Leaving Certificate
- What is the Leaving Certificate?
- Leaving Certificate 2025
- Leaving Certificate marking system and assessment
- Leaving Certificate exam fee
- Getting a copy of your old Leaving Certificate results
- More information
What is the Leaving Certificate?
During the final two years of Senior Cycle, students take one of 3 programmes, each leading to a State examination.
These are the:
- Leaving Certificate Established
- Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)
- Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA)
Most Senior Cycle students choose the established Leaving Certificate programme. This 2-year programme covers a wide range of subjects (see ‘Leaving Certificate subjects and assessment’ below).
In general, students take 5 or more subjects (usually 7) for examination, one of which must be Irish. Subjects are normally studied at either Ordinary or Higher Level. Irish and Mathematics can be studied at Foundation Level. Foundation Level is geared to the needs of students who might have difficulty with subjects at Ordinary or Higher Level.
Leaving Certificate 2025
The Leaving Certificate 2025 written exams will take place from Wednesday, 4 June 2025 to Tuesday, 24 June 2025. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has published the exam timetable (pdf) and more information for Leaving Certificate 2025.
The oral exams for Irish and foreign languages (pdf) will run from Saturday, 12 April 2025 to Thursday, 17 April 2025.
The exams for music practical performance will take place between Monday, 31 March 2025 and Friday, 11 April 2025.
Leaving Certificate marking system and assessment
The Department of Education publishes syllabus and curriculum information. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment provides a list of Leaving Certificate subjects.
You can read about the assessment arrangements for Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate exams in 2025 (pdf). This sets out the adjusted assessment arrangements for students doing State exams in the 2024-2025 school year.
Marking system for examination grades
The examination scale has 8 grades, the highest grade is Grade 1 and the lowest grade is Grade 8.
The 8-point grading scale replaced the 14-point scale at both Higher and Ordinary levels in 2017.
Marks between 100% and 30% are divided into seven grade bands (1-7). Each band is 10% wide.
The scheme means that the Common Points Scale used by the CAO to determine entry into higher education institutions was also revised in 2017.
| New grades* | % Marks |
| H1/O1 | 90 - 100 |
| H2/O2 | 80 < 90 |
| H3/O3 | 70 < 80 |
| H4/O4 | 60 < 70 |
| H5/O5 | 50 < 60 |
| H6/O6 | 40 < 50 |
| H7/O7 | 30 <40 |
| H8/O8 | 0 < 30 |
*Grades at Higher level are prefixed with H. Grades at Ordinary level are prefixed with O.
Marking system (2015-16)
| Percentage Range | Grade |
| 90% or over | A1 |
| 85% but less than 90% | A2 |
| 80% but less than 85% | B1 |
| 75% but less than 80% | B2 |
| 70% but less than 75% | B3 |
| 65% but less than 70% | C1 |
| 60% but less than 65% | C2 |
| 55% but less than 60% | C3 |
| 50% but less than 55% | D1 |
| 45% but less than 50% | D2 |
| 40% but less than 45% | D3 |
| 25% but less than 40% | E |
| 10% but less than 25% | F |
| Less than 10% | No grade |
Senior Cycle and Leaving Certificate reform
The Department of Education has announced plans to reform the Senior Cycle and Leaving Certificate. You can read about these changes and find information for students, parents and schools on the Senior Cycle Redevelopment hub on Gov.ie.
Curriculumonline.ie has information on the syllabus for each subject in the Senior Cycle and the latest developments and changes.
Leaving Certificate exam fee
There is no fee to sit the Leaving Certificate exams in 2025.
Mock exams
The State Examinations Commission is not responsible for mock exams. If your school is charging for mock exams, this is likely to cover the cost of the exam papers and/or getting them corrected externally.
Getting a copy of your old Leaving Certificate results
You may be asked for evidence that you have completed State examinations when you apply for a job or for further education. It is always useful to have a copy of your results as well as the original Certificate, especially if you plan to work or study outside Ireland.
The State Examinations Commission can give you a certified statement of your results.