Leaving Cert students have received record grades this year, with almost 60,000 of them getting their results online this morning.
The new calculated grading system, introduced due to Covid-19, shows an increase of 4.4 percentage points on average across all subjects.
The Department of Education says today's results are "stronger" than a normal year but that the grades estimated by teachers were higher again before the new system brought them down.
16.9 per cent of grades have been cut back.
H1 grades of 90 per cent and above, equivalent to the old A1, are up 3.3 per cent at Higher Level and 1.7 per cent at Ordinary Level.
There's been a three per cent rise in H1 grades in Higher-Level Irish, or over 800 more students picking up top marks compared with last year.
In English the increase was 1.3 per cent, or nearly six hundred more, and in Maths there was a two per cent rise at higher level.
In Maths and Irish, the numbers graded at Foundation level has roughly halved.
In Art, Economics, Accounting, Business, Home Ec, the share of H1s at higher level has at least doubled while in Music, they rose from 4.3 per cent to 13 per cent.
Helpline
The Leaving Certificate student helpline, 1800 265 165, which is provided by the National Parents Council post-primary will be available from 11.00 am today for anyone who anyone who has questions about their results.
It will operate until September 16th after the CAO first round offers and is staffed by qualified guidance counsellors. You can get more information here.
