Just over three-quarters of all CAO applicants will receive a college offer today. Yesterday the CAO posted offers to almost 50,000 applicants, an increase of 3,500 on the number of applicants who got first-round offers last year.

And the good news continues. In all, the CAO has made 72,501 offers to date so a proportion of the 65,288 applicants will get not one but two offers. This is possible because the degree and the certificate/diploma offers operate independently. Of course, these students may accept only one offer.

At the end of round one, the places which were rejected will be redistributed. This means that some of the 15,397 applicants who do not get an offer today may be made an offer in subsequent rounds. Of the 27,643 degree offers, 11,794 places were offered to applicants who had listed that course as their first preference. At certificate/diploma level, the proportion of applicants receiving first-preference offers was even higher. In all, 25,161 of the 44,858 certificate/diploma offers were first preferences. Students receiving an offer of their first-preference place will not be made any subsequent offers from that list as this was their number one choice. The question most people are asking is whether the points went up or down. There is no simple answer to this as points increased dramatically for some courses and decreased equally dramatically for others.

In all, points increased for about 130 degree courses, while they dropped for just over 100 degrees. At certificate/diploma level, points increased for more than 140 courses while they dropped for almost 100 courses. Another factor that must be taken into account is the demise of bonus points for higher-level maths in UCD this year. These were calculated on a sliding scale in increments of five from 40 for a higher-level A1 down to five for a higher-level C3. So, there is no straightforward way of comparing this year's points with last year's. UL is now the only college awarding these bonus points for all courses. DIT awards bonus points for maths and some science subjects in the case of one course only, its electrical/electronic engineering degree.

The final cut-off points this year may be somewhat lower than the first-round points. The drop, which is not usually very steep, is determined by the offer and acceptance pattern.

The top ten:

This year, actuarial studies in UCD yielded pole position at the top of the points league to Law with French at TCD. Of the 23 courses with cut-off points equal to or greater than 525, 15 belonged to the medical/dental/veterinary/paramedical categories while three were law courses. In addition, actuarial studies, history and politics, maths, theoretical physics and commerce with French featured in this list. The 50 point drop in the points needed for the actuarial course is mainly attributable to the demise of the bonus points for higher-level maths at UCD. Most of those who were made offers last year would have had an A1 in higher-level maths for which they received a 40-point bonus.

Courses up by 30 points or more:

There were 20 degree courses where points rose dramatically over last year's levels. Of these, 11 were engineering/computer/ maths/applied physics courses. This marks something of a change in student attitudes and may be the result of the Government skills shortages campaign which has highlighted the job opportunities in these areas.

Unfortunately, these courses, where the points rose steeply, are the ones most likely to cause heartbreak for students who were using last year's points as a predictor of today's cutoff levels.

Courses which increased by 30 points or more:DEGREES: UCC: CK602 civil engineering (+ 35) Cork IT: electronic engineering down CR107 (+ 30); CR108 mechanical enginering (+ 30) DCU: DC194 Euroelectronic systems (+ 45). Galway Mayo IT: GA020 manufacturing tech (+ 30) NUIG: GY403 electronic engineering (+ 35); GY405 mechanical engineering (+ 35) UL: LM065 applied physics (+ 30); LM070 electronic engineering (+ 30) NCI: LC011 accounting/human resource ABP (+ 60) TCD: TR014 philosophy/political science (+ 30); TR021 classics (+ 115); TR031 maths (+ 50); TR034 management science (+ 35); ancient history/archaeology TR001 AH (+ 35); TR001 MT maths (+ 40); TR001 PH psychology (+ 30); TR001 Sp Spanish (+ 30); TR036 computer science (evenings) (+20) Points also rose steeply for a number of courses which include assessment other than Leaving Cert points. However, it's difficult to comment on these as the proportion of points allocated for projects, portfolios, interviews etc is not detailed.

At certificate/diploma level, there were increases of 30 or more points in a startling number of courses. Engineering, hard sciences, computing and business account for the bulk of these.

The following list details these rises: Cork IT: CR001 physics/ instrumentation (+ 40); CR016 computing (+ 35); CR022 office information systems (+ 45); CR023 accounting (+ 85); CR042 hotel catering supervision (+ 45); CR046 autotechnology (+ 30); CR051 civil engineering (+ 40); CR061 electronic engineering (+ 50); CR062 electrical engineering (+ 35); CR072 building and industrial services (+ 30). Carlow IT: CW001 physiology/ health (+ 45); CW011 business studies (+ 60); CW012 office information systems (+ 60); CW015 industrial design (+65) CW023 accounting and info systems (+ 30); CW028 business studies/German (+ 40); CW029 office info systems/ German (+ 45) Dundalk IT: DK003 computing (+ 45) DIT: CT214 med lab sciences (+55); DT255 languages/ business French (+ 130); DT256 languages/business German (+ 160); DT257 languages/ business Spanish (+ 30); DT266 computer science (+ 50); DT279 photography (+ 45); DT287 electronic engineering (+ 30); DT312 management accounting (+ 140); DT315 business studies (+ 50); DT404 leisure management (+ 30); DT444 diet cookery (+ 40); DT469 early childhood care (+ 60); DT470 social studies (+ 30); DT493 food technology (+ 40); DT503 marketing (+ 30); DT521 management (+ 40); DT522 retail marketing (+ 35). Galway Mayo IT: film and TV (+ 30); GA167 tourism and languages (+ 70). Limerick IT: LC008 applied chemistry (+ 35); LC023 business studies/computer applications (+ 30). UL: LM180 equine science (+ 40). Sligo IT: SG104 marketing/ Spanish (+30); SG107 computing (+35); SG131 European studies/French (+ 40); SG133 European studies/ Spanish (+ 35). Tallaght IT: TA103 business studies marketing and languages (+ 40); TA106 applied languages for commerce and admin (+ 80). Tralee IT: TL260 marketing French (+ 30); TL440 applied chemistry (+ 120). Waterford IT: WD016 certified accounting (+ 70); WD017 management accounting (+ 50); WD067 multimedia applications development (+ 30). There were similar increases in courses which include an additional assessment component such as portfolios, interviews or projects.

Courses down by 30 points or more:

Just as the popularity of some courses rose this year, the interest in others waned somewhat, leading to lower cut-off levels and bringing cheer to many applicants who, using last year's points as a guide, would have thought they had insufficient points to be made an offer. So, there should be lots of surprised and happy students who receive offers on the 14 degree courses and 23 certificate/diploma courses where cut-off points fell by 30 or more.

The following list details the drop over last year's final cut-off points. DEGREES UCC: food business CK501 (30) DCU: physics with French DC172 (- 30) UCD: medicine DN002 down 30; DN020 actuarial/financial (- 50) NUIG: commerce with German GY203 (- 40) UL: mechanical engineering with German LMO78 (- 90) Milltown Institute: philosophy PT011 (- 30); theology PT 012 (30); philosophy/theology PT013 (- 30) All Hallows: theology/philosophy PT801 (- 50) Sligo IT: environmental science and technology SG441 (- 30) TCD: computers and German TR010 (- 40); modern Irish TR001 (- 35); comp chemistry/ physics (- 85)

CERTS/DIPLOMAS

Athlone IT: Front office admin AL007 (- 65); hotel catering supervision AL008 (- 50); hotel catering management AL018 (40) Cork IT: mechanical engineering CR071 (- 30) Carlow IT: computing Kilkenny CW049 (- 45) Dundalk IT: business studies DK005 (- 30); DK006 business studies (marketing/language) (45); DK152 applied cultural studies/French (- 85); DK154 computer applications and support/French (- 80); DK254 computer applications and support/German (- 55) DIT: DT115 geosurveying (- 35); DT120 preliminary engineering (55); DT200 bakery management (- 50); Galway Mayo IT: GA033 instrument physics (- 40) Sligo IT: SG132 European studies/German (- 50); SG134 recreation and leisure (- 30); SG304 computer/precision engineering (- 80);SG432 pollution assessment control (50); SG433 health safety hygiene (- 30); SG434 science/ pharmaceutical (- 40) Tallaght IT: TA105 applied languages (- 45) WIT: WD010 electronic engineering (-30); WD015 industrial computing (- 50)

Medicine and veterinary medicine:

The points required for the sought-after medical degrees remained static in NUIG at 540* and RCSI at 535* (Leaving Cert scholarship: 580*). There was an increase of five points to 545* at UCC. In TCD the points jumped by 20 to 570 this year while in UCD there was an apparent fall of 30 points. This fall is accounted for by the demise of bonus points for higher-level maths. The same explanation applied to the drop of 20 points to 550 for veterinary medicine at UCD.

Dentistry:

In UCC, there was a five-point hike for would-be dentists from 520* to 525*. Points remained static in TCD at 540* although random selection did not apply last year. The random selection asterix signifies that not all students at this points level are made an offer.

Paramedical sciences

The overwhelming demand for limited places in paramedical courses means the points remain high year in, year out. This year was no exception. In UCD, physiotherapy dropped to 535 from 560 last year while radiography dropped to 505 from 525. Again, the bonus maths factor came into play. In TCD, physiotherapy remained at 530 while radiography rose by 10 points to 520*. TCD is the only college offering pharmacy where points went up by five to reach 550.

In DIT, which offers a degree in optometry, points rose from 515* to 525. This was a diploma course last year. Points for human nutrition in DIT also rose from 480* to 500* while points for medical lab sciences rose by a startling 55 to 480. Medical lab sciences is also offered in Galway Mayo IT and Cork IT where points also rose by 20 and 10 respectively. In Galway Mayo IT, 455 was required to secure a place while 470 was needed in Cork It.

Points for Carlow IT's popular physiology/health course also soared from 380* last year to 425* this year.

National teaching plus Gaeltacht applicants:

Points for national teaching remained almost static, with very slight increases in some colleges. For standard applicants, the cut-off levels ranged from 410 points at the Church of Ireland College to 475 in St Patrick's, Drumcondra. However, the cut-off points for the places reserved for Gaeltacht applicants fell slightly this year, ranging from 420 in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, to 430 in Drumcondra.

Arts, business/ commerce

The points required for arts degrees were tightly bunched between 365* and 405*. This compares reasonably well with the situation last year. In business and commerce, there was more of a spread from 375* to 525. There seems to be an increasing demand in this area which is reflected in the rising points levels.

Science and engineering

A reasonable 320 points would have been sufficient to secure places in two science degrees this year. In engineering points ranged from 330 to 495 while in computing the range was from 310 to 455. The extra computing and engineering places which were created to service the skills shortages in these areas seem to be keeping the points down to reasonable levels.

All qualified applicants accepted

Some 27 courses offered places to all qualified applicants as compared to 23 last year. These are all certificate and diploma courses. Last year, one degree course took all qualified applicants.

For many certificate courses, the minimum requirements are five passes in the Leaving Certificate so the AQA acronym is good news for these students.

No offers

No round one offers were made in 10 courses this year. Each year, there are no first-round offers for PE with concurrent teacher training in UL or for clinical speech in TCD.

These offers will be made in round two when the movement ability test and the interviews are completed. The remaining eight courses which did not make any round one offers are all in the certificate and diploma list: management accounting in Cork IT (CR024); business studies and office information systems in both Kilkenny and Wexford campuses of Carlow IT (CW048, CW093, CW095; CW096) ; process control and instrumentation in Carlow IT (CW097); industrial relations/ human resources (ABP) in NCI (NC201); aquaculture in Tralee IT (TL410)

Private colleges:

This is the first year that private third-level colleges have offered places through the CAO. Degree points ranged from 240 for both business and tourism courses in LSB and international tourism in American College to 300 for computer science in Portobello College. The relatively low cutoff points is not unexpected as students must pay tuition fees in these colleges.

New courses:

New courses are always the wildcards of the points game. There is no previous year's points comparison. This year, at the top end of the league for new degree courses, NUIG's new biomedical science course has a cut-off of 515*. Meanwhile, 380 poins would have been needed to secure an offer from TCD's new business and Chinese course while 310 would have sufficed for an offer from WIT's administration course.