Self Service Portal”.
  2. Enter your exam number and PIN.
  3. View your grades for each subject, along with the marks.
  4. Calculate your points using the CAO points calculator.
  5. Check your CAO offers – Round One offers were released at 2pm on Wednesday 27 August 2025 (Irish Examiner).

The catch: without a calculator handy, students may misjudge their total points before offers appear.

Pros and Cons of the 2025 Leaving Cert results process

Upsides

  • Results available online from 10am – no waiting for post.
  • Clear points bands published by the CAO (CAO PDF).
  • Generous acceptance window for Round One offers (until 2 September).
  • Appeals process opens immediately after results.

Downsides

  • No official average points published – students must estimate.
  • CSSP portal can be slow under heavy traffic.
  • Appeals results not expected until 26 September – a long wait.
  • Some students may not know their PIN or exam number on the day.

The implication: the process is efficient but places the burden of calculation and timing on students.

Timeline: Key dates after the 2025 Leaving Cert results

  • 22 August 2025 – Results released at 10am (Irish Examiner)
  • 26 August 2025 (noon) – SEC publishes subject‑by‑subject statistics (The Irish Times)
  • 26 August 2025 (5pm) – 27 August (8pm) – Window to apply to view exam scripts (The Irish Times)
  • 27 August 2025 (2pm) – CAO Round One offers released (Irish Examiner)
  • 2 September 2025 (3pm) – Deadline to accept Round One offers (The Journal)
  • 8 September 2025 (2pm) – CAO Round Two offers (The Journal)
  • 26 September 2025 – Appeals results expected (Irish Examiner)

The pattern: the post-results window is compressed, requiring quick decisions on offers and appeals.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • 65,444 students sat the Leaving Cert in June 2025 (The Journal).
  • 89,308 applicants applied to the CAO (The Journal).
  • H1 grade threshold: 90% or above (SEC grading scale).
  • Maximum points: 625 (six H1 grades at higher level).

What’s unclear

  • Whether average points were higher or lower than 2024 – the SEC does not publish an average (CAO).
  • Whether points will drop in 2026 – depends on demand and course availability (The Journal).
  • Exact date for 2026 Leaving Cert results – normally announced in spring (SEC).

The upshot: the SEC’s limited publication leaves students and families to infer trends from available data.

Quotes from the 2025 results process

“737 candidates achieved the maximum 625 points.”

– CAO Leaving Certificate Examination Points Statistics 2025 (PDF), the official CAO scoring document

“The Candidate Self Service Portal provides grades and marks in each subject.”

– CAO Information Sheet 2025 (PDF), the official guide for applicants

“Students had until 3pm on Tuesday 2 September 2025 to accept their first‑round CAO offers.”

– The Journal, an established Irish news outlet

Summary

For the 2025 Leaving Cert cohort, the numbers are clear: 737 students hit the maximum 625 points, while the vast majority fall into the 300–499 band. The window to act is tight – Round One offers must be accepted by 2 September, and appeals decisions land on 26 September. For Irish students and their families, the choice is straightforward: understand your points, check your CAO offers quickly, and decide whether to appeal before the deadline – or prepare for the next round of offers on 8 September.

Additional sources

irishtimes.com, caopointscalculator.com, roscommonherald.ie, advertiser.ie, crosscareyouthinfo.ie, irishtimes.com, facebook.com, breakthroughmaths.ie

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Frequently asked questions

Is 400 LC points good?

Yes, 400 points is above the estimated average and places you in the 400–499 band, which accounted for 28.3% of candidates in 2025. It is competitive for many university courses, though not for the most selective programmes like medicine or law.

What percentage is a H1 in Leaving Cert?

A H1 grade requires 90–100% in the subject. It is the highest grade on the Leaving Cert grading scale.

What percentage of students get a H1 in maths?

The SEC publishes subject‑by‑subject statistics, usually on the day after results. For 2025, the data was released at noon on 26 August 2025. Check the SEC website for exact maths‑specific figures.

Will points go down in 2026?

Points can fluctuate based on demand, number of applicants, and available places. There is no official prediction. The trend since 2020 has been relatively stable, but some courses may see slight changes. Monitor the CAO website for updates.

What is the difference between H1 and H2 grades?

H1 = 90–100% (100 CAO points at higher level). H2 = 80–89% (88 CAO points at higher level). The difference is 12 points per subject, which can add up across six subjects.

Can I appeal my Leaving Cert results?

Yes. The window to apply to view your scripts opened at 5pm on 26 August 2025 and closed at 8pm on 27 August 2025. Appeals results are expected on 26 September 2025. Contact your school for the specific process.

How do I check my Leaving Cert points total?

Use the CAO points calculator, available on the CAO Information Sheet. Convert each grade to points (H1=100, H2=88, etc.) and add up your best six subjects.

Related reading: Texts and Tests 4: PDF, Solutions & Online Access · St Mary’s Secondary School: A Guide to Locations Across Ireland