The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has made significant changes for the June / July 2021 exam cycle.
According to a press release today from the Council, CXC is “aware of the many challenges across the region at this time including the debilitating impact of COVID-19 on all sections of society, and all stakeholders operating within the education sector, along with the explosive volcanic activity on La Soufrière in St Vincent and the Grenadines ”.
The statement states that CXC recognizes that some candidates across the region, based on their particular circumstances, may not be ready for assessment during the June / July 2021 exam cycle, and in these circumstances, CXC has reduced requirements the SBA as much as 50 percent in some subjects. Following extensive consultations with regional Education Ministries, CXC has also implemented a facility for candidates to postpone sitting examinations and submit School Assessments (SBAs), until January 2022 (CSEC) or May / June 2022 (CAPE, CSEC and CCSLC) exam cycle.
In addition, CXC will share the broad topics for assessment on Paper 02 for CSEC and CAPE subjects with the Education Ministries for distribution to all candidates on 10 May 2021 (5 weeks before the start of the examinations), for subjects where such details are not already available in the syllabus. However, candidates are reminded that the entire syllabus is assessed on Paper 01. The changes that will be of use to such candidates are as follows:
I. SBA scores may be transferred for use in the next examination, where the subject is offered.
II. II. The rules governing the re-use of SBA scores for re-sit candidates remain the same.
III. Candidates may also: submit a new SBA or delay the submission of SBAs until the chosen sitting.
IV. CXC will receive SBAs in January 2022 for candidates who postpone sitting exams for subjects offered in that period.
CXC says that granting the suspension will be controlled by the head teacher, for school-based applicants, and by CXC Local Registrar, for private applicants. All candidates should indicate an intention to defer from the June / July 2021 exam cycle by 1 May 2021. The statement stated that there is no charge for postponing examinations. According to the statement, postponement procedures were shared directly with all Ministries of Education and Local Registrars from across the region on Friday, 26 March 2021 and Friday, 9 April 2021 and communications were placed on the CXC website: www.cxc .org; In preparation for exams, students can also access a range of exam-related resources through www.cxc.org/student-central/
The statement added that CXC will continue to collaborate with all regional Ministries of Education and other stakeholders to ensure the safety and welfare of all stakeholders, and that exam administration does not disenfranchise the region’s students. CXC 2021 candidates should also note that this information is outlined in the SBA Student Handbook: Syllabus Handling and School-based Assessment for Examination Administration, published and posted on the CXC website and shared via social media in November 2020 and February 2021.
The CXC statement follows the widespread dissatisfaction among students and their parents last year about arrangements and grades for the CSEC and CAPE 2020 exams.