AVAILABLE PLACES
Available Places are places that remain unfilled in particular courses after all offers have been made and waiting lists have been exhausted. When considering applying for Available Places courses applicants should ignore previously published points in earlier offer rounds. Applicants must, however, check that they meet the normal minimum entry requirements for the course(s) in question.
Available Places courses are advertised on the CAO website for part of July and after Round One offers are issued in August - go to www.cao.ie and click on the Available Places tab. This facility is open to new applicants for a fee of €45, and is free for existing applicants. For more information on the Available Places facility visit the CAO website www.cao.ie.
POINTS CALCULATION FOR LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLICANTS
Round One offers are issued as soon as possible after the current year Irish Leaving Certificate examination results become available. The results are input into the CAO system and, for each course that you have applied to, the CAO system will first check that you meet the minimum entry requirements.
If you meet the eligibility criteria for the course(s) that you have applied for, the system then calculates a points score using the HEI Common Points Scale*:
HEI Common Points Scale
Table 1.9 HEI Common Points Scale
Higher Level Grade |
Points |
Ordinary Level Grade |
Points |
H1 (90 - 100) |
100 |
||
H2 (80 < 90) |
88 |
||
H3 (70 < 80) |
77 |
||
H4 (60 < 70) |
66 |
||
H5 (50 < 60) |
56 |
O1 (90 - 100) |
56 |
H6 (40 < 50) |
46 |
O2 (80 < 90) |
46 |
H7 (30 < 40) |
37 |
O3 (70 < 80) |
37 |
H8 (0 < 30) |
0 |
O4 (60 < 70) |
28 |
O5 (50 < 60) |
20 |
||
O6 (40 < 50) |
12 |
||
O7 (30 < 40) |
0 |
||
O8 (0 < 30) |
0 |
Maths Bonus Points
25 bonus points will be awarded for Higher Level Mathematics for H6 grades and above. For example, if an applicant receives a H6 grade an additional 25 points will be added to the 46 points already awarded for a H6 grade i.e. Higher Level Mathematics now carries a points score of 71 for this applicant.
LCVP Points*
LCVP Grade |
LCVP Points |
Distinction |
66 |
Merit |
46 |
Pass |
28 |
Foundation Level Maths Points*
Foundation Level Maths Grade |
Foundation Level Maths Points |
F1 |
20 |
F2 |
12 |
- CAO Handbook
- Top
- Download CAO Handbook
- Important Changes to CAO Handbook
- Summary of Major Stages of the CAO Application Process
- Introduction
- Applying to CAO
- Late Applications
- Reapplying to CAO
- Categories of Qualifications and Assessments
- Applying for HEAR and DARE
- Exemptions
- Applying for a Maintenance Fee Grant (SUSI)
- Introducing your Course Choices
- Sending Supporting Documents to CAO
- Summer 2020 Examination Results
- Interviews and Assessments
- After Applying
- Important Correspondence
- Statement of Application Record
- Change of Mind
- Changes to your Personal and Examination Information
- The Offer Stage
- The Offer Rounds
- Accepting an Offer
- Available Places
- Points Calculation for Leaving Certificate Applicants
- Points Calculation for Other Examinations
- Deferring A Place
- Taking up a Deferral
- The Leaving Certificate Appeals Process
- Registration on your Accepted Course
- Direct Applications and Exceptional Late Applications
- Further Information - Online Resources
- General Principles
- Independent Appeals Commission
- Contacting CAO