980 candidates will sit this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams (CSEC) which begin this morning, May 8, 2023. This is an increase of 82 students from last year. Of the total number, there are 753 school candidates; (412 females, 341 males) and 227 private candidates; (171 females, 56 males).

Meanwhile, 144 candidates will sit the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), an increase of 8 candidates from last year. 87 females and 57 males will take the exams. While the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ)exams will take place on June 6.

More males than females will sit this year’s Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) exams which is done in third form. A total of 691 school students inclusive of 297 females and 394 males will sit the CCSLC which will begin on June 19 and run until June 22. There is 1 female private candidate who will also take the exams.

CSEC local registrar, Magalie Celestine says that everything is in place for the commencement of the exams which will see a new platform used for the multiple choice.

“ This year for the very first time, we will be using a new platform for our paper 1 exams called Surpass. The students have been trained using that platform. They are well prepared and well ready. It’s a student centered platform, very easy to manipulate and I expect that everything will go well for the 2023 season.”

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

She stressed that there is a no cell phone policy in the examination room.

Students are expected to have an ID to enter the exam room as well as their own materials such as 3B pencils for the multiple choice exams, blue or black ink pens, geometry sets, and silent non programmable scientific calculators.

The exams will run until June 23.