Around 17% of Leaving Cert students will have their results downgraded due to generous teachers awarding high predicted grades.
Teachers gave more than double the number of H1 marks in subjects to pupils than normally expected and even tripled, the Department of Education has said.
However, nearly 80% of grades will be unchanged with the remainder either reduced by 17% or increased by 4%.
Cabinet also agreed to scrap the use of ‘school profiling’ which took into account their previous track record on Leaving Cert marks when it came to grades.

Education Minister Norma Foley said results will be standardised to ensure fair treatment and disadvantaged students won’t be impacted unfairly.
She said yesterday: “Your school will not determine the results that you get through standardisation this year.
“I am pleased that we have taken the time to get this right, and learned from others, and listened to the concerns of students.”
However, the Labour Party’s education spokesperson Aodhan O Riordain said the detail of the overall algorithm will be key to how grades are awarded.