5th Year Students 2026-27
A new Leaving Certificate Life, Community and Work (LCW) specification will be introduced for fifth year students in September 2026. This will replace the current Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Statement.
Curriculum Specification for Leaving Certificate Life, Community and Work
There are two assessment components for LCW: a written examination (60%) and an Additional Assessment Component (AAC), Portfolio in Action (40%). Both the written examination and the Portfolio in Action AAC will be at common level. Each component will be set and examined by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).
Leaving Certificate Life, Community and Work will be graded using a 4-point grading scale
- Distinction (80 – 100%)
- Merit (65 – 79%)
- Pass (50 – 64%)
- Not Achieved (0 - 49%)
6th Year Students 2026-27
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Statement 2022
Assessment of Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)
LCVP students follow the same subject syllabuses and are assessed in the same way as their peers in the Leaving Certificate (established).
Assessment of the Link Modules:
The Link Modules, Preparation for the World of Work and Enterprise Education are treated as a unit for assessment purposes. Assessment, which is at a common level, comprises two elements, a Terminal Examination Paper and a Portfolio of Coursework. Both are assessed by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).
Certification:
LCVP students receive the same certificate as students of the Leaving Certificate (established). An additional statement of the grade received for the Link Modules is appended to the certificate.
Grades for the Link Modules are awarded as follows:
• Distinction (80 – 100%)
• Merit (65 – 79%)
• Pass (50 – 64%)
LCVP students have the same opportunity to proceed to universities and other third level institutions as students in the Leaving Certificate (established).
The Link Modules are presently recognised in points terms as follows:
• Distinction 66 points
• Merit 46 points
• Pass 28 points
More information about the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) can be found here.