Page 13 - 2019 CXC Annual Report
P. 13

World Class Exams






            Examinations Administration and Security (EAS)






            ADMINISTRATION                                      5.  These matters were brought to the attention of the Local
            2.  The May-June 2019 session commenced on 15 April 2019   Registrars who indicated investigations had already been
               with the oral and practical examinations for CSEC® and   launched into some of the incidents and they committed
               CAPE®.  The first major written examination was sat on 6   to expanding their investigations where additional
               May 2019 when CSEC® Electronic Document Preparation   information was provided. Trinidad and Tobago provided
               and Management Paper 020 was administered in         detailed reports through the office of the Chief Education
               electronic mode only.  Where there were severe device   Officer, while Jamaica’s reports were submitted though
               and infrastructure constraints, centres opted to complete   the office of the Director of the Overseas Examinations
               the examination in offline mode.  Approximately 45% of   Commission.
               the candidates writing this test were able to complete the
               examination online without incident. Less than 15% of the   6.  Based on the reports received, the incidents were traced
               population  experienced  severe challenges  submitting   to  poor  supervision  which  permitted  a  small group  of
               files and required re-submission outside the e-Testing   candidates to be able to breach examination regulations
               platform.  During the examination, Antigua and Barbuda   with the following results:
               experienced an island-wide power outage, however,    a.  Removal of the Multiple Choice Question Papers
               power was restored quickly enough for candidates to     from the examination room after the examinations;
               complete their submissions.                          b.  Unruly behaviour during the sitting of the Paper 020
                                                                       examination; and
            3.  Minor question paper packing errors were reported   c.   Possession of prohibited devices in the examinations
               by centres in Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and St.     room and using the same devices to record and
               Maarten, while several territories required top-ups due   broadcast from the test centre.
               to late amendments. Overall, these issues were resolved
               before test day and hence had no effect on candidates.   7.   The Final Awards Committee penalised the candidates
                                                                    who were proven to be participants in any misconduct.
            4.  On 16 May 2019, information of an alleged breach reached   One Ministry disciplined the Supervisor who facilitated
               the Council via email and social media with media clips or   the misconduct.
               links to clips being shared.  It was being alleged that the
               CSEC® Mathematics examination was breached and that
               the 2019 tests were in circulation ahead of the scheduled
               examinations.  With assistance from the Communications
               team, CXC was able to trace the incidents to test centres
               in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.












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