CXC Sets Dates for Exams; Back to Full Format

Both students and instructors involved with CAPE and CSEC examinations will be relieved to know there is an update for this year’s exams. After two years of an amended version, the Caribbean Examination Council also says this year the examinations will be administered in their full format.  Today, the council held a virtual session to share the information throughout the region.

Wayne Wesley, Registrar, CXC

“After careful deliberation and consideration of all the pertinent issues, Council, which is made up of the government of regions agrees that the revised strategies for the 2021 regional examination shall be as follows. One, to maintain the administration of all papers, CXC will administer the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), the Caribbean Secondary Examination (CSEC) and the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC). That is for CAPE and CSEC, papers one, two, and three one, School Based Assessment, or paper three two for private candidates. And for paper CCSLC, papers one and two.”

Hillary Beckles

Paul Lopez, Reporting

It was decided to delay the sitting of the regional examinations by two weeks, however.  CXC examinations will therefore commence on Thursday the twenty-eight of June 2021. The issues being faced by countries across the region were a part of the considerations that led to the delay. For instance, Trinidad and Tobago is currently in a State of Emergency due to a recent increase in reported covid-19 cases and deaths.  The recent volcanic eruption in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, affect not only that island, but surrounding nations as well.

Hillary Beckles, Chairman, CXC

“Some wanted a little more than two weeks, some wanted three weeks five weeks. So, there was this diversity based on the specifics of each country’s position. Well, we all realized that practicality was necessary, but a different kind of practicality. We must be practical in each domestic environment, in each country, we have to be practical there. But we also must realize there is another level of practicality where we must deliver an examination system across the region. And the ministers were magnificent. They all agreed that time were required. There were also some countries that said we are ready now.”

Wayne Wesley

The deadline for the submission for SBA’s will be June thirtieth, 2021, for all CSEC and CAPE examinations. CXC says results for these examinations will be out by late September to early October of 2021. CXC agreed that the grading process must take into consideration the global pandemic’s psycho-social impact on students.

Wayne Wesley

“The process of grading and marking at the examination council always takes into consideration the level of performance of students across the region. This year and last year it would have been even more important for us to pay attention to the psychological impact of covi-19 on the performance of student and make the requisite adjustments. In that regard when our technical advisory committee and subject advisory committee meets to review the performance of students, there is that flexibility that allows them to take into consideration the scope and demands of a particular subject, and even questions, down to a particular question. If this question seemed to be a challenge across the region, how can we look at those questions to ensure students are not disadvantaged.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.