A total of 71 Leaving Cert pupils have not been given their results over fears they have cheated.
The State Examinations Commission said 51 have been “permanently withheld” after students breached rules.
A spokeswoman added the body has provisionally not released 20 other results “on a without prejudice basis, pending further communication with the schools and candidates concerned”.
She said: “The SEC must be satisfied marks have been gained fairly and will investigate any suggestion, suspicion or allegation of cheating or other impropriety in relation to the examinations.”
This year’s total is one short of the 72 results permanently withheld last summer.
The 2018 figure was a sharp increase from 57 results in 2017 but represents a dramatic fall from 100 in 2016 and 101 in 2015.
Last year 35 Junior Cert results were permanently withheld amid suspicions of cheating and this followed 11 cases in 2017.
Those suspected of breaching rules in the Leaving Cert this year represent a tiny proportion of the 57,000 students who sat the exam.
At each test centre across the country, notices are placed in prominent locations warning students of the penalties for cheating.
Pupils are warned they are liable to have their examination cancelled if they bring in devices such as iPods, MP3/4 Players or mobile phones into the exam hall.
Students also risk having their test cancelled if they help or attempt to aid another candidate or obtain or try to get assistance from another candidate.
Pupils also face having their exam cancelled if they try to communicate with others in the exam centre or by electronic means with people outside.
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