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Admissions schemes
Maths entry exam

The maths entry exam scheme is designed to assist CAO applicants who have not achieved the required grade in mathematics for entry to SETU. It provides a ‘second chance’ opportunity to achieve the minimum maths entry requirements. 

Attaining a qualifying standard in the SETU maths entry exam does not in itself guarantee a place on any course in SETU. The cut-off points and normal eligibility criteria will still apply. The SETU maths exam results count only with respect to explicit maths requirements. Offers are subject to available places and are made in the next available round of CAO offers.

Upon application for the maths exam, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they meet all other criteria for their chosen programme. The University will not check eligibility criteria until after the maths paper has been completed. The maths entry exam is comparable to the leaving certificate ordinary level paper. The content of this paper will be based on the leaving certificate (ordinary level) syllabus.

Note - Once you have applied through the CAO for a course at SETU you can sit the maths entry exam at either the SETU in Waterford campus or SETU in Carlow campus. The result attained can be used for eligibility for relevant courses on all SETU campus’ regardless of which campus you sat the exam on. This means that you can use the maths entry exam result for any of the SETU campuses.

Please note the following programmes are excluded for the scheme: 

Contact details

Tel: 051 302043
Email: [email protected] 

To be eligible for consideration under the scheme, the applicant should meet the following criteria:

  • The applicant has applied to SETU through the CAO application process for 2024 entry.
  • The applicant has achieved the required points for entry into their chosen programme of study and met all other criteria set for the programme (except maths requirement).
  • The applicant has not achieved the required grade in their mathematics examination for entry.
  • Note: You are eligible to sit the exam if you failed maths (Higher, Ordinary or Foundation levels)
  • The majority of courses offered by SETU require at least an Ordinary Level 6 (O6) or Higher Level 7 (H7) grade in Maths. However, some courses have a higher level maths requirement. Detailed information about the maths entry prerequisites for each course are available on individual undergraduate course page.

Applications open in August 2024. Closing date for applications:  30 August 2024

Apply to the SETU maths entry exam.

The examination will follow the standard format of the existing leaving certificate with two papers based on the existing leaving certificate ordinary level. Applicants can expect the questions to reflect the standard of the leaving certificate ordinary level examination.  There is no access to previous SETU maths entry exam papers.

Mock Papers

There is no access to previous SETU maths entry exam papers for revision purposes, please use past Ordinary Level Leaving Certificate papers - SETU maths entry exam follows this format and standard. 

I have applied for a course at SETU Waterford and/or SETU Carlow/Wexford, can I use the Maths Entry Exam result for any of the campus'?

If you have applied for a course at SETU you can sit the maths entry exam at either the SETU in Waterford or SETU in Carlow campus and the result can be used for eligibility for all SETU courses to which the maths entry exam applies, regardless of which campus you sat the exam on. You will be offered the highest preference course for which you are eligible – having achieved the required grade in the maths entry exam and met all other qualifying criteria for the programme.

Can I get mock or past SETU maths entry exam papers?

There is no access to previous SETU maths entry exam papers for revision purposes, please use past Ordinary Level Leaving Certificate papers - SETU maths entry exam follows this format and standard.

What is the CAO statement?

This is the list of programmes the student has applied for through the CAO.  This can be submitted as a screenshot.

Can I apply if I have already passed maths in the leaving certificate?

Yes.  The scheme is based on the maths entry requirement for your chosen course.  For example, if the maths entry requirement for your first-choice programme was O5 or better, but you only received an O6, then you could take the examination and obtain a place on your chosen programme if you achieved an O5 or better.

Can I apply if I failed my maths in the leaving certificate?

Yes.  The maths entry exam gives you an opportunity to improve upon your maths grade attained in the leaving certificate.

Can I apply if I sat Foundation Level maths in my leaving certificate?

Yes. The maths entry exam is open to all Leaving Certificate applicants.

Can I apply if I have already received a place at SETU?

Yes, if you received a place that is a lower preference because you did not meet the maths requirement for the higher preference place.

Can I study at SETU if I have an offer from another college?

Yes you can but only if:

Your chosen programme at SETU is a higher preference on your CAO list than the programme at the other college, and

You achieve the required grade in the maths entry exam and meet all other qualifying criteria for the programme

You will not be entitled to a place at SETU if you received an offer for a programme at another college that is a higher preference than the SETU programme.

Is there a fee for taking the examination?

No, there is no fee for taking the examination in 2023.


Will I get additional leaving certificate points if I get a higher grade?

No. Your leaving certificate points total will not be altered as a result of the maths entry exam. The examination merely deals with the entry requirements and not your CAO points requirements. If you have not obtained the cut-off points for your preferred programme, then you should not take the exam.


If I become eligible for a number of programmes, which one will I be offered?

You will be offered the highest preference programme for which you are eligible.


Are there any programmes excluded from the Scheme?

The following programmes are excluded for the scheme: 

Can I use my result from the maths entry exam that I sat in a previous year to be considered for entry this year? 

Yes, you can use the results achieved in your maths entry exam/second chance maths exam from a previous academic year to be considered for entry in the current academic year.