Almost 57,000 people will receive their Leaving Cert results today, and one of them achieved nine A1s.
Figures from the State Examinations Commission show that the number sitting Honours maths is at its highest ever with more than 14,000 taking the paper this year - and 95% of them passed the exam.
It means the number of people earning the 25 bonus CAO points for the subject will hit a record of 13,660, which is expected to push up requirements for related college courses when offers begin to be sent out next week.
However the failure rate in some maths and science subjects is also on the rise.
Schools will begin releasing results to students after 9am. They will also be available online on examinations.ie from midday.
One student will open his or her results today to find they have earned nine A1 grades, while 13 candidates around the country have scored eight A1s this year.
The Minister for Education Jan O'Sullivan has wished students the best of luck, and she was remaining coy about her own Leaving Cert experiences.
"Today is for the current Leaving Certs, not for people like me," she said, "but I can still remember the feeling of trepidation.
"For the vast majority of students, there will be joy. Even for those who didn't get exactly what they want, if they take the time to see the various opportunities that are there, there will be something positive there for them."
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