NCSE Exam paper mix-up at school

School officials said that the students were expected to write the English A Paper II yesterday morning but were instead given Paper III, which is scheduled to take place next week.

A source at the school said the envelope with the exam papers had Paper II clearly labelled on it and it is only upon distribution of the papers to the students that the error was discovered.

“Luckily the exams were now about to begin and an announcement was given for the students to turn over the paper when the mix-up was discovered,” said the source. The Education Ministry was contacted and informed of the mix-up with the correct papers eventually being delivered to the school.

However, students had to be secluded to avoid having contact with students of other schools who had written the examination earlier that morning. The exam got underway at 12.05 pm, three hours later than scheduled.

The NCSE examination is used by the Education Ministry as a system of assessment and certification for Form Three secondary school students.

Students are tested on eight subject areas including Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Visual and Performing Arts, Spanish, Technology Education, and Physical Education. Agricultural Science, Industrial Arts or Home Economics. Assessment of the students is continuous with marks being awarded to students from Form One. The Ministry of Education awards certificates to all students who attain a combined final mark of at least 60 percent for each of the eight core subjects.