The CAO Points System Is Somehow More Complicated Than It Needs to Be

Can I ask one question?

Why does the CAO points system feel like it was designed by someone who really didn't want students to understand it?

I'm only half joking.

Every year I have students asking me some variation of:

"Sir, how many points do I have?"

And then we start the process.

"Okay, what subjects?"

"Six."

"Which six?"

"Well, I'm not sure."

"What level?"

"Which one?"

"And what grade?"

"Well, I think I'll get a H2."

"Okay, and Maths?"

"I might get a H3."

"Are you doing Higher Maths?"

"Yes."

"Right, so there's the 25 bonus points."

"Wait, what?"

And suddenly we're all sitting around a table doing Leaving Cert mathematics just to work out how many Leaving Cert points someone might get.

The actual system isn't impossible once you understand it.

The CAO calculates points using your six best recognised results from one Leaving Certificate sitting. Higher Level Maths can also receive an additional 25 points when the relevant conditions are met.

But for students, especially when they're trying to predict their results months before the exams, it can still feel ridiculously complicated.

Which brings me to Course Compass.

I've actually had students ask me:

"Why doesn't Course Compass just calculate my CAO points for me?"

And honestly...

Good question.

I think it would make sense.

If you're already entering your subjects, expected grades and academic information, having a simple estimated CAO points figure sitting there would be incredibly useful.

Obviously, there is a difference between a prediction and your actual CAO points. Nobody can know exactly what grade you're going to get until you sit the exams.

But imagine being able to say:

Predicted points: 532

Then:

Courses currently within your predicted range: 18

Then:

Courses to consider if you achieve 550+: 7

And:

Courses to consider if you achieve 500: 14

That would actually make the whole process feel much more manageable.

Because that's the thing about CAO.

Students don't really care about points in isolation.

They care about what the points mean.

A student doesn't wake up thinking, "I'd love to get 580 points."

They wake up thinking, "I want to get into Law."

The points are just the barrier between them and the course.

So, Course Compass, if you're listening...

I'm officially submitting my request.

Please calculate the bloody points.

I'll even volunteer for beta testing.

I'll bring the calculator.

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Editor's note: Mark got half his wish — we've built a free CAO Points Calculator right here on Irish Guidance. Predicted-points course matching we'll leave with the Course Compass team.