6 in world #1 position

Six local students made the top marks in the Cambridge General Certificate of Education, placing first in the world rank in various subject areas. 

The Cambridge International Examination has identified 36 students of TT as having performed exceptionally well, having placed first to tenth in a number of subjects on the World Rank Order. Fatima College student, Alexander Paddington, tied for first place in Physics, while Crystal Lee Lum of St Joseph’s Convent, PoS, attained first place in Geography. She also tied for fifth place in Biology. Seven students of St Joseph’s Convent, PoS were listed on the world rank order achieving top places in Biology, French, Geography,  Economics, History, English Literature and Sociology.

St Augustine Girls’ High School also fared well with four of its students achieving high grades. One student, Kabita Sookool tied for first place in the world in Chemistry and 10th in Biology. When Sunday Newsday contacted Kabita Sookool at her home she had not yet learned of her success. Stating that she had expected to attain all A’s in General Paper, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics, she noted however, that  she had never expected to do this well. “It was a lot of hard work,” she said. “I went to lessons and after lessons put in at least five hours of work every afternoon.” “Chemistry is my passion. So I did not have to put as much work into that as the other subjects.” Sookool credits her teachers at St Augustine Girls’ High School, namely her Chemistry teachers, Joanne Mahadeo and Mrs Beckles and her Biology teacher, Sharma Mahadeo, for her success, as well as her family whom she described as her “support base.” “I couldn’t have done it without them,” she stated. She also placed much emphasis on her spirituality, noting that she was extremely religious. Sookool intends to leave Trinidad soon for Sheffield Univer-sity in the United Kingdom, to pursue a medical degree.

South Trinidad was not to be outdone. Naparima College student Kevin Singh placed first in the world in Accounting and tied for third place in Mathematics. Sharon Khan of Naparima Girls’ High School attained first place in Chemistry, while Videsh Seereeram of Presentation College, Chaguanas tied for first place in Physics and fifth in Further Math.