How exactly will Leaving Cert grades be calculated?
In 2020, you can opt to have your grades based on a new calculated grades system. A calculated grade is based on an estimated mark that you would get in a subject in the Leaving Certificate examination in normal circumstances.
You will be awarded a State Certificate of Calculated Grades for each subject in the Leaving Certificate. This has the same status as the Leaving Certificates in previous years. You can still opt to sit the conventional written Leaving Certificate exam at a later date when it’s possible.
There are 4 key steps to working out a calculated grade:
Step 1: Your teacher will estimate the mark you would likely have got in the Leaving Certificate subject under normal conditions. They will use a range of records and evidence such as your classwork, homework, class assessments, Christmas and summer exams, mock exams and coursework.
Your teacher will also estimate your expected mark in the oral and practical performance tests. Previously, the Department of Education had awarded all students full marks for this option but this no longer applies.
You will be given a single overall estimated percentage mark in the subject. Your teacher will then estimate where you rank in relation to other students in your class.
Step 2: All the subject teachers in your school will then review the marks and rank all the school’s students for that subject. Your teacher will finalise your estimated percentage marks and ranking. The deputy principal will review the ranking with your teacher if they are the only teacher of the subject.
Step 3: Your school principal will review the marks and rankings and check that the process has been fair before sending the final estimated marks and class rankings to the Department.
Step 4: The Department will apply a standardisation process. This takes the estimated marks from each school and adjusts them to bring them into the rankings for the expected grades for that school based on the historical information held by the State Examinations Commission.
Your estimated marks for your subject will then be converted into your final calculated grade.
You can appeal your results. This will check that the correct information has been used and the process has been fair. It cannot review the percentage mark from your teacher. You will still have the option to sit the written exam. If you get a higher grade in the exam than your calculated grade, your results for the subject will be amended.
You cannot discuss the estimated marks with your teacher or any school staff.
Read more at www.citizensinformation.ie in the Leaving Certificate 2020 and calculated grades document and the Department of Education’s FAQs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Citizens Information are offering an email and telephone service in CountyWexford. You can telephoneWexford Citizens Information between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m., Monday to Friday on 0761 076 720 or you can email your phone number to wexford@citinfo.ie Our website www.citizensinformation.ie