Billy Ryle says Kerry’s Leaving Cert candidates have achieved outstanding results as new senior cycle programme proves that Ireland cherishes young people of all abilities…
You have the results so now keep a close eye on a fast-moving timeline as grade deflation continues for the second consecutive year
SUPERB
Kerry’s 2026 Leaving Cert cohort deservedly reaped the fruits of their labour when the exam results were released today, Friday 21st August at 10am by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) directly to candidates through the Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP).
Results are also available in schools from 10am. Leaving Cert results in Kerry are superb again this year.
Continued below…
EARLY
Leaving Cert results were once again issued in timely fashion this year as the timeline gets back to normal.
A record 70,411 candidates sat for the Leaving Cert this year – 65,326 for the established Leaving Cert and 4,779 for the Leaving Cert Applied (LCA). 2,165 candidates from Kerry sat for the Leaving Cert exam – 2016 for the established Leaving Cert and 149 for the LCA.
INCLUSION
Noteworthy history was made this year when the Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes were assessed for the first time.
These new programmes are tailored to students with complex learning and development needs who, to-date, had no access to any Leaving Cert exam.
306 candidates from 78 schools – 30 special schools and 48 post-primary schools – will get their results today along with their peers who did the established Leaving Cert and the LCA.
Well done to the SEC for providing these new senior cycle programmes in a wonderful spirit of inclusion.
POST-MARKING ADJUSTMENT
Post-marking adjustment was applied again this year so that aggregate results are slightly above, 2020 levels but still well ahead of 2019 levels when exams were last run as normal.
Additional marks were added to all candidates raw marks. No marks were adjusted downwards. The average adjustment in individual candidate scores dropped to 4.0 this year from 5.8 in 2025.
Adjustment to marks at the top of the scale fell to 2.3 from 3.1 last year. At the bottom of the scale the adjustment was 7.0 compared to 10.3 last year.
DEFLATION
As expected, overall grade deflation again kicked in gently to avoid any cliff-edge in the results. There are fewer top grades again this year with the Higher One (H1) grades down from 12.1% to 10.1% and the Higher Two (H2) grades down from 19.5% to 17.8%.
Only 35.5% of all grades were increased this year through the application of the post- marking adjustment compared to 52.4% last year, 68% in 2024 and 71.1% in 2023.
There was no downgrading again this year. There should be some downward movement in CAO points’ requirements for some courses. However points’ requirements for competitive courses will remain high.
CONSISTENT
When it comes to achievement in the Leaving Cert, Kerry students are top of the Class. They consistently perform superbly in the Leaving Cert exam, which has stood the test of time as one of the best second level terminal tests in the world.
The Leaving Certificate is a valuable document so celebrate your results before making a final decision about the next step in education, training or the world of work.
MYRIAD
The world is the oyster of young people on the exciting journey through life. There are a myriad of choices available in a country which values its young people.
The vast majority of the 2026 Leaving Cert cohort will continue in education. State training by Solas in apprenticeships and traineeships, Teagasc in agriculture and food services, BIM in sea fishing and aquaculture, The Defence Forces in Army, Navy, Air Force and Garda training was never so plentiful in a booming economy.
OPTIONS
While success should be celebrated, it’s important to consider your options during the next few days and to keep a close eye on the fast-moving timeline.
CAO offers will flood into Kerry when Round One is released on Wednesday, 26th August and important decisions will have to be made about your next step.
MARKS
Candidates can see their marks, including marks for each component and the post marking adjustment, on the CSSP from 12pm on Tuesday, 25th August. Candidates can apply on the CSSP to view their scripts online between 5pm on Tuesday, 25th August and 8pm on Wednesday, 26th August.
LCA application to view scripts is done online during the same timeline. It’s well worth viewing your marked scripts before deciding to appeal any subject(s) results. The facility to view marked scripts is provided free of charge.
VIEWING
Both scripts marked manually and scripts marked online will be available to candidates for viewing. In the case of the former, each candidate will be assigned one of two three-hour sessions on Saturday, 29th August.
Session One is from 9.30am to 12.30pm, Session Two is from 2pm to 5pm. Online access to view scripts that were marked online will also be available from 9am on Saturday, 29th August to 9am on Sunday, 30th August.
RECHECK
Any candidate who wishes to submit an appeal application against an awarded grade – commonly called ‘applying for a recheck’ – can do so on the CSSP between 10am on Sunday, 30th August and 5pm on Monday, 31st August.
APPEAL
The results of appeals will be available to view on a candidate’s CSSP from 11am on Friday, 25th September. Appeal results will also be available on Schools Portals from 11am on Friday, 25th September. The appeal fee is €40 per Leaving Cert subject and €15.50 per LCA subject. The fee is refunded if the appeal is successful.
TIMELINE
The timelines for candidates to apply to view scripts and to lodge their appeal applications are very short. The SEC maintains that these timelines are essential to ensure that the remaining stages of the appeal process can be completed as quickly as possible. The SEC will not accept late applications for viewing scripts or for submitting an appeal against an awarded grade.
OFFERS
Latest CAO data confirms a final application figure of 95,597 applicants, up significantly from 89,308 in 2025 and 83,169 in 2024. The blue riband courses are again in high demand and will require high points to secure a course offer.
However, with over 54,000 places on offer this year, applicants can be very hopeful of a college offer. All will be revealed when CAO Round One of offers is released next Wednesday, 26th August.
EARLY EMAIL
Because of the volume of emails being issued on Wednesday, CAO has made a change this year which some applicants might find confusing.
CAO will begin emailing successful applicants in batches, with the first batch of emails being issued just after 12 noon.
That means that some applicants will receive notification of their Round One offer before 2pm. Don’t panic if you don’t receive an email, as you will be able to log in yourself from 2pm.
Remember also that, while you may receive an email with your offer notification before 2pm, you can’t log in to view and accept an offer until 2pm.
I sincerely hope that today and next Wednesday will be joyful days for Kerry’s Leaving Cert cohort.
SEC/CAO TIMELINE
• Fri., 21st Aug: Leaving Cert results issued online at 10am
• Tues., 25th Aug.: Candidates can see their marks on the CSSP from 12pm
• Tues., 25th Aug.: Online application to view exam scripts opens at 5pm
• Wed., 26th Aug.: Online application to view exam scripts closes at 8pm
• Wed., 26th Aug.: CAO Round One offers online from 2pm
• Thurs., 27th Aug: CAO available place facility opens
• Sat., 29th Aug.: Viewing of scripts marked manually from 9.30am to 12.30pm
• Sat., 29th Aug.: Viewing of scripts marked manually from 2.00pm to 5.00pm
• Sat., 29th Aug.: Viewing of scripts marked online from 9am
• Sun., 30th Aug : Viewing of scripts marked online closes at 9am
• Sun., 30th Aug: Application to appeal opens at 10am
• Mon. 31st Aug: Application to appeal closes at 5pm
• Tues., 1st Sept: Accept Round One offer by 3pm
• Mon., 7th Sept: CAO Round Two offers online at 2pm
• Wed., 9th Sept: Accept Round Two offers by 3pm
• Tues., 15th Sept: CAO Round Three offers online at 10am
• Thurs., 17th Sept: Accept Round Three offers by 3pm
• Tues., 22nd Sept: CAO Round Four offers online at 10am
• Thurs., 24th Sept: Accept Round Four offers by 3pm
• Fri., 25th Sept.: Results of Leaving Cert appeals released at 11am
• Tues., 29th Sept.: CAO Round Five offers online at 10am
• Thurs., 1st Oct.,: Accept Round Five offers by 3pm
• Thurs., 1st Oct.,: CAO offer season ends
Many Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) courses still have vacancies
• Tertiary Degree course applications accepted to late September
• Apply to Solas for apprenticeship training at www.apprenticeship.ie
• Apply to Teagasc for training in agriculture and food services at www.teagasc.ie
• Apply to BIM for training in sea fishing and aquaculture industries at www.bim.ie
• Apply to the Defence Forces (Army, Navy & Air Force) for training at www.publicjobs.ie
• Apply for An Garda Síochána or Emergency Services recruitment in press or www.publicjobs.ie
Many schools cater for repeat Leaving Cert students. Double check all important dates on official correspondence.
The free confidential help line phone is 1800 265 165 and text is +353 86 1800685
Good luck to all candidates getting Leaving Cert results today.
• Billy Ryle is a Career Guidance Counsellor and Educational Commentator
