Following the announcement by Minister for Education Norma Foley that the results of Calculated Grades will be issued to Leaving Cert students on Monday, September 7, the Calculated Grades Student Portal for such students is open until tomorrow (Monday July 27).

Through this portal, all Leaving Cert students will need to confirm that they wish to receive their Calculated Grades results on September 7. All students who registered from the Calculated Grades back in May should have received a text message about the opening of the Portal and it is critical to log on to www.gove.ie/leavingcertificate and confirm ahead of the deadline on July 27.

Following the release of the results, CAO Round 1 offers will be issued to applicants on Friday September 11. A 2020 CAO Offers and Acceptance schedule is now available on www.cao.ie/index.php?page=offerdates. The release of the results on September 7 does mean that they will also be available in time for any students who have applied to universities in the UK through the UCAS system.

Uncertainty

However, there is great uncertainty for students who have applied to European universities. The release of the Calculated Grades is likely to be too late for entry in some countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands, both of whom have become hugely popular for Irish students, as the deadline for submission of results is August 31. The advice for students who have applied is to contact the admissions office of the college directly as it is suggested by European University Central Application Support Service (EUNICAS) that some flexibility may by facilitated regarding the delay with Calculated Grade results. See www.eunicas.ie for the most up-to-date information on applications to Europe.

There has been widespread disappointment amongst students and parents that the results, which are usually issued mid-August, have been delayed by three weeks. There is particular concern around the pressure to organise accommodation and the uncertainty in relation to how the different colleges intend to deliver their programmes in the first semester. It remains to be seen if other colleges will follow the plan by UL to have students on campus for only one week in three. So, for the Class of 2020 as well as all students returning to third level institutions, this autumn uncertainty prevails.

Appeals

All students, whether they opted to receive the Calculated Grades or not, will have the option of taking the Leaving Certificate examination later in the year. It is hoped that they can be run in November but that is subject to public health advice at the time and it will be too late for students wishing to start their college courses in 2020. Any student who is unhappy with a Calculated Grade in any subject can seek an appeal and also opt to take the written exam in that subject. Applications for appeals will open on September 14.

Niamh Dwyer is a Guidance Counsellor in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore & PRO of Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors. She can be contacted on careerfocusnow@gmail.com.