Over 900 candidates to write CSEC exams this year

A total of 980 candidates will write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams beginning today.

This was according to Local Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Registrar, Magalie Celestine.

Eighty-two more candidates are writing the CSEC exams this year as compared to last year when 898 of them wrote the exams.

The CSEC exams are scheduled for May 8 to June 16.

“The Ministry of Education is pleased to partner with the Caribbean Examinations Council in the administration of the 2023 exams. Dominica usually takes part 4 of the CXC exams, so this year the CSEC exams will run from today May 8 to June 16,” she said. “For the CSEC exams we have a total of 753 school candidates which comprises of 412 females and 341 males and 227 private candidates which comprises of 171 females and 56 males,” she said.

Celestine pointed out also that the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) exams also begins today, May 8 to June 23,  the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) begins on June 19 to June 22, while the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) will take place on June 6.

“The CAPE exams will be taken by 144 candidates, made up of 87 females and 57 males,” Celestine revealed.

She continued, “The CCSLC exams primarily for form 3 candidates, this year we will see 691 school candidates taking those exams, comprising of 297 females and 394 males and we have 1 private candidate which is a female.”

Celestine said everything is in place, “we are ready to roll, timetables have already been distributed, students are well equipped.”

She said students are expected to bring to the examination room an ID as well as materials that they require for the exams, such as their 3B pencils for the multiple choice exams, blue or black ink pens, their geometry sets, silent non-programmable scientific calculators, “so that they can take their exams at ease.”

She stated also that the team of invigilators is ready and well prepared to administer to welcome the students, “to make them at ease.”

Celestine expects that all students perform to the best of their abilities.

Meantime, she disclosed that for the first time, a new platform will be used for the paper 1 exams called Surpass.

“The students have been trained using that platform,” she revealed. “They are well prepared and well ready.”

Celestine added, “It’s a student centre platform, very easy to manipulate and I expect that everything will go well for the 2023 season.”

Celestine urged students to take their time to read the question paper carefully, follow the instructions, eat a good breakfast in the morning, “and come ready to deliver.”

She also urged students to follow the instructors of the invigilators and keep all cell phones away from the classrooms.

“Remember there is a zero tolerance on cellphones, and come and do their best on their exam papers, so that they can get the grades that they deserve,” she warned.

Celestine added, “All the best to our 2023 candidates.”