Around 60,000 students are getting their Leaving Certificate results on Friday morning.
The results were made available online from 10 am.
The Education Minister says a decision to award grades which were broadly in line with last year was made due to the 'unique' situation of this year's class.
Norma Foley intervened in July to instruct State exam bosses to ensure this year's results were no lower on aggregate than last year.
For many, it was the first time students sat a State exam, after their Junior Cert was cancelled during the pandemic.
Minister Foley says while grades were broadly in line, there wasn't as much choice in the exams that the 2022 class got.
"Previously we had made a number of accommodations. Two rounds of accommodations on the Leading Certificate paper for students last year.
"This year, there was one round of accommodations on the paper. So the papers themselves that students are sitting are beginning to return more and more akin to what students would have sat in 2019".
However, students are being urged not to get wrapped up in the "national obsession" with points.
Teachers Union of Ireland President, Liz Farrell, says this year's Leaving Cert class experienced a lot of disruption during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
"We just want to congratulate all of the students are receiving their results today, and compliment them on their resilience.
"Given the disruption caused to their studies by the Pandemic, we want to acknowledge their hard work and commitment to their studies.
"We also want to say to them that not to focus on points alone".
Minister for Further Education, Simon Harris, says many options are open to students who may feel disappointed with their results, and that there are many pathways into a career that don't necessarily include the CAO.
"There are so many opportunities to succeed, there are so many opportunities to get to where you want to get to in life, and that might be going directly to university, it might also be an apprenticeship, a traineeship, a post leaving course, the new degree courses that we now have available outside the CAO.
"So when you get those results, do take the time to talk to teachers, talk to guidance counsellors, talk to parents, and access a number of the helplines if needed that will be available as well".
The National Parents and Students Leaving Cert Helpline is open from 10 am to 6pm today - 1800 265 165 - and is a free and confidential service.
