If your teen has just received their Leaving Cert results and they’re disappointed, this can be a tough day for the whole family. They may be trying to figure out what to do about their CAO offer, whether to appeal, or what their next step should be. Here’s how to support them through it.
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If Your Teen is Disappointed with Their Leaving Cert Results
As a parent of one of the many thousands of Leaving Cert students, I’ve watched the highs and lows of results day play out. I remember accompanying my own daughter to school on results day, and seeing students around her elated, subdued or devastated as they opened their results.
Things to Think About
The first question that comes up is usually, “Are you happy with what you got?” A student with high points may still feel devastated if a particular course or dream career suddenly feels out of reach. Another student with lower points may already know they didn’t do themselves justice and won’t get the CAO offer they hoped for.
There are real decisions to make here, and they matter for your teen’s future. As friends head off to college and their chosen courses, what will your teen do next?
- If they didn’t get the points they wanted, they may still receive a CAO offer for another course, another college, or a college in the UK.
- They may decide to repeat the Leaving Cert. Options for this include their local Education and Training Board (ETB) or a private college.
- Sometimes repeating a year and getting an offer in a later CAO round works out well, even if it feels like a setback at first.
- For students with disappointing results, Level 5 courses (through further education colleges) can also be a route to the career they want, just via a different path.
Appealing Results
Should your teen consider an appeal?
When results come out, students can apply to view their exam script, to see exactly how their answers were marked, before deciding whether to appeal.
There are deadlines for both viewing a script and lodging an appeal, and these move quickly after results day. Check the State Examinations Commission website for the current dates and how to apply, as these can change from year to year.
Dealing with Disappointment
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Disappointment is part of life, and it can also be an opportunity to learn something. An exam result measures performance in a set of questions on a given day — it doesn’t measure your teen’s intellect, potential, or worth as a person.
A young person’s results reflect a mix of learning opportunities, home environment, motivation, and where they were at emotionally and socially at that point in time. None of that is fixed.
Confidence matters hugely here. Let your teen know you believe in them, regardless of how this particular set of results turned out. Encouragement and praise for their effort — not just their results — helps them feel able to keep going.
There have never been more educational options available to young people than there are now. This is a good time for your teen to take a breath, take their time, and avoid rushing into a decision. Getting a CAO offer doesn’t mean they have to accept it. Ask them, plainly: “Do you want this?”
If the answer is no, it’s better to say so now than to accept a course and drop out later. Talk it through as a family, with the school’s Career Guidance counsellor, and with anyone else who can offer relevant, informed advice. There is some time before a CAO offer must be accepted, so use it to look at alternatives, get good advice, and avoid a rushed choice.
Tips for Parents
If your teen is disappointed with their results, here are some practical ways to support them:
- Acknowledge how they feel — “You’re disappointed…” — rather than jumping straight to solutions.
- Listen. Give their feelings room to settle before trying to “fix” anything.
- Keep your own disappointment to yourself. They’re feeling enough of their own without carrying yours too.
- Remember: the person who never made anything never made a mistake either.
- They’ll need help working through their options, so be ready to sit down with them when they’re ready.
- Remind them of their strengths, and that you believe in them.
- Reassure them this isn’t the end of the road — there are genuine options available.
- If they, or you, need to talk it through, the Leaving Cert Helpline is there to help.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I say to my teen if they’re disappointed with their Leaving Cert results?
Start by naming how they feel rather than trying to solve it straight away — something like “you’re really disappointed” lets them know you see it. Give them space to talk when they’re ready, and avoid layering your own disappointment on top of theirs.
Can my teen appeal their Leaving Cert results?
Yes. Students can apply to view their exam script to check how it was marked, and then appeal if they believe there’s been an error. Deadlines for both steps move fast after results day, so check the State Examinations Commission website as soon as possible for current dates.
What are my teen’s options if they don’t get the CAO offer they wanted?
There are usually several routes forward: a CAO offer for a different course or college, an offer in the UK, repeating the Leaving Cert through an ETB or private college, or applying for a Level 5 further education course as a stepping stone.
Is there support available for teens and parents on results day?
Yes. The Leaving Cert Helpline offers support for both students and parents around results day, and your teen’s school Career Guidance counsellor can also help talk through options.
Related Articles
- 8 Things I Didn’t Expect with My Teen Leaving Home for University
- 5 Helpful Tips and Ideas for Parents of an Anxious Teen
- Supporting Your Teen Through Exam Stress
Before You Go
Every family’s Leaving Cert results day looks a little different. If you’d like more tips like these landing in your inbox, sign up for the MyKidsTime newsletter — a weekly round-up of parenting ideas, straight to your inbox, no pressure to do anything with them except take what’s useful.
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