Points are calculated from the CAO scale; course entry depends on minimum requirements and each year's cut-off. Check the requirements for each course with the CAO and the college. Terms of use.
How CAO points are calculated
Each Leaving Certificate result is turned into points on the CAO scale. Your six highest scores from one sitting are added together. Higher Level Maths at H6 or above gets 25 extra points, and that bonus is added before the six are chosen.
Example. A student gets H6 in Maths, H3 in English, O2 in Irish, H4 in French, H3 in Biology, H5 in History and H2 in Art. Maths is worth 46 plus the 25 bonus, 71 points. The lowest result, Irish at O2 (46 points), is left out. The other six add up to 435 points.
The CAO points scale
Grades 1 to 8 match these percentage bands: 1 is 90% to 100%, 2 is 80% to 89%, 3 is 70% to 79%, 4 is 60% to 69%, 5 is 50% to 59%, 6 is 40% to 49%, 7 is 30% to 39% and 8 is below 30%. LCVP Link Modules score 66 for a Distinction, 46 for a Merit and 28 for a Pass.
Questions
How many subjects count for CAO points?
Your highest 6 results from one sitting of the Leaving Certificate count. If you take seven or eight subjects, the lowest scores are left out. Results from different years cannot be added together.
How do the Higher Maths bonus points work?
Higher Level Maths at H6 or above gets 25 bonus points, so an H6 is worth 71 points instead of 46, and an H1 is worth 125. The bonus only counts if Maths, with the bonus added, is one of your six highest results. There is no bonus below H6 or at Ordinary Level.
What is the maximum CAO points?
Six H1s give 600 points. With the Maths bonus the most anyone can score is 625.
Do LCVP Link Modules count for points?
Yes. All colleges in the CAO award points for the LCVP Link Modules: 66 for a Distinction, 46 for a Merit and 28 for a Pass. They count as one of your six results, but some colleges do not accept them towards minimum subject requirements.
Do Foundation Level grades get points?
Foundation Level is not on the common CAO points scale. Some colleges award points for Foundation Level Maths or Irish, so check with the college you are applying to.
Do I get into a course if my points are above last year's cut-off?
Not necessarily. You must also meet the minimum entry requirements, such as a grade in Maths, Irish, English or a language, and the cut-off for a course is set each year by the number of places and the points of the applicants.
Will the Leaving Cert changes affect points?
The senior cycle is being redeveloped in stages. The first group of revised subjects, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Business, started in September 2025 with additional assessment components worth at least 40% of the marks, and is first examined in 2027. The CAO has not announced a change to the points scale. This page will be updated if it does.
