CAO Points Calculator 2026
Add your Leaving Cert subjects and grades. The calculator counts your best six, adds the 25 Higher Maths bonus and shows which subjects counted.
CAO points for each Leaving Cert grade
Since 2017 every grade has the same value at every college. Higher Level grades are worth more, so a H5 (56 points) is worth the same as an O1.
| Grade | Mark | Higher | Ordinary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 90–100% | 100 | 56 |
| 2 | 80–89% | 88 | 46 |
| 3 | 70–79% | 77 | 37 |
| 4 | 60–69% | 66 | 28 |
| 5 | 50–59% | 56 | 20 |
| 6 | 40–49% | 46 | 12 |
| 7 | 30–39% | 37 | 0 |
| 8 | 0–29% | 0 | 0 |
LCVP Link Modules: Distinction 66, Merit 46, Pass 28. Higher Level Maths H1–H6: +25 bonus points. Some colleges also give points for Foundation Level Maths or Irish; the CAO Handbook lists which.
Worked example
A student gets H1 English, H2 Biology, H3 Maths, H4 Irish, O1 French, H5 Business and H6 Geography.
- Maths: H3 is 77 points, plus the 25 bonus = 102.
- The other six: English 100, Biology 88, Irish 66, French 56, Business 56, Geography 46.
- Best six: 102 + 100 + 88 + 66 + 56 + 56 = 468 points. Geography is the seventh subject, so it does not count.
The bonus can change which subjects count. A H6 in Higher Maths is 46 + 25 = 71 points, more than a H4 (66) in another subject.
Questions about CAO points
How are CAO points calculated?
The CAO adds up the points for your best six subjects from one sitting of the Leaving Certificate. Each grade has a fixed value: a H1 is 100 points and an O1 is 56. If you get a H6 or better in Higher Level Maths, 25 bonus points are added to your Maths grade before the best six are chosen.
What is the maximum number of CAO points?
625. That is six H1 grades (600 points) plus the 25 bonus points for Higher Level Maths.
Does the Maths bonus apply to every grade?
No. The 25 bonus points apply only to H1 to H6 in Higher Level Maths. A H7 or H8 in Higher Maths, and every Ordinary Level grade, get no bonus.
Do LCVP Link Modules count for CAO points?
Yes, at most colleges. A Distinction is worth 66 points, a Merit 46 and a Pass 28, and they can be one of your best six. Some courses do not count them, so check the course you want.
Are points the only thing that decides a CAO offer?
No. You also need the minimum entry requirements for the college and the course, such as particular subjects or grades. Some courses also have an interview, portfolio or test. The CAO Handbook on cao.ie lists them each year.
Grades and points follow the CAO's common points scale. Entry requirements change, so always confirm with the CAO and the college before you apply.
Need a few more points? A Leaving Cert tutor can work on the subjects that move your total most.
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