Hi, I’m James Gobir, the founder of CAO Point.
If you are reading this, you are probably trying to figure out your Leaving Cert points, stressing over the CAO application process, or wondering if you’ll make the cut for your dream university course. I know exactly how overwhelming the Irish college entry system can be.
Between the “Best 6” rule, the Higher Level Maths bonus, and the constantly changing course requirements, calculating your points shouldn’t feel like a Leaving Cert Higher Maths paper. That’s exactly why I built this site.
Why I Started CAO Point
My background is in educational data analysis and student admissions tracking. Over the years, I noticed a massive problem that happened every single summer: students were panicking because they didn’t know how to properly calculate their predicted points.
Many students were manually adding up their scores on paper, forgetting to include the Maths bonus, or accidentally counting seven subjects instead of six. The official resources were often too clunky or hard to use quickly on a phone.
I created CAO Point with one simple mission: to give Irish Leaving Cert students the fastest, most accurate, and easiest-to-use points calculator on the internet.
Why You Can Trust Our Data
When your college future is on the line, you need information you can actually trust. Google and students alike demand accuracy, and here is how we ensure every piece of data on this site is 100% reliable:
- Official SEC & CAO Rules: Our calculator is programmed using the exact, up-to-date 2026 grading scales provided by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and the Central Applications Office (CAO).
- Flawless Math: The tool automatically applies the 25-point Higher Level Maths bonus (if you score an H6 or above) and perfectly filters your grades so only your Top 6 count. It does the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.
- Data-Driven Trends: When we write articles about university points going up or down, we don’t guess. We analyze the official CAO first-preference applicant data to give you realistic, data-backed predictions for courses like Medicine, Law, and Nursing.
Beyond the Calculator
Getting your points is just step one. CAO Point is also here to help you figure out what comes next.
Whether you want to check the historical point trends for Trinity College, need a backup plan like a PLC (Level 5) course, or just want to understand how to apply for the SUSI grant, we have guides written in plain, simple English to help you navigate it all.
Let’s Connect
I built this site for students, parents, and guidance counsellors. If you spot a bug in the calculator, have a question about how a specific rule works, or just want to suggest a new feature for the site, I’d love to hear from you.
Email: caopointhq@gmail.com
Location: Dublin, Ireland (Note: You can use a virtual Irish PO box address here to boost local SEO trust signals).
Wishing you the absolute best of luck with your Leaving Cert results and your journey into higher education!
— James Gobir
Founder & Educational Data Analyst, CAO Point