Almost one in five grades that were appealed by students in this year’s Leaving Cert examinations have resulted in a higher grade being awarded.

A total of 5,447 candidates made applications for appeals against 9,267 grades, leading to 1,673 upgrades – an 18 per cent success rate.

There were three results downgraded in the appeal process this year.

While the appeals process proved fruitful for a significant number of students, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) pointed out that the 1,673 upgrades accounted for only 0.44 per cent of all grades awarded in the 2014 Leaving Cert examination.

Candidates will receive the results of their appeals today either through their school or through the online examination results service examinations.ie, which will be updated to reflect the appeals outcomes at noon.

Upgrades and CAO places

The appeal results have also been transmitted to the Central Applications Office, which may make revised college place offers to students who have benefited from an upgrade.

Some 56,990 students sat this year’s Leaving Cert, resulting in the awarding of 380,085 grades.

Most upgrades were in higher-level papers for biology (250 upgrades out of 974 appealed), English (200 upgrades out of 1,596) and maths (175 out of 701).

In the processing of appeals, the work of each candidate is fully remarked, question by question, using the original marking scheme.

The remarking is performed by a different examiner to the one who originally marked the work.

Candidates who wish to view their remarked examination scripts can apply to do so by completing an application form that accompanies the appeal results. This has to be returned through their school by next Monday, October 13th.

Externally entered candidates should return the form directly to the SEC by 5pm next Tuesday, October 14th. The viewing will be held in the Athlone office of the SEC on Saturday, October 18th between 10am and 4pm.