The Caribbean Examinations Council, CXC, has decided to revert to using the previous format in this years sitting of the exams, which have been scheduled for June and July.
This was decided on, during a recent meeting of the council for human and social development, education, and follows extensive consultations with regional stakeholders.
It comes in the wake of controversy about the results of last years exams, the format for which had been modified due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement the CXC said the primary focus was to ensure that the administration of the regional examinations would not disenfranchise the region’s students, in light of the ongoing disruptions to the education system caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
As such, CXC will administer the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in their original format.
This means, CAPE and CSEC will utilize paper 1 (the multiple choice), paper 2 (the essays) and the School-Based Assessments, SBA, or paper 3, for private candidates.
The examinations will be scheduled during the period June and July, with CSEC and CAPE written examinations to commence on June 14 and end on July 16.
Results will be made available to the Ministries of Education in the last week of September.
The CXC has also decided that an extension will be given for the deadline by which students can decide to defer the sitting of the examinations.
This means that all candidates will be required to indicate their intent for deferral by May 1.
Submitted SBAs and scores can also be deferred for use in the next examination sitting.
There will be no fee charged for the deferral of examinations.
CXC has stated that having taken into consideration the loss of learning many students experienced, it will share with ministries of education, the broad topics to be assessed on paper 2, five weeks in advance of the start of examinations.
The information should be disseminated to candidates.
The CXC added that in response to calls to consider the revision of requirements for syllabus coverage, due to disruptions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, it was determined that any change, at any level, to the programme of studies offered can prove disadvantageous to stakeholders and impact CXC’s ability to compare results across years in terms of equivalence of certification.
Therefore, the one-month delay in the schedule of this year’s examinations will allow for additional instructional time as teachers and students prepare for examinations.
Additionally, submission deadlines for SBAs have been extended by one month.
The CXC said following consultations, it was also determined that rather than alter the syllabuses, changes would be made to the SBA requirements, that is, a reduction in the number of practicals or assignments, and to the approach to the implementation of the SBA.
The strategy of 100 percent SBA moderation, across all centres, for all subjects will be maintained.
Meantime, CXC and the University of the West Indies (UWI), have presented a joint strategy to address matriculation requirements for cape applicants, applying for admission to the UWI in 2021.
Students who have passed at least two cape subjects either at unit 1 or 2 at grades 1 to 4, who also have the requisite CSEC subjects and who are currently registered for either unit 1 or 2, can qualify as normal matriculants to the UWI.
