New Leaving Cert grading system from 2017

Local students who started fifth year at schools across Carlow & Kilkenny this week will have a new scale of CAO points when they sit the Leaving Cert in 2017.

Instead of 14 grades students will have eight grades from H1 to H8 at Honours level, and O1 to O8 at Ordinary level.

The Education Minister Jan O’ Sullivan says the new scale has been designed to minimise random selection for third level.

Points will also be awarded for those achieving above 30 percent at higher level which is currently graded an E.