Pupils have second day of CPEA today

Some of the students writing the 2018 Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) had mixed feelings after their first day of examinations yesterday, during which they sat the Math and Social Studies papers.

This year is the first time in which the exam, which was formerly known as the Common Entrance Examination (CEE), is being written over a two-day period.
Andia Hadley, a teacher who was awaiting her students outside the exam centre at the St Vincent Girls’ High School (GHS) said the children who wrote exams last year were relieved after one day of testing.

“Last year, when the day came, when the students did the exam in one day, they were quite relieved in one day. Now they have to go and come back tomorrow. The anxiety is still there but hopefully after today, they will be more relaxed for tomorrow.”

Legesti Herbert and Aedryon Sam from the Kingstown Preparatory School both expressed that the tests were easy, with Legesti explaining that “The teachers (invigilators) were nice, they helped us alot.”

She said she is looking forward to completing the remaining tests in Language Arts and Science today and that she believes she will do very well.

Aedryon said he knew he had passed Social Studies since it was easy, and although the Math test was more difficult, he was confident in his ability.

Zoey Bailey of the Lodge Village Government School said she was happy that the first day of exams was over and that so far, the exam had been easy for her.

“Maths, there were only two questions which were difficult and Social Studies, mostly what our teacher taught us was on the paper.”

She said she would now get some rest and eat healthy foods to prepare for the other tests today.

Angelique Henry from the St Mary’s Roman Catholic School said she thought the Math exam was good.

“Some of the answers were very obvious, but the Social Studies I found was a bit challenging. It was a bit more challenging but all in all, I have confidence in myself and I asked God to be with me to bring back what I have learnt, so I believe I would do good,” Angelique said.

Kalifa Adams from the CW Prescod Primary School said she felt the Math was a little challenging at first, but “the answers were right there.” She believes that she did well in Social Studies.

“I was a little bit nervous in the morning, but when I got here I was confident and happy. I prayed before I did the exam and that calmed me down.”

One thousand eight hundred and forty six Grade Six Primary School students are writing the exam at 17 centres across St Vincent and the Grenadines. There are 940 females and 906 males registered. The CPEA is an examination administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) for students exiting the primary cycle of their education.
Social Studies is being assessed for the first time this year, as part of the final component of the CPEA.

The results of the CPEA are expected to be published in June.