Grade inflation sees more than 1,100 students get 625 points this year, up from just over 200 before the pandemic

Lottery system used for high-points courses such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine

Colleges make concerted effort to minimise courses where random selection occurs

Thousands of third-level applicants receive college offers

Higher education is expanding at the expense of vocational options needed to fill urgent skills gaps

Points remain high this year - but more than half secured their first choice

Points remain broadly in line with last year’s record-breaking high due to grade inflation

This year will see more random selection for high points courses and more students making the wrong decision about what to study and where

From studying in Europe to traineeships, there are plenty of other options to third-level education

Moment of truth arrives for thousands of applicants as first college offers are issued

Late issuing of grades puts young people at ‘serious disadvantage’, say student and university representatives

Random selection likely across many programmes with entry requirements of 550 points or more

Guidance Counsellors at the Irish Times Results Helpdesk will answer questions at irishtimes.com/education

Data shows the Netherlands is the most popular European destination for Irish students

There are alternatives to the traditional route to further your education

Much has changed for post-secondary students over the past decade, with plenty of choices now available

One quick way to make friends in college is by joining a student society.

Science and engineering proving popular among those undertaking PLCs

Rebecca Ryan has completed a bookkeeping and payroll course and is now undertaking an apprenticeship

Bobby Cudden, who studied in DCU after his PLC course, says his view on the pre-college course changed: ‘It went from snobbery to realising it was a saving grace’

Sean Keane completed a Level 5 course in animal care after narrowly missing out on his college choice. He is now a third-year student at UCD

Apprenticeships comprise recognised schemes, offering solid training and accreditation

Applicants are well advised to check accommodation options prior to deciding on a course

Potential measures include improving grants by up to 25% or widening eligibility for thousands of additional students

Brian Mooney on students’ queries to The Irish Times Leaving Cert Results 2022 helpdesk

John King (72) expects his Berlin-based grandson will soon be better than him

Leaving Cert student unable to sit deferred history paper despite experiencing serious distress

Timeline listing this year’s Leaving Cert results, viewing and appeal dates

Covid generation endured upended education and navigated their final exams with a quite dignity

Jesslyn Campion (17) struggled in mainstream education and says many do not realise ‘there are other pathways’

Minister for Education says grade inflation will reduce in stages over the coming years

University president calls for end to grade inflation to protect integrity of exam results

Inflated grades, CAO points pressure and concerns over the integrity of grades are key talking points

Leveling the playing field for the class of 2022 creates an identical problem for next year’s students

Subject sees rise in number of H1s awarded up from 11.9 per cent last year to 12.7 per cent in 2022

Class of 22 was first cohort in three years to sit full set of examinations following pandemic measures

How to prepare for life and success at your new academic institution

What should you do if you didn’t get the results you expected

No matter what the outcome, it is worth remembering that success comes in many forms

Will acceptances return to pre-pandemic levels this year?