Increased pass rates in Math, English & Social Studies recorded at NGSA 2024

– slight decline recorded in Science

Positive trends have been recorded for Mathematics, English Language and Social Studies at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations, while Science recorded a slight decline.
A breakdown of the country’s performance was provided by the Director of Operations, Examination Services at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr Nicole Manning on Thursday during the ceremonious NGSA results announcement held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
For English Language, the portion of pupils securing 50 per cent and above stood at 66.79 per cent which is the highest percentage for the last five years. In 2023, 64.47 per cent of the registrants would have secured 50 per cent and above.
“We saw which is very important, a reduction of the number of candidates receiving a zero in this area and an increase from 61 to 72 candidates receiving full scores.”

She added that consistent with English, Social Studies saw a whopping 62.8 per cent of candidates receiving over 50 per cent. For students receiving full scores for Social Students saw an increase from 17 per cent to 52 per cent. There has also been a reduction in candidates scoring zero.
Dr Manning noted that the performance in Science dipped slightly. “For the sciences, we saw a slight reduction in terms of the percentage of candidates scoring 50 per cent and above and we saw a reduction in candidates receiving full scores and zero. Even though that happened, I want you to note, that the average was still steady…
“Now pleasing for us is the increase in 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’s important to see 40.36 per cent of the candidates earning 50 per cent and above and this is the highest over the last five years.”
She added that there was a slight decrease in candidates securing full scores as well as a reduction in the candidates receiving zero.
Dr Manning also referenced the Spanish candidates who wrote the exams. “This year, we had the Spanish cohort and that is also very good that we have had quite a few candidates sitting papers and they were done in Spanish… For Social Studies we had 109 sittings, English 116, Science 105, and Math 93.”
In terms of performance, some 2828 students scored in the first quartile which is zero to 25 per cent. Another 3378 students scored within the second quartile of 25 to 50 per cent. In the third quartile, 4106 students scored between 50 and 70 per cent. And, 1720 students scored in the fourth quartile, that is 75 to 100 per cent.
In terms of subjects, English topped the list with 66.79 per cent followed by Social Studies with 62.88 per cent, Science with 54 per cent and finally Mathematics with 40.36 per cent.
She added that while there had been an increase in three of the four subject areas, there was room for improvement and as such, CXC would continue to work with the Education Ministry.
The NGSA was written on May 2 and May 3, 2024 by 15,285 candidates.
The highest possible standardised scores obtainable per subject were Mathematics, 132.77; English, 122.63; Social Studies, 122.06 and Science, 126.78. The highest possible total score obtainable was 504.24.
During her address at the results ceremony, Education Minister Priya Manickchand reminded that these exams were set, administered, and marked by personnel from CXC.
She stated that based on the statistics provided by Dr Manning, Guyana was finally climbing out of the COVID-19 slump.
She noted that during that period, they have taken some decisions to ensure that children were presented with the appropriate resources and support. These, she added, included investments in textbooks, breakfast, and more trained teachers and other mediums such as worksheets, EDFM, Learning Channel and Quiz Me.
She further noted that while this year’s NGSA recorded marginal increases, there was now a need for sustained improvement in performances at these exams.
“What we have to do in the Ministry is work to make sure we’re seeing consistent sustained improvement in the teaching/learning process supported by materials so that we can see a movement up that scale,” the Education Minister underscored.