Leaving Cert results have a long history of use in decisions about third-level or college admissions in Ireland. Our own published research indicates that there were several progressions along the way to the current Points System that is tied to results in exams over six Leaving Cert subjects. The Leaving Cert and the derived Points score (to a max of 600 plus possible bonus of 25, giving an actual max of 625) are widely regarded as the fairest benchmarks for decision-making in College admissions.
Our own published research has looked also at the use of Leaving Cert results in college admissions and at the relative merits of the Leaving Cert versus other options favoured elsewhere (e.g., the Scholastic Aptitude Test – or SAT – in the US).