Candidates preparing to sit the Caribbean Examinations Council January 2026 CSEC examinations are being urged to familiarise themselves with significant changes to the way the examinations will be administered.
Acting Registrar of Examinations, Patterson Abraham, confirmed that the January sitting will see a full transition to digital delivery for several components.
“Exams are now going to be administered fully online,” Abraham said. “So all paper ones will be done online and paper two and paper three too will be done through the hybrid method.”
He explained that the hybrid approach combines digital and written elements.
“Hybrid method meaning that the students or candidates rather will be given the question paper on the laptop or device and a question and an answer booklet will be provided so that they can write their answers to the questions,” he noted.
According to Abraham, the revised format changes expectations for candidates, particularly those accustomed to traditional paper-based examinations.
“This means that the expectation for these students are different from previous years, the way that they are going to sit those examinations for this January sitting,” he said.
The Acting Registrar also provided an update on candidate registration numbers and logistical arrangements at examination centres. For English A, a total of 135 students are registered at the Coursers Private centre, with an additional 45 candidates registered in Vieux Fort. In Mathematics, 165 candidates are registered at Coursers Private.
Because of limited technological resources, examinations will be conducted in multiple sessions. Abraham explained that “the examination will be done in sessions, given that there are only 75 laptops at the centre.”
As a result, candidates will be divided into groups and may experience waiting periods before being called into the examination room.
“This calls for a waiting period,” he said. “While the students are, the first group is sitting the exam, the second group, or it may be called the third group, will be waiting to be called into the examination centre.”
Candidates are therefore being advised to come prepared.
“This means that students or candidates need to work with lunch or their study material so while they are waiting, they can engage in something constructive,” Abraham added.
Education officials are encouraging all January 2026 CSEC candidates to take note of these arrangements and prepare accordingly to ensure a smooth and successful examination experience.