Guides
Practical, up-to-date guides on every route through Irish education and into work. Written to be read in minutes, not hours.
Why Our School Is Moving to CourseCompass for 2026/27
We're switching our guidance department to CourseCompass's School Package this year. Here's what convinced me, what it actually includes, and what it costs.
What This Year's CAO Points Actually Teach Our 5th Years
Points rose on 627 courses in 2026 even though grades fell. A guidance counsellor on why that happened, and the lesson worth teaching now, a full year before it matters.
CAO Round 2, 2026: What the Numbers Are Actually Telling Us
3,428 Round 2 offers, 184 courses down on Round 1, and a reply deadline of Wednesday. A guidance counsellor's read on what actually moved this week.
What It Actually Takes to Get an H1 in the Leaving Cert
H1s got rarer in 2026 — down to 10.1% of all grades. Here's what an H1 actually requires, how grading changed this year, and what genuinely helps beyond generic study tips.
Got an H8 in the Leaving Cert? Here's What It Actually Means and What to Do
An H8 is 0-29% at Higher Level and carries 0 CAO points. Here's exactly what that does to your application, your options for viewing scripts and appealing, and realistic next steps.
CAO Points 2026 vs 2025: What Actually Changed, and Why
CAO points rose on average in 2026 even though grades fell. Here's why that happened, which courses moved the most, and what it means if you're applying next year.
Backdoor Routes Into Irish College Courses: The Real Alternative Paths
Missed the points for your course? There are real, legitimate alternative routes in — PLCs, tertiary degrees, mature entry, HEAR/DARE and more. Here's how each one actually works.
Should You Repeat the Leaving Cert? A Realistic Look at the Decision
Thinking about repeating the Leaving Cert? Here's how CAO points actually work for repeat students, what a repeat year costs, and the real risks and benefits.
Is StudyClix a Scam? An Honest Look at the Irish Revision Platform
Wondering whether StudyClix is worth paying for before you sign up? Here's what it actually is, what you get for your money, and who's behind it.
Is Examinaite a Scam? What This AI Leaving Cert Tool Actually Does
Examinaite promises AI-personalised Leaving Cert revision and feedback. Here's who built it, what it actually offers, what it costs, and what to be realistic about.
College Accommodation in Ireland: A Realistic Guide to Finding Somewhere to Live
Digs, purpose-built student accommodation, or a house share? A practical, honest guide to Irish student accommodation — costs, timing, supports, and how to avoid scams.
CAO Change of Mind: How It Works and What Not to Mess Up
The CAO Change of Mind window lets you rework your course list after the Leaving Cert. Here's exactly how it works, the 2026 deadline, and the mistakes that catch people out.
Is CourseCompass a Scam? An Honest Look at the Irish Career Test
Wondering whether CourseCompass is legit before taking its career test? Here's what it is, how it works, who's behind it, and what students and schools actually get from it.
I Wish We Had Tools Like Course Compass When I Was Choosing My Future
A trainee teacher — and future guidance counsellor — on why Irish students need better guidance tools, and why technology should support counsellors, not replace them.
I Thought Medicine Was Over for Me. Then Course Compass Changed Everything
After the HPAT didn't go her way, Chloe thought her future had disappeared overnight. A student's story about finding a different route to the same dream.
The 5 Tools I Would Recommend to Every Guidance Counsellor in Ireland
A working guidance counsellor's toolkit: five websites and platforms that make Irish career guidance conversations better — and how to use each one.
The CAO Points System Is Somehow More Complicated Than It Needs to Be
A teacher on why students struggle to work out their own CAO points — and an open feature request for a predicted points calculator.
No CAO Offer (or the Wrong One)? Here's Exactly What to Do
Missed the points, got your fifth choice, or got nothing at all — a calm, practical plan for the days after CAO offers come out.
The Leaving Cert Is Changing, and Students Need to Know What That Actually Means
Senior Cycle Redevelopment explained: which subjects change when, what the new assessment structures mean, and the questions every student should be asking.
Starting 5th Year in 2026? Here Are the Things You Actually Need to Know
A guidance counsellor's practical advice for students entering Senior Cycle in September 2026 — what's changing, what to focus on, and why you don't need your whole future figured out.
What I Actually Want Students to Bring to a Guidance Meeting
You don't need answers before a guidance appointment — you need questions. A counsellor on how to get real value from a guidance meeting.
What to Do After Secondary School: Every Option Explained
University isn't the only route. Here's an honest look at all your options after the Leaving Cert — CAO, PLC courses, apprenticeships, work, and gap years.
Changing Career in Ireland: A Realistic Guide for Adults
Feeling stuck in the wrong job? How to change career in Ireland at 25, 35 or 55 — retraining routes, funding, and a step-by-step plan.
How the CAO Actually Works: A Plain-English Guide
Deadlines, the order-of-preference rule, round offers, and the mistakes that cost students their place — the CAO system explained simply.
How to Choose a College Course You Won't Drop Out Of
One in six first-years doesn't progress. A practical method for choosing a course based on evidence about yourself — not points, prestige or panic.
Leaving Cert Points Explained (With the Full Points Table)
How Leaving Cert points are calculated, how the maths bonus works, and why the points system matters less than you think.
Springboard+ Explained: Free University Courses for Adults
Springboard+ offers free and 90%-subsidised college courses for workers and jobseekers in Ireland. Who qualifies, what's on offer, and how to apply.
Apprenticeships in Ireland: Earn, Learn, and Skip the Debt
Ireland has 70+ apprenticeships from electrician to software developer to insurance. How they work, what they pay, and how to get one.
PLC Courses Explained: Ireland's Most Underrated Route
What Post Leaving Cert courses are, how much they cost, and how a one-year PLC can get you into degrees your points couldn't.
Taking a Gap Year in Ireland: How to Do It Right
Deferring your CAO place, working abroad, saving for college — how to take a gap year that helps your future instead of stalling it.
The SUSI Grant, Explained: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
Ireland's student grant covers fees and living costs for eligible students. How SUSI works, income thresholds, rates, and application mistakes to avoid.
What College Really Costs in Ireland (and How to Cut It)
Student contribution, rent, transport, books — a realistic budget for college in Ireland, plus every legitimate way to bring the cost down.