Page 12 - SUBSEC October 2017_Neat

Reports on the Meetings of the Review Committees for the Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Syllabuses

30. The SUBSEC received the reports on the meetings of the Review Committees for Biology,
Chemistry and Physics and heard that revisions to the CAPE sciences were done to include inquiry
based learning and the STEM methodology as part of the assessment process. Members were
informed that among the activities that were conducted to inform the review process was a
systematic needs assessment carried out in four territories and involved focus group sessions with
teachers, employers, students and tertiary level institutions.

31. Participants were taken through the timeline of introduction, first examinations and
revisions for each syllabus. It was noted that proposed changes common to syllabuses in the
science cognate would be made to the Rationale, Aims, Content, General and Specific Objectives.
There would also be the inclusion of suggested practical activities. The SUBSEC noted the outline
of the assessment which showed Paper 01 consisting of 45 multiple choice items, Paper 02
comprising three compulsory structured essays, and Paper 03, the SBA, to be done as a research
project focused on the development of skills. It was noted that there would be a single SBA for
the cognate group and that group SBA was also [encouraged] (an option?).

32. The Past Chair enquired whether the single SBA would contain elements of all three
science subjects. The Pro-Registrar informed the SUBSEC that the skills which cut across all three
disciplines were identified and those were the areas tested with the SBA.

33. The SUBSEC considered the proposals of the Review Committees for revising the CAPE®
Biology, Chemistry and Physics Syllabuses and noted that the finalised syllabuses will be
submitted for the SUBSEC’s approval in October 2017 and for teaching to begin in September
2018. The revised syllabuses will become effective for examinations from May–June 2019. (D)

ITEM 7: CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE (CSEC®)

Report on the Meetings to finalize the Economics, Principles of Accounts and Principles of
Business Syllabuses

34. The SUBSEC received the reports of the meetings to finalize the Economics, Principles of
Accounts and Principles of Business syllabuses and noted that major changes to the business
cognate would include group SBA, a single SBA for candidates sitting more than one subject in
the business cognate, and the SBA to be structured to focus on skills common to the business
cognate. Other proposed changes common to all three subjects include revision and refinement of
the Aims and General Objectives, clarification and elaboration of Specific Objectives and Content,
as well as the inclusion of Suggested Teaching and Learning Activities in each section of the
syllabus.

35. Members noted that the assessment for each subject would involve a Paper 01 which
consisted of 60 multiple choice items, a change in Paper 02 to five (5) compulsory questions drawn
from the entire syllabus, and an SBA in the form of research activity which focused on the
assessment of business skills.

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