The Education Minister has accepted the new Leaving Cert system could be open to legal challenge.
It's been confirmed the written exams due to start at the end of July will not go ahead.
Students will be given a predicted grade by their school and the Department of Education will finalise their result.
There's also the option for pupils to sit the written exams at a later date.
Minister Joe McHugh says there could be some legal difficulties ahead.
"There is a legitimate expectation for students to sit the Leaving Certificate.
"We as a department have come to a conclusion that it's not safe and it's not in the best interests of the students in terms of their physical and mental health to hold those exams.
"So now we're moving into an assessed option and solution which is different to the expectations of students over the past two years.
"So yes, there are legal vulnerabilities around this course that we're taking.
