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E_TESTING/ ONLINE EXAMINATIONS

Information not received in a timely manner from CXC.
Instructions for various Papers were sent mere hours before the examination. In fact, the
communication from CXC was often late and unclear. In some cases the instructions were
received mere minutes before the scheduled start of the examination. In yet other cases,
Credentials were sent one (1) hour in advance but for the wrong platform! Untenable
situations often arose, such as the instances of ICT Technicians/Invigilators/Principals having
to contact CXC even after the scheduled start of examinations to get login information and to
trouble shoot issues with students who were locked out and those who could not login in.

Issues with Platform for submission / upload to CXC
The platform for submission of the Paper 2 examinations was not always available for
submission as required. There were significant delays for students who wanted to upload
their responses. In some instances, students had to switch computers, hoping that another
computer would work. Interestingly, in some cases it worked. In yet other instances,
students had to redo the entire examination to facilitate the upload. In one sitting, students
who started the examination at 9.00 a.m. finally completed and uploaded their products at
3.00 p.m.! Some students were scheduled to take another examination at 1.00 p.m. They
were forced to begin that second examination after 3.00 pm, following their six-hour ordeal.

Inadequate lines of communication
The lines of communication among the Invigilator, the Local registrar/Examinations Division
and CXC were blurred, faulty, unavailable, especially at critical times prior to and during
examinations. ICT Technicians, who were literally indispensable for the execution of e-tests,
had to routinely call Examinations Division of the MoE, and CXC (Barbados and Jamaica)
in order to get students’ credentials, even after scheduled start times for examinations.

Late adjustments from CXC
In many instances, CXC had to make late, contingency arrangements in order to facilitate
students’ access to kits, and upload of work. In some cases, CXC had to create alternate
links. In yet other instances, the Media Kits for students attempting Paper 2 was only made
available after 5.00 pm on the day prior to the examination! It must be noted that the media
kits are large files, sent from CXC for use by students in the examination. Local examination
personnel / technicians must download the kits and upload them to students’ computers prior
to the examination. This proves quite an undertaking.

Examinations at unmonitored centers
MOE officials were not present for the Animation and Game Design, Paper 2, at Naparima
Boys College. The team was reliably informed that at least one student was unable to submit
his paper, despite numerous attempts.

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