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Identical twins Aaron and Conor Daly from Rathcoole in Co Dublin had identical ambitions to study medicine.
Both received exactly the same grades calculated by their school, the maximum of 625 points.
But the 18-year-olds ended up with different results.
Aaron was demoted in two subjects, which resulted in Conor getting a place in Medicine at UCD and Aaron missing out.
He is now studying his sixth option, which was Bio Medicine at UCD.
Aaron told RTÉ Radio 1’s ‘Liveline’ that he didn’t understand why he was penalized when his brother wasn’t, as they have had similar ratings and performances since first year.
His mother, Denise Daly, said she was heartbroken when Aaron was demoted and that it took away what Conor had accomplished.
“We couldn’t celebrate Conor for what happened to Aaron. The day the grades came out, I lost all faith in the system,” he said.
However, Denise said that today’s news offered a glimmer of hope that Aaron could get the results he hoped for.
Aaron has not received any contact from the Department of Education, as he and thousands of other students will be anxiously waiting to know if their grades will change.
ASTI said it is shocked and disappointed by the mistakes.
ASTI President Anne Piggott said she was surprised that such an error could occur “at this level” and said it has raised the question of whether everything else had been done correctly or if there were more errors in the system.
The Irish Student Union said the minister said that no one will be at a disadvantage, but that students should know “how she will make it happen.”
USI President Lorna Fitzpatrick said: “There are so many problems that need to be resolved. Fees have already been paid, room rents have been paid, and many students have moved to towns or cities where they attend college.”
He also asked how more university places could be available when students had been told that all the additional places that were possible had already been added.
Career guidance expert Brian Mooney told RTÉ’s Six One News that many more students could improve.
He said that the way the Junior Cert results were used in calculating grades meant that collective performance went down “once it is corrected that the performance of all class groups is improved in all subjects across the country. “.
Those who wanted to take the Leaving Cert exams in November had until this Friday to register to take the exams.
But the National Association of Principals and Assistant Principals says the deadline is no longer realistic and they want students to have more time to consider their options.
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