Ireland Grading System: Secondary and Higher Education Grades
Ireland's education system features distinct grading schemes for secondary education (Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate) and third-level education. This guide explains the Irish grading system across all educational levels.
Key Takeaways
- Junior Cycle uses Distinction to Not Graded scale
- Leaving Certificate uses H1-H8 and O1-O8 grades
- Universities typically use First Class Honours to Pass scales
- Points system for university admission
Junior Cycle Grades
| Grade | Percentage | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Distinction | 90-100% | Exceptional |
| Higher Merit | 75-89% | Above Average |
| Merit | 55-74% | Average |
| Achieved | 40-54% | Pass |
| Not Graded | 0-39% | Fail |
Leaving Certificate Grades
| Grade | Percentage | Points (Higher) | Points (Ordinary) |
|---|---|---|---|
| H1/O1 | 90-100% | 100 | 56 |
| H2/O2 | 80-89% | 88 | 46 |
| H3/O3 | 70-79% | 77 | 37 |
| H4/O4 | 60-69% | 66 | 28 |
| H5/O5 | 50-59% | 56 | 20 |
| H6/O6 | 40-49% | 46 | 12 |
| H7/O7 | 30-39% | 37 | 0 |
| H8/O8 | 0-29% | 0 | 0 |
University Grading
| Classification | Percentage | US GPA Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| First Class Honours | 70%+ | 4.0 |
| Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2.1) | 60-69% | 3.3-3.7 |
| Second Class Honours Grade 2 (2.2) | 50-59% | 2.7-3.0 |
| Third Class Honours | 45-49% | 2.0-2.3 |
| Pass | 40-44% | 1.7 |