Page 1516 - SUBSEC October 2017_Neat

to lines 1 to 18. Also, there were a few multiple-choice papers where the keys or
the options were inappropriate. Finally, there were instances where there were
no pre-test or other related data on item quality for Paper 01 that could be used
to enhance test construction. TAC recommended that the quality assurance
measures that CXC has in place be carefully reviewed and updated where
necessary, and that they be carefully monitored to assure the construction of
CSEC and CAPE papers of the highest quality for all subjects.

(viii) The continuation of CXC’s initiatives to introduce a number of new subjects
which respond to new and changing demands in the Region for certain skills and
competencies was noted. Four new subjects were examined for the first time in
2017 – CSEC Portuguese and CAPE Animation and Game Design, CAPE Green
Engineering and CAPE Financial Services Studies. The new CAPE subjects are
among those for which it was not possible to undertake the grade awarding
exercise. However, for CSEC Portuguese, the 61 students, almost exclusively
from Guyana, who took the first examination performed well. Approximately 21
percent of those candidates received Grade I and all candidates performed
within the Grade I to III band. TAC was of the view that there was a potentially
large market for the four new subjects and recommended that these, and other
new subjects should be publicized to attract more candidates not only from
countries in the Region but also from the wider Caribbean diaspora which CXC
was already targeting to attract more candidates for its examinations.

91. FAC received the available Reports from the Subject Awards Committees (SACs) for

CAPE® and CSEC®.

FAC 2017 (30) - ART AND DESIGN

92. FAC heard that in Unit 1, 99 per cent of the candidates achieved acceptable grades,
Grades I–V, in 2017, compared with 100 per cent in 2016. Candidates performed best on
Module 2, Two-Dimensional Art and Design but Module 1, Cultural Studies, continues to
prove the most challenging. In Unit 2, 99.6 per cent of the candidates achieved Grades I–V in
both 2016 and 2017. This year, candidates performed best on Module 3, Creative Projects.
However, there was a decline in the performance of candidates on Module 1, Design and
Module 2, Applied Arts.

FAC 2017 (34) - CHEMISTRY

93. FAC heard that in 2017, 91 per cent of the candidates who wrote Unit 1 achieved
acceptable grades, Grades I-V, an improvement in the performance compared with 2016
when 80 per cent of the candidates achieved acceptable grades. Twenty percent of the
candidates earned Grade I compared with 18 percent in 2016. Ninety-six percent of the
candidates who wrote Unit 2 achieved acceptable grades, Grades I–V, compared with 86
percent in 2016. Thirty-five per cent achieved Grade I compared with 12 percent in 2016.

94. Despite the overall improvement in candidate performance, the weaknesses
highlighted in previous reports have persisted. Many candidates demonstrated a lack of
facility with the appropriate technical language in their responses to questions, thus
revealing a weak grasp of concepts and principles. Candidates and teachers are urged to

27