CXC ‘modifies’ exam process due to COVID-19 | Exam dates pushed

In an effort to minimize disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) it is pushing back its summer exams and has made a policy decision to test its cohort of students differently this academic year.

In a March 26 statement, the regional body said it will modify its examination process by administering at least one common paper as a multiple-choice assessment to students.

CXC said final grades will, therefore, be based on the ‘moderated’ School-Based Assessments or Paper 032s (an alternative to the SBA) and the multiple-choice papers. 

The regional examination body said this modified examination process will apply to all subject areas except for modern languages (Spanish, French and Portuguese), Human & Social Biology, and Visual Arts.

More Changes

CXC further said that this modified examination process will be done using electronic testing (e-testing) — also referred to as computer-based testing. 

It said e-testing can be done both online and offline, and is being used “in order to reduce the examinations administration processing time; resulting in the shortest turn-around time for marking and the release of examination results”.

“In addition, it (e-testing) will provide an opportunity for the timely presentation of grades to facilitate matriculation to higher education or to access employment,” CXC said.

Summer exams pushed to July 

Typically, CXC’s summer exams are done during the months of May and June. But because of the COVID-10 pandemic, these exams have been pushed to July.

“While the proposed revised administration schedule for the May/June 2020 examinations is July 2020, we continue to be guided by national protocols across the region,” CXC said.

The examination body further advise teachers and students in the region to make use of the council’s learning hub – learninghub.cxc.org – that would provide useful information on exam preparation.