Overview

• A total of 73,336 students received results on October 8, with 646,602 grades issued across 21 subjects.
• Distinctions rose to 8.6% from 3.6% last year, Higher Merit increased to 30.4%, and the Merit share fell to 33.7%.
• The State Examinations Commission adjusted marking on the English short story question, awarding a minimum of 10 out of 15 with scaled higher marks after many candidates had not studied the text.
• Candidate numbers are slightly higher than in 2024, marking a third consecutive year with more than 70,000 students sitting the Junior Cycle.
• The Teachers' Union of Ireland welcomed the widened 15‑point top bands as confidence‑building, and the Irish Independent reported 2,203 more students took Higher Level Maths compared with 2024.