Last updated: July 2026
CAO points are calculated from your six best Leaving Certificate results in a single sitting. Each grade maps to a fixed points value, with Higher Level grades worth more than Ordinary Level. A 25-point bonus is added for Higher Level Maths at H6 or above, giving a maximum of 625 points.
- According to CAO figures, the maximum score is 625 points: up to 600 from your six best subjects plus a 25-point Higher Level Maths bonus.
- On the CAO common points scale, a H1 at Higher Level is worth 100 points while a H5 is worth 56 points.
- According to the CAO, the 25-point Higher Level Maths bonus applies only to grades H6 and above.
Tick "HL Maths" on your Higher Level Mathematics subject to include the 25-point bonus (awarded for H6 or above).
Points by course: where your points would have got you in 2026
These are the courses whose 2026 CAO Round 1 points your total would have met, taken from the CAO's published Round 1 lists. Points move every year, so treat last year's figures as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Once you pick a grade for at least one subject, we'll list the CAO courses your points would have reached in 2026.
CAO Points Grading Scale
| Grade | Percentage | Points |
|---|---|---|
| H1 | 90–100% | 100 |
| H2 | 80–89% | 88 |
| H3 | 70–79% | 77 |
| H4 | 60–69% | 66 |
| H5 | 50–59% | 56 |
| H6 | 40–49% | 46 |
| H7 | 30–39% | 37 |
| H8 | 0–29% | 0 |
| Grade | Percentage | Points |
|---|---|---|
| O1 | 90–100% | 56 |
| O2 | 80–89% | 46 |
| O3 | 70–79% | 37 |
| O4 | 60–69% | 28 |
| O5 | 50–59% | 20 |
| O6 | 40–49% | 12 |
| O7 | 30–39% | 0 |
| O8 | 0–29% | 0 |
How this calculator works
Enter a grade for each of your Leaving Certificate subjects and the calculator applies the official CAO common points scale, adds the 25-point Higher Level Maths bonus where it applies, and totals your six best results. For the full explanation of the points system, the grade tables and the most common questions, read our CAO points guide.
This calculator uses the official CAO common points scale (2017 onwards) and is provided as a guide only. Your official points are determined by the CAO based on your Leaving Certificate results.