Students from Scoil Mhuire in Trim receiving their results this morning

Gallery: 3,254 Meath students collect their Junior Cert results

Some 3,254 Meath students will find out how they fared in their Junior Certificate exams today.

They are among 73,000 students nationwide getting their results. That number is up on the figure of 72,833 last year and it is the third year in a row that the number has exceeded 70,000.

Students have been getting their results from their schools around the country since this morning and can also access the results online from 4pm today.

The number of top grades awarded to Junior Certificate candidates has more than doubled this year after changes were made to grade bands.

Some 55,849 distinction grades (8.6 per cent) were awarded this year, up from 23,439 (3.6 per cent) in 2024.

The jump comes as the top three grade bands – distinction, higher merit and merit – were revised after complaints that the previous system was too harsh.

The changes to the Junior Cycle grade bands were announced by Education Minister Helen McEntee in April after feedback from teachers, students and parents about the impact the previous grade bands may have been having on teaching and learning.

For more Schools news check out Chalk Talk every week in the paper..

For more Schools news check out Chalk Talk every week in the paper.. Photo by Gavan Becton