The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has named Zane Ramotar of Queen’s College as the top performer at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) at the regional level and he has also won two awards.
In 2020, 853 candidates from ten secondary schools and five private centres wrote the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) in Guyana. With a 93.16% pass rate secured for Grade I to III across 65 units. Ramotar became the overall top performer for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), regionally. Ramotar is also to receive CXC awards for being the Most Outstanding Overall student and the Most Outstanding in Natural Sciences.
According to the Ministry of Education, candidates obtained a 100% pass rate in 33 units. The Units are: Accounting-Unit 1, Agricultural Science-Unit 2, Applied Mathematics-Unit 2, Environmental Science-Units 1 & 2, French-Unit 1, Food & Nutrition-Unit 2, Geography-Units 1 & 2, Information Technology-Units 1 & 2, Animation & Gaming Design-Units 1 & 2, Literatures in English-Unit 2, Physics-Unit 2, Physical Education & Sport-Units 1 & 2, Performing Arts-Units 1 & 2 (Cinematic Arts & Drama), Spanish-Unit 2, Digital Media-Units 1 & 2, Green Engineering-Units 1 & 2, Building & Mechanical Engineering Drawing-Units 1 (Building) & 2 (Mech), Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technology-Units 1 & 2, Entrepreneurship-Unit 2, Logistical & Supply Chain Operations-Unit 2, Financial Services Studies-Unit 1, and Tourism-Unit 2.
A slight decline was recorded in Integrated Mathematics from 83.85% in 2019 to 82.14% in 2020. Pure Mathematics-Unit 1 recorded a pass rate of 54.96% in 2020. Also, there were improved performances in 19 Units, constant performance in 22 Units, and lower performance in seven Units.
Improved performances compared to those in 2019 were seen in Law-Unit 1, at 99% from 90%; Literatures in English- Unit 1, at 98.84% from 94.22%; Management of Business-Unit 2, at 98.59% from 94.99%; Biology-Unit 2, at 98.48% from 96.36%; Law-Unit 2, at 98.46% from 90.38%; Applied Mathematics-Unit 1, at 98% from 91.06%; Economics-Unit 2, at 97.15% from 88.58%; Accounting-Unit 2, at 96.89% from 93.34%; Economics-Unit 1, at 96.33% from 94.75%; Management of Business-Unit 1, at 95.53% from 93.54%; Chemistry-Unit 2, at 95,46% from 90.79%; History-Unit 2, at 95.24% from 83.33%; Computer Science-Unit 2, at 88.89% from 78.58%; and Chemistry-Unit 1, at 88.46% from 77.09%.
A decline against 2019 results was seen in: Agricultural Science-Unit 2, decreasing from 97.74% in 2019 to 87.5% in 2020; Biology-Unit 1, from 96.26% to 94.47%; Computer Science-Unit 1, from 100% to 96.96%; Food & Nutrition-Unit 1, from 100% to 94.12%; History-Unit 1, from 93.11% to 91.89%; Pure Mathematics- Unit 1, from 67.75% to 54.96%; Pure Mathematics-Unit 2, from 93.21% to 83%; Spanish-Unit 1, from 100% to 95%; Tourism-Unit 1, from 100% to 97.57%; Logistics & Supply Chain Operations-Unit 1, from 100% to 92.87%; and Integrated Mathematics-Unit 1, from 83.85% to 82.14%.
Units which enjoyed a consistent performance as compared to 2019 are: Agricultural Science-Unit 2 at 100%, Environmental Science-Unit 1 at 100%, Food & Nutrition-Unit 2 at 100%, Geography-Unit 1 at 100%, Geography-Unit 2 at 100%, Information Technology-Unit 1 at 100%, Information Technology-Unit 2 at 100%, Animation & Gaming Design-Unit 1 at 100%, Spanish-Unit 2 at 100%, Physical Education & Sports-Unit 1 at 100%, Physical Education & Sports-Unit 2 at 100%, Performing Arts-Unit 1 at 100%, Performing Arts (Drama)-Unit 2 at 100%, Digital Media-Unit 1 at 100%, Digital Media-Unit 2 at 100%, Green Engineering-Unit 1 at 100%, Green Engineering-Unit 2 at 100%, Building & Mechanical Engineering Drawing (Building)-Unit 1 at 100%, Electrical & Electronics Engineering Technology-Unit 1 at 100%, Physics-Unit 2 at 100%, Physics- Unit 1 at 97%, Caribbean Studies-Unit 1 at 99%, Communication Studies-Unit 1 at 98%, Entrepreneurship-Unit 1 at 100%, Sociology-Unit 1 at 100%, and Sociology-Unit 2 at 98%.
Nicolas Ally who is sixth on the list of top performers at 2020 CAPE, wrote 12 Units. He secured Grade Ones in Economics-Units 1 & 2, Accounting-Units 1 & 2, Management of Business-Units 1 & 2, Caribbean Studies- Unit 1, Integrated Mathematics, Financial Services-Unit 1, and Entrepreneurship Units 1 & 2, He secured a Grade Two in Communication Studies. Ally who topped the Caribbean in Financial Services and was awarded a merit, said that preparing for the exams was difficult because of the challenges which they all faced. He also had advice for students who are hoping to sit the exams. “CAPE and CSEC aren’t as difficult as it seems, you’ve just got to put in the effort and not go overboard and still enjoy your school life.” Ally urged persons to place their faith in the Lord because “You can do all things through Christ.”
Stefan Hamilton, also of Bishops’ High School, came in ninth after securing Grade One passes in Biology-Units 1 & 2, Chemistry-Unit 2, Pure Mathematics-Unit 2, Caribbean Studies-Unit 1, Environmental Science-Units 1 & 2, and Grade Two passes in Chemistry-Unit 2, Integrated Mathematics-Unit 1, and Computer Science-Unit 1. He also secured Grade Three passes in Pure Mathematics-Unit 1, and Communications Studies-Unit 1 as well as a Grade Four pass in Pure Mathematics-Unit 1 which was a re-write.
Hamilton advised future exam sitters to try different methods of studying in an attempt to make studying fun. “I learnt in my first semester of UG that it may seem tedious but it’s helpful. I’d encourage students to create a study timetable and try as hard as possible to stick to it. Being successful doesn’t mean you have to be the best, it just means you’re have to try your best. That’s the quote that helped me through CAPE especially when the pandemic hit,” he said.
Reseda Hack of Queen’s College is the tenth place holder with 11 Grade Ones, a Two and 3 Threes. Hack secured Grade Ones in Pure Mathematics-Unit 1, Communication studies, Caribbean Studies, Spanish-Unit 1, Chemistry-Unit 2, Biology-Units 1 & 2, Environmental Science-Units 1 & 2, and Sociology-Units 1 & 2. She acquired a Grade Two pass in Spanish-Unit 2, and secured a Grade Three pass in Chemistry-Unit 1. Hack acquired Grade Four passes in Integrated Mathematics, and Pure Mathematics-Unit 2. She told this newspaper that being from Bartica, she spent most of her time prior to sitting the exams at her Region Seven home. She disclosed that she had to endure poor internet connection, and a shortage of resources and materials. Then, after sitting the exam, she had to deal with issues regarding her grades, some of which have still not been addressed. Hack however, is still grateful for her grades which have secured her a place at the Texila American University of Medicine. “My encouragement to CAPE students is to be persistent and determined. Set for yourself an objective or goal and do everything in your power to attain it.”
