How the Points System Works
The CAO (Central Applications Office) points system is the primary method used to allocate places on undergraduate courses in Irish universities and colleges. When demand for a course exceeds available places, applicants are ranked by their points, and offers are made from the top down.
Your points are calculated from your six best subjects in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate. Each subject is graded from H1 to H8 (Higher Level) or O1 to O8 (Ordinary Level), with each grade corresponding to a specific number of points.
The Points Scale for 2026
The Higher Level Maths Bonus
Students who achieve a H6 or higher in Higher Level Mathematics receive a 25-point bonus. This means the maximum possible CAO points score is 625 (6 × 100 + 25 bonus). This bonus was introduced to encourage more students to take Higher Level Maths, which is a prerequisite for many STEM courses.
How Offers Are Made
When the Leaving Certificate results are released in mid-August, the CAO calculates every applicant's points. For each course, applicants are ranked by points. Offers are made in rounds:
- Round 1 (mid-August): First batch of offers based on available places
- Round 2 and beyond: Places freed up by declined offers are offered to the next applicants in line
- The minimum points for a course (the "cut-off") is the points of the last applicant offered a place
What Are "Random Selection" Points?
When multiple applicants have the same points at the cut-off, the CAO uses random selection to allocate remaining places. This is marked with an asterisk (*) beside the points on the CAO website. For very competitive courses, even one or two points can make the difference.
Subject Requirements vs Points
It's crucial to understand that points alone don't guarantee a place. Many courses have minimum subject requirements — for example, a H5 in Mathematics for Engineering, or a H5 in a laboratory science for Science courses. Always check specific course requirements on the CAO website or the university's own course pages.
Tips for Maximising Your Points
- Take subjects you're genuinely interested in — motivation drives higher grades
- Consider taking Higher Level Maths for the 25-point bonus
- Focus on your best six subjects, but don't neglect any
- Use CourseCompass's Subject Interest Test to identify your strengths
- Practise past papers regularly — familiarity with the exam format is key
- Get personalised course recommendations based on your academic profile