CXC ditches traditional SBA for most subjects amid AI concerns

Thousands of Caribbean students will no longer complete the traditional School-Based Assessment (SBA) in most CSEC and CAPE subjects after the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) announced sweeping changes aimed at protecting the integrity of its exams in the age of artificial intelligence.

The reforms, announced on Wednesday, will see the traditional SBA phased out for most non-practical CSEC and CAPE subjects beginning with the 2027 academic year.

Instead, students in subjects such as Mathematics, English, Caribbean History, Social Studies, Principles of Business and Information Technology will complete Paper 032, an existing alternative assessment conducted under examination conditions.

CXC said the changes are intended to strengthen confidence in the region's qualifications as generative artificial intelligence continues to reshape education.

"CXC will always act in the best interest of the region, even when that requires difficult decisions," said Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Dr Wayne Wesley.

He noted that while the SBA has served Caribbean students for nearly 50 years, the examination body has a responsibility to act when the current system can no longer reliably assess a student's own work.

"The integrity of our qualifications is not negotiable," Wesley said.

The council stressed that practical subjects, including Agricultural Science, Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, Technical Drawing, and Food, Nutrition and Health, will continue to have SBAs, although moderation measures will be strengthened.

Under the new assessment model, candidates will receive their examination topics about a month in advance, be given additional time to complete the assessment, and will be allowed to take reference notes into the examination room.

CXC Director of Operations Dr Nicole Manning said the redesigned assessment preserves extended learning while restoring confidence in the authenticity of students' work.

Implementation will be phased in over two years.

CAPE candidates in affected subjects will transition to Paper 032 for the May-June 2027 examinations.

For CSEC candidates, schools may choose either the traditional SBA or Paper 032 in 2027, before Paper 032 becomes mandatory for all non-practical subjects in the May-June 2028 examination cycle.

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