Step 1: view your marked script (free)

Shortly after Round 1 offers, the SEC opens online script viewing. You see your actual exam paper with the examiner’s marks — where every point was gained and lost. This is the single most useful thing you can do before appealing, because it turns a feeling (“that should have been a H3”) into evidence (“question 6 was marked out of the wrong scheme”).

Marking schemes for every subject are public on examinations.ie — compare your script against the scheme before deciding.

Step 2: decide if the appeal is worth it

  • You’re on a grade boundary. A few percent from the next grade is where re-marks most often move the result.
  • The points matter. One grade up is typically 9–12 points. Check with the points calculator whether that would actually change your CAO outcome — if your course cut-off was 40 points away, an appeal won’t bridge it.
  • Grades can go down. An appeal is a full re-mark of the script, not a review of one question. Appeal on evidence from the script viewing, not on disappointment.

Step 3: apply through the SEC Student Portal

Appeals are lodged online through the SEC Student Portal during the application window that opens after script viewing. There is a fee per subject, refunded if your grade is upgraded. Results of appeals are released in late September.

What an upgrade means for CAO

The CAO recalculates your points automatically when the SEC releases appeal results. If the new total would have earned a higher-preference offer back in Round 1, you receive that offer now. One catch: if the course has no capacity left, the offer may be deferred to next year’s intake — annoying, but the place is guaranteed.

Meanwhile, accept the offer you already have. An accepted place is never harmed by a pending appeal, and starting college while the appeal runs beats sitting at home waiting.

Frequently asked questions

Can my grade go down on appeal?

Yes — appeals are a full re-mark, so a grade can go up, stay the same or go down. That’s why viewing your script first matters: you appeal on evidence, not hope.

Is viewing my marked script free?

Yes. Viewing marked scripts is free and happens online shortly after Round 1 offers. You see exactly where marks were gained and lost before you commit to an appeal.

What happens to my CAO place if my appeal succeeds?

If the upgraded points would have earned you a higher-preference course, the CAO issues that offer once appeal results are released (late September). If the course is already full, the offer may be for next year’s intake instead.

Should I accept my current CAO offer while appealing?

Yes, always. Accepting protects the place you have. If the appeal succeeds and triggers a better offer, it replaces the accepted one — you lose nothing by accepting now.