There has been a significant rise in Leaving Certificate results for the second year in a row.
Over 61 thousand students nationwide have now received their leaving cert results.
The overall grade inflation is 2.6% ahead of last year's results, which were 4.4% ahead of the 2019 exam results.
The most noticeable increase can be seen in higher level subjects, especially the core Irish, Maths and English.
The rise in points is expected to cause a significant surge in CAO points needed for courses in Third Level across the country.
The upswing is mainly being credited with the introduction of predictive grades, used to ease some of the pressure on students trying to knuckle down while also facing the stress we have all experienced over the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pictured is Minister for Education Norma Foley. Photograph: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie
The Education Minister is optimistic the Leaving Cert exams can return to the traditional format next year.
Minister Norma Foley says plans for next year will be kept under review:
"There is an enormous responsibility on each one of us to continue to do what we need to do. If we do that I'm very confident that we are moving forward with the class of 2022 for them to take their exams as we would do traditionally - with the caveat that you know we keep everything under review."
For the moment however, the class of 2021 will be enjoying their result's night celebrations nationwide - after a tough year.
