Record 70727 students to receive Junior Cert results today
A record 70,727 students across the country are set to receive their Junior Cert results today.
It is the first time that the number of candidates has exceeded 70,000, a 5% increase on 2022.
Some 629,189 grades will be issued across 21 individual subjects examined, with the vast majority of students achieving merits or higher merits.
The percentage of students achieving distinctions in Irish, English, and maths rose slightly but remained broadly in line with 2022.
The highest percentage of students achieving a distinction was recorded in Italian at 9.5%, up from 7.4% in 2022.
On the other hand, the percentage of students achieving a distinction in music fell by 2% to 4.5%.
Higher-level English saw the lowest percentage of distinctions at 2.7% of students.
This year also marks the second full year of examinations in the reformed Junior Cycle where apart from Irish, English, and mathematics, which are examined at higher and ordinary levels, all other subjects are now at common level.
Online marking system
Almost 600,000 of the 629,189 results issued on Wednesday are in subjects that were either fully or partially marked using the online marking system.
The State Examinations Commission said, unlike in 2022 when results were issued on November 23, a combination of an increase in the number of teachers marking this year's exams and the use of online marking in almost all Junior Cycle subjects has allowed for a return to a more normal timeframe for the issue of results.
Education Minister Norma Foley said it is a “momentous occasion” for the 70,727 students receiving Junior Cycle examinations results.
“I want to congratulate you and wish you all the very best for those exciting next steps that lie ahead," she said.
Teachers’ Union of Ireland president David Waters said this cohort of students endured disruption as a result of the covid-19 pandemic and that they should be commended for the resilience they have shown.
