Improved NGSA performances recorded in English, Mathematics and Social Studies

The National Grade Six Assessment examinations in Guyana are administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council, and according to the Director of Operations for Examinations Services at the CXC, Dr Nicole Manning, Guyana recorded significant improvements in English Language, Mathematics and Social Studies at this year’s exams.

She noted, however, that the country’s performance in Science dipped this year.

In English Language, 66.79% of the more than 15,000 students, who wrote the examination achieved 50% and above – marking a significant improvement when compared to 2023.

“For English, we saw an overall increase in the candidate percentage, candidates earning 50% and above. This of course is the highest over the last five years. So, let me say congratulations to the team. Congratulations of course are to the students, the teachers who prepared these students and their parents, all those guardians, yes, the community influence, that is very critical,” Dr Manning said.

In 2023, 64.47% of the students, who took the exam achieved 50%, while in 2020, 61.22% of the students gained 50% and above in English.

Dr Manning said, the number of children who received zero in the exam declined this year, while the more candidates (72) received full scores compared to the 62 in 2023.

When compared to the past four years, the country also performed better in Social Studies with 62.88% of the students gaining 50% and above

“Consistent with English, Social Studies we had a whopping 62.88% receiving over 50%. So, you can see it is not only a marginal increase but also a very good increase versus what would have been there in previous years. Phenomenal for us is this great increase of the number of candidates receiving full marks in Social Studies this year, moving from 17 to 52 and a reduction in the number of candidates receiving zero. Always very important,” Dr Manning detailed.

However, in Science, the number of students receiving 50% and above slightly decreased. In 2023, 55.11% of the candidates had received 50% and above, however, this year, it fell to 54%. It was noted that the number of pupils receiving full scores and zeroes also saw a reduction.

Dr Manning, however, was pleased to announce that there were improvements in Mathematics. “Now pleasing for us is the increase for Mathematics and this is important not only to Guyana but to CXC because it is something that as a region we struggle with. And so, it is important to see this 40.36% over 40% earning 50% and above, and this is the highest over the last five years,” she explained.

However, she said there was a slight reduction in the number of candidates receiving full marks for Mathematics and similarly, a reduction in the number of candidates receiving zero.