The Common Entrance Examination was held on May 4th 2007.
 
The Examination was open to all students who were eleven but not yet fourteen (14) years of age on September 1st 2007.
 
The Examination consisted of two papers:-
 
(i)      A multiple-choice component comprising Social Science,
Natural Science, Language Arts and Mathematics.
 
(ii)    A written component where candidates wrote a short composition on a given topic and provided solutions to mathematical problems.
 
A total of three thousand, three hundred and ninety eight students (3,398) wrote the examination.  They comprised of one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five (1,835) boys and one thousand five hundred and sixty-three (1,563) girls.
 
Of those, a total of 2308 or 70% of the students sitting the examinations were assigned.  They comprised 1112 boys and 1186 girls.  To date, this is the largest number of students who have been assigned in any one sitting.  Additional classes were assigned to 5 secondary schools which are being expanded to accommodate the extra students.
 
In 2006, a total of three thousand four hundred and seventy-one (3,471) students wrote the examination and, two thousand (2,000) students were assigned.
 
Approximately 100 of the older students who were eligible to be assigned to secondary schools but whose performance in the examination was judged to be at-risk, were retained in the primary schools.  These students would be given specialized and targeted instruction during the next year and will also be assigned in next year.
 
The highest standard score attained in the examination was 132.31, The cut off score was 100.58.  In 2006 the highest standard score was 133.015, the cut off score was 101.11.
 
There was improved performance in English generally, except in the area of spelling and poetry.  In the multiple-choice section of the examination eleven components showed improved performance over the 2006 results.  These included Plant Science, Reading, Punctuation, Animal Science, Earth Science, Grammar, Vocabulary, Mathematics Skills, Commerce and Culture and Sports.  The worst performance was recorded in Physical Science both in 2007 and 2006.
 
Overall performance by students in the written component (essay and problem solving) of the Examinations continues to be a cause for concern.  In fact, there were noticeable similarities in performance in the written component of Mathematics and English Grammar for the last two years.
  
The Ministry of Education will continue to place much emphasis on the quality of instruction in these areas.  Specific initiatives include the mandatory implementation of semi-specialization in the teaching of English and Mathematics in all primary schools from September 2007.  It should be noted that this initiative already exists in some primary schools but needs to be applied across the education sector.
 
In addition, there will be continued focus on improving reading achievement in the lower grades of the primary schools utilizing various programmes.  There will also be significant focus on instructional supervision and the provision of additional instructional materials to support the work of teachers. These will not only be in terms of increased basic school supplies, but the provision of resources such as model lesson plans from Kindergarten to Grade 6 in the primary schools and Forms 1 to 3 in secondary schools.  Additional support will also be provided to students in secondary schools in the form of after-school support programmes as well the continuation of the Enhanced Learning Programme.
 
 
June 11, 2007