Larissa Wiltshire of Queen’s College, who managed to secure Grade one passes in 12 units and has already been accepted to the University of the West Indies’ Dentistry programme, is the country’s top Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) performer this year, according to recently released preliminary results.
Wilshire attained Grade One passes in the Unit 2 examinations of Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Pure Mathematics and a Grade One pass in unit one Communication Studies. Coupled with her six Grade Ones from last year in the areas of Chemistry, Pure Mathematics, Environmental Science, Bio-logy, Applied Mathematics and Caribbean Studies, she has earned the title of Guyana’s top CAPE student this year.
Wiltshire, who said that she is extremely happy about her performance, admitted that she spent many hours studying for months on end to achieve the grades she was awarded. Her advice to students who will be sitting the exams next year? “Choose subjects that mean a lot to you, so it wouldn’t feel like a burden. Choose what you love to study so you will want to work hard,” she said.
Deenauth Mohabeer was the only other second year student to secure six Grade One passes.
Mohabeer attained six Grade One passes in Caribbean Studies, Computer Science units 1 and 2, Pure Mathematics unit 1, Management of Business unit 2, Digital Media unit 2 and a Grade Two pass in Information Technology unit 2, bringing him to a total of eight Grade Ones, two Grade Twos and three Grade Threes when added to his passes from last year.
Mohabeer, who wishes to pursue a career in the field of Computer Science, did not do as well as he had hoped in his exams last year and so this year took measures to ensure improved results.
He related that while he wishes to thank his teachers at Queen’s College, he also solicited the help of online tutors, with whom he communicated through emails and video sessions. He believes that he depended too much on his teachers last year and so this year “took a more progressive route for CAPE.”
“Do a lot of work on your own. If you want to succeed, prepare for loss of sleep and use the internet much more in your studies other than Facebook and Snapchat. The internet can teach you everything, you just need to ask for information,” he said.
The Central High School alumna credits his success to God, the foundation he gained from the five years he spent at the high school as well as the support he received from his family.
Second-year Queen’s College students Lisa John, Elisa Hamilton and Vishnu Singh also made the list of outstanding performers as they were able to attain five Grade one passes in unit 2.
John attributed her success to God as well as her teachers and friends who supported her. Last year being her first year at CAPE, she said she had not known what to expect. She had nevertheless managed to secure Grade one passes in Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Management of Business, Caribbean Studies and Information Technology and a Grade Two in Caribbean Studies.
This year, she attained five Grade One passes in the areas of Accounting units 1 and 2, Communication Studies, Entrepreneur-ship, Management of Business unit 2 and a Grade three pass in Economics unit 2. Cumulatively, she has secured passed in 10 Units.
Singh, who has hopes of becoming a Neurosurgeon, was very excited about the news that he managed to secure five Grade Ones and a Grade two in Chemistry.
The Grade Ones were in the areas of Communication Studies, Applied Mathematics, Biology, Physics, and Pure Mathematics. He now has a total of nine Grade Ones, two Grade Twos and a Grade Three, having gotten Grade Ones in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology last year, a Grade Two in Pure Mathematics and a Grade three in Caribbean Studies. Singh said his next step is to sit SATs, since he has his sights set on studying abroad.
Also making the outstanding performers list are Steffan Ageda and Nandani Ramdass of the Bishops’ High School.
“Elated,” is the word Ramdass used to describe her feelings toward her results. “It’s definitely a relief to hear that all the effort has paid off,” she commented.
Ramdass scored five Grade ones after writing Caribbean Studies, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Economics and Management of Business. Cumulatively, she now has under her belt eight Grade Ones and a Grade Two.
“The level of work certainly increases, but as a student you learn to adjust to higher levels of difficulty and the workload,” Ramdass opined. She also urges that students avoid procrastinating while studying and surround themselves by persons who support them 100%. Achieving a balance in your lifestyle by not becoming overly consumed in work is another tip she offered.
While she intends to continue her studies in business at this stage, Ramdass said she is also exploring other options for the future, with some possible choices being financial services, marketing or psychology.
Meanwhile, Ageda’s belief is that his experience during his first year at CAPE, where he gained four Grade Ones, a Grade Two and a Grade Three, prepared him mentally for this year’s exams.
This year, he boasts Grade Ones in unit 2 courses Biology, Chemistry, Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, a Grade One in Integrated Mathematics unit 1 and Grade Twos in Physics unit 2 and Caribbean Studies unit 1.
“This year was better for me because I knew where I went wrong last year in terms of my studying and dedication to my work. Mentally, I was also prepared for the high volume of work that needs to be done and the sleepless nights that followed. I prayed every day for strength and I knew the Lord heard me every time,” he said.
Ageda hopes to be a neurosurgeon and has intentions of sitting the SATs next to help him get a step further in that direction. His next endeavour will be giving academic support to students in his community as he explained that he knows “how it can be when you have to work alone.”
‘Day after day after day’
The remaining performers in this year’s top six, all first year students, are Carissa Kissoon, Joash Gobin, Ashley Anthony and Shannon Woodroffe.
Kissoon, of the Bishops’ High School, attained six Grade One passes in the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Communication Studies, Pure Mathematics, Physics and Integrated Mathematics, all unit 1 courses.
The teenager, who wants to be a heart surgeon, said she was dumbfounded when she found out the news of her success and stated that while she expected to do well, she had exceeded her expectations by placing in the top 6.
Kissoon, who is currently pursuing an Associate’s Degree in the Natural Sciences and hopefully, a Degree in Mathematics later on, encourages future students to never fail to believe in themselves, as they are the only ones who can set their limits.
Queen’s College’s Gobin gained six Grade Ones in Biology, Caribbean Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science, Pure Mathematics and Physics.
“I felt great. It was kind of shocking at first, I didn’t really take it to heart. It wasn’t until my mom came and hugged me and kissed me and told me congratulations that I really took it to heart,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Gobin is still unsure what career path he wants to follow and while he has a list of prospective areas he would like to pursue, he shared that he is mostly leaning toward physics and engineering.
For students taking the exam next year, one tip he has for them is to make studying a habit. “You have to keep doing it, day after day after day; don’t take a break. You have to do it in small amounts and do it daily.”
Anthony, of Queen’s College, also earned six Grade One passes in the unit 1 subject areas of Applied Mathematics, Biology, Caribbean Studies, Chemistry and Pure Mathematics.
She said that she was quite happy with her performance as she wasn’t expecting to do so well as to attain all A profiles. Anthony stated that while she found the exams mostly manageable, Pure Mathematics proved to be somewhat difficult. She, like some of her other colleagues, is still a bit indecisive on what will be her career of choice.
“I was leaning towards Physics and perhaps Biophysics, something in that area, so that kind of explains the subjects that I decided to write because I wasn’t 100% certain, so I wrote Biology, Chemistry and Physics so that I could have my options open just in case I change my mind,” Anthony stated.
To Woodroffe, her six Grade Ones, including As in all unit 1 modules of Applied Mathematics, Biology, Caribbean Studies, Chemistry, Physics and Pure Mathematics, did not come as a surprise. Woodroffe said yesterday that she was mostly relieved that she had met her expectations.
While she is yet uncertain of what career path she will take, she is certain it will be in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“Be focused,” was her advice to other students. “Know the outcome you desire and work towards it, no less. There are no shortcuts.” She also advises students to begin studying and working on their internal assessments as early as possible and to remember to take care of themselves by eating and sleeping well,” she added.
Other first year students who made the list of outstanding performers after attaining five Grade one passes are Vamanadev Hiralall of Saraswati Vidya Niketan, Malena Ramdeo of the Bishops’ High School and Jonathon Gobin, Aliyah Rasheed and Abigail Somrah of Queen’s College.
