Leaving Cert Results Day 2026: Advice for Students and Parents

Leona Regan
3 days ago
4 min read

by Leona Regan.

For Leaving Cert students, August can feel like one very long wait.

The exams are over, the books have finally been put away and everyone keeps telling you to enjoy the summer. But results day is sitting there in the back of your mind and, as it gets closer, it can be difficult to think about much else.

As a teacher, examiner and grinds-school owner, I have seen Results Day from many different sides. I have celebrated with students who achieved more than they believed they could. I have also sat with excellent, hardworking students who felt crushed because one grade did not go their way.

So, before results are released on August 21st, here is what I genuinely want every student (and every parent) to remember.

Your reaction is allowed to be complicated

There is no correct way to feel when you open your results.

You might be thrilled. You might be disappointed by one subject even though everything else went brilliantly. You might get the points you hoped for and still feel strangely flat after months of pressure. You might need time before you are ready to talk to anyone.

All of that is normal.

Try not to decide what the results mean for your entire future within the first ten minutes. Open them somewhere you feel comfortable, take a breath and give yourself time to process the actual grades before jumping straight into points calculations, group chats and comparisons.

A result is information—not a verdict on you

The Leaving Cert measures how you performed in a particular set of exams, on particular days, within a particular system. It does not measure your kindness, creativity, resilience, work ethic or potential.

That is not an empty slogan. I have taught enough students to know that an exam result and a person's ability are not always the same thing.

Results matter because they can affect the next step. But they do not determine every step after that.

If you get what you need, celebrate it properly. You earned that moment. If you do not, it may change the route but it does not mean there is no route forward.

Parents: take your lead from your child

On results morning, the most helpful thing a parent can offer is calm.

Before analysing points or discussing options, ask your son or daughter how they feel. They may want help immediately, or they may need a little space. Avoid comparing their results with friends, siblings or the grade everyone expected them to get.

Even well-intended questions can feel like pressure in that moment. Start with reassurance: We are proud of you. We will look at the options together. Nothing has to be solved this minute.

Practical decisions can come next.

Check the details carefully

Once the initial emotion has settled, go through the results calmly.

Confirm that all subjects and levels are listed correctly.
Calculate the best six subjects for CAO points.
Check any minimum subject or grade requirements for the courses applied for—not just the overall points.
Keep CAO login details accessible and check the account carefully when offers are released.

CAO Round One offers are due on August 26th at 2pm. Accepting an offer does not prevent a student from receiving an offer for a higher-preference course in a later round. Always check the official CAO information and reply deadline before making a decision.

Remember: the published points for a course are the points of the last applicant offered a place in that round. They are not a judgement on whether a student is capable of succeeding in that course.

Should you view an exam script?

If a grade is unexpected, viewing the script can be very worthwhile.

The purpose is not to search angrily for every mark that might have been missed. It is to look carefully at how the paper was marked and decide, based on evidence, whether an appeal is justified.

In Maths, I would look at questions such as:

Was every part of the student's work marked?
Were partial marks awarded where appropriate?
Is the result close to the next grade boundary?
Is there a clear marking issue that could realistically change the grade?

An appeal should be a considered decision. A grade can stay the same, increase or decrease following an appeal, so it is important to understand the script before proceeding.

I am offering a limited number of appointments on the 25th and 26th of August for students who would like me to view their Maths script with them. You do not need to be an existing Piece of Pi student. To enquire, contact me on 085 247 8974 or at leona@pieceofpi.ie.

If the result is not what you hoped for, pause before panicking

One disappointing grade can feel enormous on results day. But there are often more options than students initially realise: later CAO rounds, available places, further-education routes, apprenticeships, repeating an exam or taking time to reconsider the plan.

The best next step depends on the individual student. Speak to a guidance counsellor, check information directly with CAO or the relevant college, and make decisions using accurate information rather than rumours circulating online.

Most importantly, do not treat a changed plan as a failed plan.

Finally: be proud of getting here

The class of 2026 has completed years of school, coursework, study, mocks and State exams. Results day is important, but it is one day at the end of a much bigger effort.

Whatever appears on the screen on August 21st, take the day one step at a time. Celebrate what went well. Ask for help where something does not look right. Give yourself time before making big decisions.

And remember: your results may influence what happens next, but they do not define what you are capable of becoming.

Leona Regan is the founder of Piece of Pi, providing expert, exam-focused Maths grinds for Junior and Leaving Cert students in Meath and North Dublin.