The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) reported a strong overall performance in the 2026 May-June examinations. The results were announced during the Ceremony for the Official Release of the CXC 2026 May-June Regional Exam Results in Anguilla. During the ceremony on Tuesday, CXC highlighted both improvements in candidate performance and continuing concerns surrounding absenteeism, School-Based Assessment (SBA) submissions and examination irregularities.
Dr. Nicole Manning, the Director of Operations, Examination Services at CXC said for CAPE, the 93.52 % overall performance represents an increase in the regional percentage of candidates receiving acceptable grades.
“So we are seeing 93.52% of our candidates overall receiving acceptable grades,” Dr. Manning said.
Caribbean Studies was among the top-performing CAPE subjects, with 10 territories recording acceptable-grade rates between 98% and 100%. Information Technology also recorded strong results with regional acceptable-grade rates of 95% for Unit One and 99% for Unit Two.
Environmental Science recorded 97% for Unit One and 96% for Unit Two, while Physics recorded regional performances of 97% and 98% for Units One and Two respectively. Communication Studies also performed strongly, with 93% of candidates across the region receiving acceptable grades.
At the CSEC level, the overall regional performance was 72.18 %, representing a slight increase over 2025.
“Now the CSEC paints a little different story but a good story nevertheless and the overall performance being 72.18%,” Dr. Manning said.
Information Technology was the top-performing CSEC subject highlighted during the presentation. The subject recorded an 83% regional acceptable-grade rate. Fourteen territories performed above that regional percentage.
Principles of Business recorded a regional percentage of 81%, while English A stood at 80%. Human and Social Biology recorded a regional performance of 78%.
Mathematics, however, remained an area of concern, although the council noted a four-percentage-point improvement over the previous year bringing the regional acceptable-grade rate to 42%.
“I don’t want anybody to be crying because any improvement in math is a good improvement,” Dr. Manning said.
The council also noted challenges surrounding candidate absenteeism. A total of 3,534 CAPE candidates were absent from examinations, while 32,043 CSEC candidates did not turn up. Dr. Manning notes that an absent candidate cannot be graded if the missed examination represents a required component.
“Parents, guardians, turn up. We are encouraging our educators to encourage these students to turn up,” Dr. Manning said.
The council said surveys indicate that some students stay away because they feel unprepared for examinations. However, they are urging candidates to attend regardless.
“This is not a reason to be absent. Just try. As we say, nothing beats a trial,” Dr. Manning said.
CXC also raised concerns about School-Based Assessment submissions. The council distinguishes between cases where candidates completed their SBA, but their school did not submit it, and cases where candidates did not complete the SBA at all.
The council said non-submission by candidates is increasing, while non-submission by centres has remained relatively steady.
“Non-submission of SBAs or not doing a third paper or any other component for that matter is going to make the candidate ungraded,” Dr. Manning warned.
Examination irregularities also increased during the 2026 sitting. CXC recorded 128 cases, up from 80 the previous year. The council said the most common irregularities involved unauthorized devices, collusion and unauthorized materials. Artificial intelligence misuse has also emerged as a new concern.
“And the new one on the block, AI misuse. We have never had this before. This is new,” Dr. Manning said.
CXC said it had already established standards and guidelines for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in assessments and is encouraging schools to adopt them. The council also reminded students not to enter personal identifying information into AI platforms.
