My son wants to drop Leaving Cert exams and opt for accredited grades. Is this wise?

Earlier this year my son decided to sit written papers in six subjects in the Leaving Cert. Now, he wants to accept accredited grades instead. Many of his friends seem to be drifting in that direction. Is this wise?

The accredited grades process will give your son perfectly legitimate Leaving Cert results indicating that he has completed second-level education successfully.

Incidentally, the actual certificate will not reveal whether his results were from the accredited grades or the written exams. All students will get the same certificate. This will be more than adequate for whatever option he chooses after school, whether it’s employment, an apprenticeship or further/higher education in September.

However, if he has applied for a college place through the CAO or outside Ireland, I think he would be foolhardy not to apply himself to help secure the best possible grades from his written papers.

Pay rates in childcare are abysmal. Should I retrain as a primary teacher?

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I’m worried CAO points will soar. Are there alternative options?

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Will CAO points rise even higher this year?

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I want to apply for a postgrad abroad. How do I go about it?

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There is always a chance that the percentage mark awarded by his teacher will be downgraded in the standardisation process operated by the State Examinations Commission.

This process is a way of ensuring grades are consistent and fair across schools – but it is outside the control of teachers and schools. We are told it will produce results broadly in line with those awarded last year, which were about 10 per cent ahead of the 2019 results at higher level. Overall, these better results ed to an increase in CAO points for third level courses.

Many students and parents are asking whether points will be similar to last year. From my analysis, they may well end up being even higher – especially in some high-demand courses – for a number of reasons.

First, more than 600 students who sat the delayed 2020 Leaving Cert in November/December last, and secured higher grades than predicted ones received in September, received new offers on prestige courses which will come out of this year’s pool. In some courses, more than 10 per cent of places have already been allocated to these students. Fewer places means higher CAO points.

Every higher written exam grade will increase overall grade inflation and, inevitably, push CAO points higher

Universities have also warned that they may not be able to replicate additional places created in 2020 in key areas due to capacity constraints. Again, fewer places leads to higher CAO points.

In addition, the Government has agreed that any student who gets a higher grade on their written paper than they are awarded through the accredited grades process will retain that higher grade in their results.

Every higher written exam grade will increase overall grade inflation and, inevitably, push CAO points higher.

Last, there are record numbers of CAO applicants this year due to demographic factors, more mature students returning to education and increased interest from abroad due to Brexit.

Put simply: sitting the written exams over the coming weeks maximises your grades potential and chances of securing your chosen course.