The State Exams Commission (SEC) has permanently withheld almost 600 grades from students found to be cheating in their Leaving Certificate over the last 10 years, figures provided to the Irish Examiner show.
Students are liable to have their whole examination cancelled or be debarred from entering any of the State examinations if caught cheating.
The most common penalty applied by the SEC is the withholding of the result in the subject in question.
Between 2012 and 2022, 594 grades were withheld by the exam chiefs, a tiny fraction of the thousands of students who sat Leaving Certificate exams across the decade.
Fewer than 26 grades were withheld across 2021 and 2020, as both years saw changes to the traditional exam set-up due to the covid-19 pandemic.
In 2021, there was a dual approach to exams, where students had the option to sit exams, opt for an accredited grade, or both.
Calculated grades were used in 2020 after the State exams were cancelled that summer. Last year, 51 grades were withheld from students.
Students face sanctions from the SEC if they are found to have brought any books, notes, papers, mobile phones, or electronics into the exam hall or if they have these in their possession.
In an exam hall, students must not be in possession of any electronics, including cameras, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, or any other digital device, whether switched on or not.
Students are also liable to face sanction if they are found to be aiding, or attempting to aid, another candidate, or if they obtain, or attempt to obtain aid from another candidate.
Students are also liable to have their whole examination cancelled or be debarred from entering any of the State examinations if they are found to be communicating in any way with another candidate in the centre or by electronic means with a person outside the centre.
The regulations apply equally to practical and project work as well as to the work presented in the written examination. Any cases of suspected copying, improper assistance from another party, plagiarism, or procurement of pieces prepared by another party are thoroughly investigated by the SEC.
"In the interest of being fair to all candidates, the SEC must be satisfied that marks awarded have been gained fairly and will investigate any suggestion, suspicion, or allegation of cheating or other impropriety in relation to the examinations," a spokeswoman for the SEC said.
"This is essential in order to uphold the integrity of the Irish State examinations system and to underpin equity and fairness within the system in order to enable all candidates to display their achievements on an equal footing.
"The SEC would strongly caution any student that might be tempted to cheat, that serious consequences can result.
The SEC follows the principles of natural justice when following up on such cases. Details of the evidence available, such as superintendents' reports, confiscated material or items, notes, or work prepared that exhibits evidence of collusion, is given to the student through their school.
The student is invited to offer a response, and school authorities are also free to offer comment if they consider it appropriate. The final decision is communicated in writing to the candidate via their school, and a decision to withhold a result is open to appeal.
"While every effort is made to conclude an investigation prior to the issue of the examination results, it is not always possible to do so," the spokeswoman said.