In Irish secondary schools, grades are awarded using letters along this scale:
Higher Level Grade
Percentage Range
Points at Higher Level
Extra Points for Higher Level Maths
H1
90% -100%
100
+25
H2
80% - 89%
88
+25
H3
70% - 79%
77
+25
H4
60% - 69%
66
+25
H5
50% - 59%
56
+25
H6
40% - 49%
46
+25
H7
30% - 39%
37
(no bonus)
H8
under 30%
0
(no bonus)
Ordinary Level Grade
Percentage Range
Points at Ordinary Level
O1
90% -100%
56
O2
80% - 89%
46
O3
70% - 79%
37
O4
60% - 69%
28
O5
50% - 59%
20
O6
40% - 49%
12
O7
30% - 39%
0
O8
under 30%
0
LCVP
Points
DISTINCTION
66
MERIT
46
PASS
28
Foundation Level Grade
Percentage Range
Points at Foundation Level
F1
90% -100%
20
F2
80% - 89%
12
F3
70% - 79%
0
F4
60% - 69%
0
F5
50% - 59%
0
F6
40% - 49%
0
F7
30% - 39%
0
F8
under 30%
0
Any score below 10% is classed as No grade (NG).
At Higher Level, a C grade and above is considered an 'Honour' grade.
The new leaving certificate grading system involves grades such as H1, H2, O1, O2, etc.
Leaving Certificate results are measured by the number of 'points' awarded to the student. It is usually the number of points awarded to the student that forms the basis for the student's acceptance or otherwise into a course of higher education (e.g. a university degree course).
A number of points between 0 and 100 are awarded to students for each Leaving Certificate exam sat. The students then combine the points from their six top scoring exams, to obtain a final total score between 0 and 625.
The number of points awarded for a particular grade depend on whether the student sat the exam for the 'Higher Level' course or the 'Ordinary Level' course. Points are awarded for foundation level maths for admission only on some courses.
Anything below a H8 or O7 is considered a failing grade, and no points are awarded. 25 bonus points will continue to be awarded for Higher Level Mathematics for H6 grades and above. For example, if an applicant receives a H6 grade, an additional 25 points will be added to the 46 points already awarded for a H6 grade i.e. Higher Level Mathematics now carries a points score of 71 for this applicant.[1]
