Ever wondered how a candidate’s work is graded?

Ever wondered how a candidate’s work is graded?

After the tests are written, scripts are marked by teams of trained markers, and candidates’ scores on each question are captured electronically, scores are analyzed and studied by the Chief Examiner and then there is GRADING.

During grading the judgment of the Examining Committee is used to determine the levels of competencies, abilities and skills that each candidate has DEMONSTRATED to be awarded a particular GRADE.
The examiners will also study the distributions of the scores and other appropriate statistics on the examination in order to confirm or adjust their judgments.

Finally the quality of a candidate’s performance in the current year, for which a particular GRADE is awarded, is compared with the quality of performance which earned the same GRADE in previous examinations. This is done to ensure consistency in grading standards across the years.

GRADES are not awarded for a particular score but for the demonstration of the levels of competencies, abilities and skills required for a particular GRADE.

GRADES are reported two ways:
An Overall grade for the subject, reported as a Roman numeral

Table 1 Overall Grade Descriptors for CAPE

GRADE I Represents an excellent performance
GRADE II Represents a very good standard of performance
GRADE III Represents a good standard of performance
GRADE IV Represents a satisfactory standard of performance
GRADE V Represents an acceptable standard of performance
GRADE VI Represents a weak standard of performance
GRADE VII Represents an unsatisfactory standard of performance

Table 2 Overall Grade Descriptors for CSEC

GRADE I Represents an outstanding performance
GRADE II Represents a  good standard of performance
GRADE III Represents a fairly good standard of performance
GRADE IV Represents a moderate standard of performance
GRADE V Represents a limited standard of performance
GRADE VI Represents a very limited standard of performance

A Module grade reported as a letter, on each of the three Modules of the subject.

Table 3 Module Grades for CAPE

Table 4 Profile Grades for CSEC
A Excellent
B Very Good
C Good
D Satisfactory
E Acceptable
F Weak
G Unsatisfactory
A Outstanding
B Good
C Fairly Good
D Moderate
E Weak
F Poor

Caribbean Examinations Council