Record 70,411 Leaving Certificate results released, top grades fall

A record number of 70,411 students received their Leaving Certificate results on Friday, August 21, 2026, marking a 15 per cent increase since 2024. The results, available online from 10am, showed a continued decline in top grades as part of a planned return to pre-pandemic standards. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) data revealed that the proportion of H1 grades at higher level fell to 10.1 per cent, down from 12.1 per cent in 2025. This represents a significant drop from the peak of around 15 per cent seen in 2022, 2023, and 2024, though it remains above the 2019 pre-pandemic figure of 5.9 per cent. Similar deflation was seen in ordinary level, with O1 grades down one percentage point to 2.7 per cent. The decline is attributed to a more modest post-marking adjustment applied to this year's raw scores. The adjustment increased 35 per cent of all grades, compared to 52 per cent in 2025 and 68 per cent in 2024. This process was introduced to prevent a sudden drop in results for students affected by pandemic disruptions. Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton confirmed the gradual phase-out will continue. "There has been a further adjustment deflation this year.