Leaving Cert Results 2026: What Happens Next

Leaving Cert results 2026 will be released at 10am on Friday 21 August 2026 through the SEC Candidate Self-Service Portal. CAO Round 1 offers follow five days later, on Wednesday 26 August at 2pm. Between those two dates, you’ll be able to view your scripts, weigh up an appeal, and get ready to respond to an offer — this guide walks you through each step.

How do I get my Leaving Cert results on the day?

You log in to the SEC Candidate Self-Service Portal from 10am on Friday 21 August 2026 — there’s no need to go anywhere. Many schools still open their doors that morning so students can collect a printed statement and see teachers and friends, but the portal is the official channel and it works from your phone.

A few practical tips for the morning:

• Check your portal login works before results day. If you’ve forgotten your details, sort it out in advance through examinations.ie.
• The portal can be busy right at 10am. Your results aren’t going anywhere — a short wait changes nothing.
• Take a screenshot or note of your grades, including levels (Higher or Ordinary), so you can work out your points calmly afterwards.

What do my grades and points actually mean?

Each grade converts to CAO points, and your points score is the total of your best six subjects. Higher Level grades run from H1 (top) to H8; Ordinary Level from O1 to O8. An H1 is worth 100 points, an H2 is 88, and so on down the scale, while an O1 is worth 56.

Two things trip people up:

• Only your best six count. If you sat seven or eight subjects, the lowest scores simply drop away — they can’t hurt you.
• Higher Maths bonus. A grade of H6 or better in Higher Level Maths earns 25 bonus points, but only if Maths is among your best six subjects once the bonus is added. The maximum possible score is 625.

If you want the full grade-by-grade table and a worked example, see our guide to calculating your points.

Should I view my exam scripts?

Yes, if any grade surprised you — viewing your scripts is free and it’s the single best way to decide whether an appeal is worth it. You apply online through the SEC portal after results. Paper-marked scripts are viewed in person (usually at your school), while digitally-marked scripts are viewed online. Crucially, you can see the component marks — how each section and question was scored — so you can judge whether an examiner might reasonably have awarded more.

The timeline here is tight. Script viewing and the appeal application window both fall in the days shortly after results, so if you think you might appeal, apply to view your scripts straight away. We’ve a full walkthrough in Viewing Your Leaving Cert Exam Scripts.

How do appeals work?

An appeal is a complete re-mark of your script by a different examiner, using the same marking scheme as the original. You apply online through the SEC portal shortly after results — the window is short, roughly a week, so don’t sit on the decision. There’s a fee per subject, but it’s refunded if your grade is upgraded.

If an appeal does raise your grade, the SEC notifies the CAO automatically, and that can trigger an offer in a later round — including a course you originally missed. Importantly, you should still accept any CAO offer you receive in the meantime; accepting doesn’t stop an upgraded offer coming later. Full details in our appeals guide.

What happens with the CAO after results?

Round 1 offers issue at 2pm on Wednesday 26 August 2026, and you respond online at cao.ie by the reply date shown on your offer. A few things worth knowing:

Date	What happens
Fri 21 Aug, 10am	Results on the SEC portal
Wed 26 Aug, 2pm	CAO Round 1 offers
Thu 27 Aug	Available Places facility opens
Following weeks	Later offer rounds, including appeal upgrades

• Accept your best offer, even if it wasn’t your first choice. If a higher preference becomes available in a later round, it automatically replaces the lower one.
• Available Places opens on 27 August — these are courses with unfilled places that anyone can apply for, even if the course wasn’t on your original list.
• Change of Mind closed on 1 July 2026, so your list as it stood then is what offers are based on.

If college isn’t happening this year — or you’ve changed direction — the CAO for 2027 entry opens on 5 November 2026, with a discounted-fee deadline of 20 January 2027 and the normal closing date of 1 February 2027.

What if my results aren’t what I hoped for?

First, know that one set of exam results does not decide your life — there are more routes to almost every career than ever before. Give yourself a day or two before making decisions. Then look at the practical options: a later CAO round or Available Places, an appeal if the script viewing supports it, a PLC (further education) course that can lead into the same degree, repeating, or an apprenticeship.

Talk to your guidance counsellor — most schools make them available around results time — and lean on family and friends. If you’re struggling, citizensinformation.ie has clear information on education options, and don’t be afraid to seek support for how you’re feeling, not just what you’ll do next.

What about grants and money for college?

Apply to SUSI as early as you can — you don’t need to wait for an offer. SUSI is Ireland’s national student grant authority, and applying before you have a confirmed place keeps your funding on track for September. If your circumstances are complicated, citizensinformation.ie explains eligibility in plain terms.

Whatever Friday 21 August brings, the days after it are full of options. Take them one at a time.