2005 IGCSE External Exams-Results ‘very encouraging’ says Minister |27 January 2006
The results, released by the director for Assessments, Testing and Accreditation Egbert Benstrong yesterday, indicated an overall pass rate of over 80%. Seven students have also excelled, scoring the highest grades "A*” or “A” for all the subjects taken.
These include three students from Belonie secondary school, namely Sivarajan Chetty who got “As” for Geography, English, Maths and Coordinated Science, Yvonne Dullo who scored “A*s” for Geography, English and Coordinated Science and “A” for History and Maths, and Bryan Nadimpally who got “A*s” in Geography and English, and “As” in Maths and Coordinated Science. The other students are Angelle Esparon from Anse Royale Secondary school who obtained an “A*” for English and “As” for History, Maths and Coordinated Science, Malshini Senaratne from Anse Boileau school scored “A*s” in Geography, History and English and “As” in Maths and Coordinated Science, while Yayha Zubedi from Beau Vallon scored “A*” for English and “As” for Geography, Maths and Coordinated Science.
In a special message to all students at the release of the results, Minister Faure said the results "prove that hard work and dedication reap great benefits."
He added that it was a "very bold step for the ministry to embark on the IGCSE programme as part of the ongoing reform in the assessment of learners."
"The results show that the decision was a wise one because now we have reason to celebrate. This is a great achievement for the students and also for the country as our students and teachers have been highly praised by the University of Cambridge," Minister Faure said.
Out of the 1,437 S5 students a total of 1,162 sat for the IGCSE exams last year covering a total of 3,589 subject entries. Students had the option of sitting for a minimum of one and a maximum seven subjects. The majority of students sat for between two to six subjects.
Describing the results as very positive, Mr Benstrong said that compared to “O” Levels which targeted only around 15% of students, the IGCSE covered over 90% of students.
Subjects in which the students have obtained good grades included Art and Design which recorded a pass rate of 100%, Coordinated Science with 97%, English with 95%, Combined Science with 91%, History 85% and Geography recorded a pass rate of 73%.
Poorer grades were scored in Maths with a pass rate of 52%. Pass grades range from “A*” to “G.”
Out of the 3,589 subject entries, Mr Benstrong said failure was recorded in 690 subjects in which students obtained a Grade “U” (Ungraded).
Instead of French, 1,050 students also sat for the first time the DELF (Diplôme d'Etude en Langue Française), offered in two levels including Level A2 in which a pass rate of 66% was obtained and Level B1, the highest level, scored a pass rate of 78%.
The IGCSE results will be used as the main criteria to select students for post secondary institutions.
Students whose education level did not qualify them to do the IGCSE exams, could find placement in technical studies, but all will depend on the results of continuous assessments done over the past five terms since the introduction of the IGCSE programme and reports received from work attachments they attended.
The list of students to enrol in the institutions will be released on February 11.