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There will be no more As, Bs or Cs in the Leaving Cert

Big changes are coming.

THE EDUCATION MINISTER has announced a major overhaul of how the Leaving Cert is graded.

Gone are As, Bs and Cs, in are 1, 2, 3 and will see the CAO points system overhauled.

The 14 existing grades will be replaced by eight different scores, ranging from H1-H8 in higher level to O1-O8 in ordinary level.

The plan will be rolled out for students who enter fifth year in September.

This is how many points will be awarded:

PastedImage-99885 Dept of Education Dept of Education

A new common points system is currently being developed by the universities and institutes of technology and, following review by academic councils, will be published in September.

The report published today by the Department of Education also found that despite the perception of many, is not, in fact very predictable and that those who rely on their predictability too often do not perform as well as those who prepare more.

Speaking today, Jan O’Sullivan said the reforms would encourage students to be more ambitious.

“The grading system of the Leaving Certificate has been left unchanged for more than two decades. The current system of 14 grades increases pressure on students. The majority of grades are separated by just 5%, resulting in students striving to gain minimal percentage increases to achieve higher grades.”

Read: The Leaving Cert isn’t the end of the world, even if it may feel like it

Rea: 14 tips on filling in the CAO from people who have been through it and survived…

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54 Comments
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    Mute Barry O'Neill
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    Oct 16th 2014, 10:11 AM

    They will continue to suffer while all of the smaller breweries keep popping up and making a superior product. They need to either start buying them up or move towards making better beer. People sitting at home on a Friday night with a six pack will mostly go for craft beer now as opposed to the watery stuff we drank for years.

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    Mute James Keane
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    Oct 16th 2014, 11:40 AM

    Spot on Barry. Although I hope they focus on their own offerings as oppose to buying the smaller craft brewers out.
    Franciscan Wells doesn’t taste te same since they were bought out by Coors!

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    Mute glenoir
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    Oct 16th 2014, 10:42 AM

    Guinness is no longer owned by Guinness but by diageo who have got rid of half the staff and treated them awfully

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    Mute Julia85
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    Oct 16th 2014, 1:26 PM

    I have several family members in Guinness and they are definitely not treated appallingly.

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    Mute Frank M Cgrath
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    Oct 16th 2014, 10:05 AM

    Ill drink to that

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    Mute Gearóid Ó Murchadha
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    Oct 16th 2014, 10:09 AM

    Surely if you’re making billions in profit 1.5% isn’t a big deal?

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    Mute Aindriú de Domhain
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    Oct 16th 2014, 2:04 PM

    Not that I’d wish to see people lose jobs, especially in Ireland, but I have little sympathy for Diageo.

    I’ve seen them and their marketing up close and personal, and they way they try to ingratiate themselves with Irish identity and buy a good name for themselves by associating with charities. The absolute cynicism of Arthur’s Day and the complete disinterest they had in the public chaos it caused was what really turned me away from them and their products. It’s profit at all costs there, and then maybe try to have a fig leaf of corporate social responsibility, if it suits.

    If they actually invested in their products instead of churning out low quality drinks like they do, then they wouldn’t be in this mess.

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    Mute Eddie Sheridan
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    Oct 16th 2014, 5:36 PM

    I run a pub in upstate NY and it will not be long before sales drop here in the states too. Overpriced and dropped sponsorship of all things Irish. They think they can coast on the brand name. Sad really.

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    Mute John Heffernan
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    Oct 16th 2014, 4:05 PM

    Craft Beers, are on the way up, Erdinger, sweet Jesus it’s good….

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    Mute Endeus™
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    Oct 16th 2014, 10:47 AM

    The Dropping well…..

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