58,000 Junior Certificate students have been receiving their examination results today.
For the first time candidates were examined on a new science syllabus.
This year 45,000 candidates sat the first Junior Cert exam in the new more practical science syllabus.
At higher level more than 80% achieved an honour.
Across other subjects results are comparable to previous years.
The results are available in schools and online.
The Minister for Education has congratulated students and their parents and teachers on this, their first experience of the formal examination process.
Mary Hanafin urged students to celebrate sensibly and responsibly.
The non-governmental organisation, Alcohol Action Ireland, has said while students are entitled to celebrate, parents should inform children of the dangers of consuming alcohol.
Spokeswoman Sinead Shannon urged that stern measures should be taken against adults who buy alcohol for people below the age of 18 and against those who sell it to them.
