Vol. 23 #09 22 Feb. 2022
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Winner: Best Newspaper at the National Student Media Awards 2019
Student Independent News Nuachtán saor in aisce · Vol. 23 Issue 09 · 22 Feb. 2022
NUI Galway students feel the impact of Leaving Cert grade inflation By Darragh Nolan and Caoimhe Killeen
Co-News Editors
Grade inflation is set to remain a major aspect in the running of Covid-impacted Leaving Cert exams despite the concerns of students and third-level institutions. Predictive and accredited grades were introduced amidst the pandemic but led to students achieving significantly higher CAO points and caused the points required for many courses to rise to alltime highs. Education Minister Norma Foley has confirmed that this year’s exams would go ahead traditionally with more choice and fewer questions for students. Though predictive grades and hybrid Leaving Certs are no longer on the agenda Minister Foley also stated this year’s points would be “no lower” than 2021’s record levels. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has also said all students in the 2022 class may have their marks raised if needs be though they won’t be lowered under any circumstances. It looks set to be a third year running for grade inflation despite the challenges it has presented for prospective university students. Dublin-native Ana Lynch was part of the Leaving Cert class of 2021. When applying for BA Government here in NUI Education Minister Norma Foley proposed “locking in” the 2021 increases to ensure the 2022 class weren’t at a disadvantage this time around.
Galway, inflated grades meant that the Ella Ní Cheallaigh points went up by 44 from 407 to 455. “I know a lot of people who got messed over by points by putting high courses of over 540 points and were left with their sixth or lower choice courses” explained Lynch. While Ana was lucky to have applied through the DARE scheme which offers reduced points to eligible students, grade inflation still impacted her points. “I think we [the class of 2021] were so lucky with the exam changes, but I know people in a much less privileged position such as bigger schools were super worried and basically just not having any support at all. “When grades came out, I think there was a lot of shock and definitely more people going for round 2 or 3 offers,” she finished. Nessa O’Connor from Galway sat her Leaving Cert in 2020 but then reapplied through the CAO for a different course in 2021 meaning she experienced the effects of grade inflation twice over. She applied for Global Commerce in NUI Galway in 2020 and due to the points jump, she barely got the course. “I realised during the year that commerce was not a course that suited me, something I didn’t get to figure out early enough to switch in 2020 because being online meant I couldn’t tell whether it was the course or lockdown that was causing unhappiness” explained O’Connor on her decision to switch. When reapplying, Psychology and General Science at NUI Galway were her first offered by NUI Galway as of the current and second choices. “The point inflation this academic year. year really hit because even though I was “I’m a bit unusual in that my grades over by 9 points for Psychology in 2020 it deflated,” explains Ní Cheallaigh. went up by 41 to 564 in 2021, and I suddenly “I went down one grade band in 6 of my found there was no chance of me getting in.” 7 subjects and my points went down from General Science in NUI Galway was now 570 to 460. It was quite stressful because at 555 which O’Connor stated was “just I was afraid that I would miss out on my insane in terms of points. It’s a course that first choice,” she added. is often treated as a backdoor into higher “I felt robbed because I’d worked so point qualifications, so being almost 500 hard and lost out on over 110 points just points is ridiculous.” because of, what I see, as a bell curve.” For Ella Ní Cheallaigh, a second-year Though inflated grades have been a sigEnglish and Media Studies student also nificant obstacle for many, the Education in NUI Galway, it was deflated grades that Minister proposed “locking in” the 2021 almost impacted her entry into college. increases to ensure the 2022 class weren’t English and Media Studies is no longer at a disadvantage this time around.
“I went down one grade band in six of my seven subjects and my points went down from 570 to 460. I felt robbed because I’d worked so hard and lost out on over 110 points just because of, what I see, as a bell curve.
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