Privacy Policy

Last updated:
Plain English summary: We do not collect any personal data through the calculator. We do not sell your data. We do not run ads. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. This policy is GDPR compliant.

1. Who we are

CAOPointsCalculator.com is a free, independent online tool for Irish Leaving Certificate students. We are not affiliated with the Central Applications Office (CAO), the State Examinations Commission (SEC), or any Irish university or college.

For questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us at hello@caopointscalculator.com.

2. What data we collect

We collect the minimum data necessary to operate this website. This includes:

  • Server logs: Standard web server logs including your IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time of visit. These are retained for up to 30 days for security and technical purposes only.
  • Contact form submissions: If you use our contact form, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message.
  • Analytics data: Aggregated, anonymised data about how visitors use the site (see Section 6).

We do not collect: names, ages, school names, exam results, or any sensitive personal data through the calculator tool.

3. The calculator — no data stored

The CAO Points Calculator runs entirely in your web browser using JavaScript. When you enter your Leaving Cert grades and click “Calculate”, the calculation happens locally on your device. Your grades and results are never sent to our servers, never stored, and never logged.

Closing the browser tab clears all data you entered. We have no record of what grades you entered or what score you received.

4. Cookies

We use only essential cookies required for the website to function. We do not use advertising cookies, tracking cookies, or third-party marketing cookies.

  • WordPress session cookies: Used for basic website functionality. These expire when you close your browser.
  • Analytics cookies: If we use Google Analytics, these are anonymised and do not identify you personally (see Section 6).

You can disable cookies in your browser settings. This will not affect your ability to use the calculator.

5. Contact form data

When you submit our contact form, we collect your name, email address, and message. We use this information solely to respond to your enquiry. We do not add you to any mailing list without your explicit consent.

Contact form data is retained for up to 12 months and then permanently deleted. We use email hosting services to receive your message — these providers are bound by appropriate data processing agreements.

The legal basis for processing contact form data is legitimate interest (responding to your enquiry).

6. Analytics

We may use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. If enabled, Google Analytics collects anonymised data such as pages visited, time on page, and general geographic location (country level). We do not enable features that allow Google to identify you personally.

You can opt out of Google Analytics using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

7. Your rights under GDPR

As an Irish/EU user, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

  • Right of access: You can request a copy of any personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to rectification: You can ask us to correct inaccurate data.
  • Right to erasure: You can ask us to delete your personal data.
  • Right to restrict processing: You can ask us to limit how we use your data.
  • Right to object: You can object to our processing of your data.
  • Right to data portability: You can request your data in a portable format.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@caopointscalculator.com. We will respond within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission of Ireland.

8. Children’s privacy

Our calculator is designed for use by Leaving Certificate students, who may be under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 13 years of age. The calculator itself collects no personal data from any user regardless of age. If you believe a child has submitted personal data via our contact form, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the website after changes are published constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us: