The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has completed its review of the results for 80 per cent of the students who wrote the CXC and CAPE 2020.
The results following the council’s review were released on January 4 and many of the comments by students across the region were a mixture of disappointment and satisfaction, while others received reviews when they were not even aware their results would be changed. The council has since stated that it “has given further consideration to the hardships that students and their parents may have been experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” hence, it reviewed all borderline cases in addition to the Requests for Reviews. It also said that at this time, only 80 per cent of the final results have been released and that it is working assiduously to complete the remaining requests.
As for the change of grade profiles or grades when there was not a request for a review, CXC said that the grades that were released in September were preliminary grades and that those grades were subject to change. Therefore, candidates who did not request a review may see an improvement in profiles or overall grades now that final results have been released.
Persons who submitted reviews but saw no changes in their grades and wish to know whether their grades were reviewed are asked to contact CXC at: + 1 (246) 227-1700, email: cxcezo@cxc.org (Barbados), + 1 (876) 630-5200, email: cxcwzo@cxc.org (Jamaica), or Facebook Messenger – facebook.com/MyCXC.
CXC also said that it is currently processing refunds for candidates who paid for Requests for Reviews in full before the discount was applied (a US$15 refund) and for candidates whose grade improved after the Review process (full refund).
Among those who received reviews without requesting one is Alka Ram, who attended West Demerara Secondary school. Ram said that she was told to check her results after a colleague had a change of grades. She heeded the advice and checked. “Well I was satisfied because I knew to myself that I did not get a grade III for biology. They changed it to II,” Ram said. She added that it is clear that the first grading was not accurate and that begs the question, “How are they making these mistakes?” She said that some people might be very dissatisfied because CXC was supposed to do the right thing the first time around. However, she said, “I’m satisfied they did the review. And I’m thankful for the extra work they did.”
Another student also received a change of her grades although she did not request a review. “When I first got my results something didn’t feel right I was completely dissatisfied with my grades because I knew my ability and what I could’ve done,” she told this newspaper. Following the review, The student received a Grade I for economics. She said that results previously reflected a Grade III for the subject. She is overwhelmed with the grade change but she is still of the opinion that she did better for some of her other subjects. She added that she was not expecting a review for her grades because her school didn’t make any requests and she didn’t make any herself.
