Q: I have heard that a Grade Three is now a “passing” grade. Is my 1995 grade three acceptable?

A: With effect from the May/June 1998 examinations, a six-point grading scheme replaced the five- point scheme. The grading scheme was revised to make a sharper distinction at the top end of the grades. In the six-point scheme Grades I – III are acceptable Grades. Therefore a Grade three achieved prior to 1998 will still be a grade III today. However, the question of acceptability is relative to what you are using the qualification for and to whom you are applying.

Q: I am attempting the two units of a subject at CAPE. Must I produce two different assignments?

A: Candidates may opt to complete an Internal Assessment (IA) for each Unit written or may opt to re-use another IA score which satisfies any of the conditions listed below:

• A candidate who re-writes the examination in the same Unit within two years may re-use the moderated IA score earned in the previous sitting within the preceding two years.  Candidates are no longer required to earn a moderated  score that is at least 50 per cent of the maximum possible score; any moderated score may be re-used.  Candidates re-using IA scores in this way must register as ‘Re-sit candidates’ and provide the previous candidate number.

  (In order to assist candidates in making decisions about whether or not to re-use a moderated IA score, the Council will continue to indicate on the pre-slip if a candidate’s moderated IA score is less than 50% in a particular Unit.)
   

• The IA component in Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the following subjects examines skills and attitudes which are cognitively similar across the two Units of the given  subject; Economics, Literatures in English,French,Management of Business, History, Sociology, Law and Spanish.

  For these eight subjects only, candidates who enter for Unit 1 or Unit 2 of the same subject, in different sittings, may re-use a moderated IA score obtained in a previous sitting of either Unit within the preceding two years.  The IA score may be re-used in either Unit, or in both Units, irrespective of the Unit in which it was first obtained.  Candidates re-using IA scores in this way must register as ‘Transfer’ candidates.

Q: I have passed CAPE History Unit I and am wondering if I must submit an assignment for the Unit II.

A: You have just alluded to the area of the Transfer of IA scores from one Unit to another. Currently this condition is applicable to Economics, French, History, Law, Literatures in English, Management of Business, Sociology and Spanish only. However, it is possible to have received a passing grade because of improved performance in the external examinations, but, to have failed to reach the fifty percent moderated score in the Internal Assessment. You must check the Ineligibility list sent from CXC to see if your name appears on this list.

Q: Can I transfer my IA score from Mathematics Unit I to the Unit II?

A: Currently this condition is applicable to eight subjects (see above) and Mathematics is not included. Transferable subjects are subjects whose two units test the same skills and therefore a candidate who has achieved acceptable grades on the IA in one Unit would have developed the competency to be tested and is therefore exempted from further testing of that competency.

Q: What is the moderated score?

A: The Moderated score is the score that is awarded after CXC has re-assessed the SBA/IA assignments submitted by the teacher.  The moderated score is a quality assurance mechanism by CXC to ensure equity.  This score could be identical, more than, or less than the score given by the teacher.

Q: Who is a re-sit candidate?

A: The term re-sit is used to describe a candidate who is repeating the examination in a subject and intends to carry forward a moderated score of 50 percent or more from the previous sitting. CSEC candidates are permitted to carry forward SBA marks for one year only and CAPE candidates for two years following the first sitting.

Q:  If a candidate did well on a particular module, must he/she repeat the work in that module?

A: A candidate is NOT permitted to carry forward part of the Internal Assessment/SBA score and submit new assignments for the other module(s). New assignments must be produced for all modules.

Q: Why should I send in a Record Sheet and a Moderation Sheet when my candidate entry is less than five?

A: CXC Headquarters in Barbados is the designated place for the processing of All Record Sheets, but the moderation of a subject could take place at a marking venue in another territory; hence the need to submit the Record Sheets separately to be forwarded to Barbados and the Moderation Sheets together with the samples to be forwarded to the marking venue. Record Sheets are processed in April-June and Moderation Sheets in July.

Q: I received better profile grades than my friend, but we both got the same overall grade. How could this happen?

Answer: There is no short answer to your question, but the following scenario will explain it to you.

Let us suppose a subject is marked out of a total of 50 marks: Grade I might be 40 – 50; Grade II might be 30 – 39; Grade III might be 24 – 29 and so on.

Now, suppose the subject has two profiles, each with a maximum of 25 marks. A score of 20 to 25 might give you an A, a score of 15 to 19 might give you a B, and a score of 12 to 14 might give you a C.

Someone may get a Grade II (with 30 marks) consisting of 15 on Profile 1 (earning a B) and 15 on Profile 2 (earning another B). However, another person may score 38 marks, still a Grade II, with profile scores of 23 (Grade A) and 15 (Grade B). Yet another person, also with 30 marks, may have profile scores of 14 and 16, earning grades of C and B
The results of these three persons would show:

The same principle applies to subjects with three or four profiles and to CAPE subjects which have modules, rather than profiles.

Q: What constitutes the CXC Grading scheme in terms of the marks to be gained for each Grade (I - VI)?

A: The actually marks which constitute grades are kept confidential.

Q: To what extent is the CXC certificate recognized abroad?

A: CXC certificates are widely accepted at colleges and universities around the world. The Council’s brand is well recognized for its rigour and high standards. However, different universities and colleges treat the certification differently.  If at anytime candidates run into challenges when applying to a school, they should contact CXC immediately for assistance.

Q: Will the CAPE Associate Degree be accepted for advanced standing by regional and international  universities?

A: CXC is constantly dialoguing with colleges and universities on how candidates presenting the Associate Degree will be treated. The advantage is that most of the universities already offer credits and/or exemptions for the CAPE certificate and the Associate Degree is based on clusters of CAPE subjects. The Council is also pursuing articulation agreements with universities in respect of the Associate Degree. Please see section on articulation agreements for more details.

Q: Now that CXC is offering an Associate Degree, will they continue to offer the CAPE Diploma?

A: Yes, the criteria for the Associate Degree and the Diploma are different and the Council will continue to issue both qualifications.

Q: How can I access CXC resource materials?

A: CXC resource materials are available from CXC offices in Barbados and Jamaica. They are also available at CXC partner bookstores in Participating Territories. See section on resource materials.

Q: Why does one have to wait so long for a reply after querying the results?

A: The process for queries appears lengthy because CXC has to ensure that the student is not disadvantaged. When you submit the query to your school, your principal may wait for other queries before submitting it to the Ministry of Education; then the Ministry of Education submits them to CXC.  CXC then have to retrieve the candidate’s script to review.  If the student requested a remark, the script is then sent to the Chief Examiner who may be living in another territory. When the Chief Examiner is finished, he/she sends it back to CXC and CXC sends it back to the school via the Ministry of Education.

Q: Could exemplars of SBA’s be placed on the CXC Website?

A: Yes, currently exemplars from CSEC Visual Arts are on the website. The Council will be putting exemplars from other subjects from time to time.

Q: How does one obtain a replacement for a lost CXC certificate?

A: The Council has made obtaining replacement certificates very simple. On the website, look for replacement certificate form. Click on the link and print the form, complete it and mail to CXC with the required fees. The Council will retrieve your examination information and send you a replacement certificate.

Q: Can a student register for CXC examination in one territory, say Barbados, and write the examination in another territory, say Jamaica?

A: A candidate can register in one territory and write the examination in another.  The candidate should contact the LR in the original territory of registration and inform the LR of the request.  The candidate must provide all relevant details to the LR including his/her contacts (address, telephone nos., email, etc) in the territory where the examination will be written.  The LR should contact CXC Headquarters and CXC would make the request to the LR where the examination will be written.

Q: If a candidate registers simultaneously as a school and a private candidate (and does not submit an SBA), could he/she use the marks obtained for Paper 03/2 as satisfying the SBA requirements?

A: Candidates can register at both a Private centre and at a Full-time centre simultaneously.  The candidates will only be permitted to register for the Alternative Paper in the subjects for which they have registered privately and where the Alternative Paper is available in the particular subject(s).

Q: Can private candidates register to write CXC examinations with SBA or Internal Assessment requirements?

A: Yes, private candidates may write these subjects, however, they will be required to write the Alternative Paper in lieu of the SBA. If the candidate is attending a private institution where there is adequate supervision, the candidate can do the SBA/IA.