NGSA 2026 sets historic record as 20 pupils share top spot with perfect scores 

A new era has dawned for Guyana’s education sector, as the country recorded its best-ever performance at the 2026 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), with 20 pupils achieving the highest possible score of 484 points.
Education Minister Sonia Parag provided a breakdown of the highest attainable score at this year’s NGSA, describing the performance as a historic milestone for Guyana’s education system.
“These are the best and strongest National Grade Six Assessment results, not only over the past five years but also the best result that has ever been recorded in our country’s history,” Parag said.
She added that after receiving the results from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), the Education Ministry requested a comparison with similar assessments across the region.

“I am proud to say that Guyana’s results have exceeded the regional benchmark,” the minister stated.
For the first time in Guyana’s NGSA history, 20 students shared the position of top performer after each attained the maximum standardised score of 484.52.
The students are Zaida Gonzalez of Suddie Primary; Glana Kaitlyn De Silva of Better Hope Primary; Kayla Persaud of Windsor Forest Primary; Ieon Fredericks of Leonora Primary; Devya Sukhai of Leonora Primary; Simran Sameerah Sanichar of Belle West Primary; Hayden Lemar Solomon of Professional Learning College; Christina Doodnauth of Lusignan Primary; Shivendra Brijbhukan of Success Elementary; Gaurav Deonarine of Success Elementary; Chaitram Haripershad of Success Elementary; Nathalya Khan of Success Elementary; Kacy Hailie Kamal of Tain Primary; Tyrese Javier Abrams of Regma Primary; Asiera Maleehah Mohamed of Graham’s Hall Primary; Zahriyą Rachel Niamatali of Mae’s Under 12 Primary; Anjali Persaud of Mae’s Under 12 Primary; Divyaisha Persaud of New Guyana School; Kayleigh Khalia Naom Phillips of Westfield Prep; and Raiden Daniel Rambissoon of Westfield Prep.
As the excitement unfolded during the official results announcement, this publication caught up with some of the outstanding students, who shared the preparation, discipline, and determination that guided them to success.
Asiera Maleehah Mohamed of Graham’s Hall Primary School explained how she adopted a strategic approach by reviewing previous years’ NGSA papers to prepare herself and deliver her best performance in the examinations.
“I’m going to the most prestigious school in the country, Queen’s College. As I got into Grade Six, I started understanding the content I learnt from different perspectives and continuously worked on past papers and other materials. We mostly did it every day in class. My teachers would tell us to do it, and we completed past papers from 2018 to 2025. This helped me a lot because it helped us understand the patterns in which the questions were coming, and it was like a cheat code.”
She also shared her future ambition.
“My ambition is to become a neurosurgeon. Not many people get into this field because it is highly specialised, and I just want to be different from others.”
Meanwhile, Nathalya Khan of Success Elementary was not short of words or inspiration as she expressed her excitement about transitioning to her new school, Queen’s College.
“I’m going to Queen’s College!” she stated, overwhelmed with joy. “I had to go to a lot of lessons and study every night. They would help me study and give me quizzes. My parents helped me a lot. I tell pupils not to give up on studying because you can do it and reach your goals.”
Meanwhile, Tyrese Javier Abrams from Regma Primary School, who has his sights set on becoming a civil engineer, mentioned that his preparation was equally balanced. He encouraged other pupils to do the same by mapping out their study time to avoid making the process too stressful.
“It feels very exciting to go to this school. My favourite subject was Science. I don’t know why I like it, but I have been interested in it since I started school, and I have always been good at it. I would like to become a civil engineer.”
Hayden Lemar Solomon, who dreams of becoming a doctor, offered advice to students preparing for their academic journeys.
“Becoming a doctor is my goal. I didn’t do too much preparation; I just took my ordinary lessons seriously. It’s not just about studying – you have to get some free time to study and play, but don’t play too much. You have to play, yes, but put most of your focus on studying,” he advised other students looking up to him.