Slight decline in results of overall CXC performance

Overall performance in the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) declined slightly in the Caribbean this year, with 66 per cent of the entries achieving Grades I -III, which are the acceptable grades at CSEC.{{more}} Last year 69 per cent of the entries achieved similar grades.

Of the 34 subjects offered this year, performance improved on 10, declined on 21 and remained the same on three.

Among the subjects with improved performance this year were Caribbean History up 74 per cent compared with 65 per cent last year; Economics, up 70 per cent compared with 62 per cent last year; Music and Principles of Accounts both at 66 per cent this year compared with 53 per cent and 64 per cent last year respectively; and Spanish up 67 per cent compared with 64 per cent last year.

This year candidate entries for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination declined marginally when compared with last year.

The total number of candidates registered this year stood at 153,120 compared with 153,447 candidates in 2010.

In spite of the slight decline in candidate entries, subject entries increased. The number of subject entries submitted this year passed the 610,000 mark. 610,713 subject entries were submitted this year.

Several subjects registered significant increase in registration over last year, including all three Natural Sciences, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Human and Social Biology, Information Technology, Mathematics and Physical Education and Sports.

Human and Social Biology saw the largest increase of candidates, with entries moving from 31,546 in 2010 to 33,386 this year, an increase of 1,840. Physical Education and Sports jumped from 5,636 candidates in 2010 to 7,040 this year, an increase of 1,404. Entries for Chemistry increased from 13,542 last year to 14,791 this year, up by 1,249, while for Mathematics, entries increased from 100, 084 in 2010 to 101, 245 this year, up by 1161. Entries for Biology increased by 828, moving from 15, 290 last year to 16,118 this year.

For the first time, more candidates registered for Mathematics than English A. This year 100,084 candidates registered for Mathematics compared with 98,708 candidates for English A. Traditionally, English A has always been the subject with the largest entries.

Social Studies maintained the third spot with 53,426 candidates; followed by Principles of Business with 38, 021 and Human and Social Biology with 33, 386 candidates.

The age group 19 years and over accounted for the largest percentage of candidates registering for the CSEC examinations. This year, 31 per cent of 57,413 of the candidates were in that age group.

“This age group represents the adult population in the region, therefore, this statistic demonstrates that adults are still accessing our examinations and see them as relevant for their upward mobility in the work place or for accessing tertiary education,” a release from CXC said.