Points could rise for courses after best exam results

THE Leaving Certificate points required for many top college courses are likely to rise slightly, due to some of the best results for a number of years, when almost 40,000 places are offered to school leavers and others on Monday. Figures seen by the Irish Examiner show 18% of those seeking places through the Central Applications Office (CAO) have 450 out of a maximum 600 points - the highest proportion with such high marks ever, apart from 2007.

However, pressure may be less than in previous years for the very top courses that require at least 550 points, as just 2.6% of those applying with their Leaving Certificate results have such grades, compared to 2.9% in the last two years and 2.8% in 2006.

The figures are based on the results of people applying with Leaving Certificate grades from previous years, as well as around 44,500 students who received their results last week.

This is also the first year that applicants for less than 400 places in the country's six undergraduate medical schools will not need at least 550 points, as those who have 480 points or more will be assessed based on a combination of those results and their score in an aptitude test taken in February.

The system is designed to ease the restriction on entry to those with the top 2% to 3% of Leaving Certificate marks each year and is likely to be extended to other health degree courses in the coming years.

Apart from Leaving Certificate results, the other key factor determining if points go up or down is the demand for places.

The CAO last month revealed that applications are down significantly compared to last year for honours degrees in engineering, technology and business, and have fallen slightly for law, primary teaching and courses such as architecture and others related to construction, meaning the points needed for many of these disciplines might fall.

However, total applications under the science, arts and social science categories increased, which could lead to a rise in points required for these courses.

More than 74,000 applications for third-level places have been received by the CAO which filled more than 42,000 college places in 2008.

Almost 6,500 people have already accepted places, mostly mature students and those who are not competing with school leavers, which is almost 1,300 more than at this stage last year.

The cut-off points for all CAO courses will be published in the Choices for College supplement with Monday's Irish Examiner.