The regional pass rate for CSEC mathematics increased by four percentage points in 2026, reaching 42%, according to results released by the Caribbean Examinations Council.
Despite the improvement, mathematics remains one of the region’s weakest-performing CSEC subjects. However, CXC Director of Operations Dr. Nicole Manning said the increase should be welcomed as evidence of progress.
“This is a four percent increase over the previous year, and this is a good story,” Manning said. “Any improvement in math is a good improvement.”
Fourteen territories recorded acceptable-grade rates ranging from 43% to 77%, placing them above the regional average. The other seven territories recorded rates between 30% and 38%.
The results were presented during Tuesday’s official release of the May-June 2026 examinations in Anguilla.
CXC is also introducing a new approach aimed at tackling longstanding underperformance in mathematics. The council formally launched the Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate, or CTEC, following a regional pilot involving 2,535 candidates at 42 centres across 15 territories.
CTEC divides the existing CSEC mathematics syllabus into three focused modules, allowing students to earn and bank credentials as they progress toward the full qualification.
CXC reported that 88% of candidates who took the first module during the pilot achieved acceptable grades. Officials stressed that passing one module is not equivalent to completing the entire CSEC mathematics qualification, but said the approach allows students to receive formal recognition for skills they have already mastered.
The pilot participants will be able to complete the remaining two modules free of cost and will have up to four years to finish all three. Once completed, they will receive the full CSEC mathematics certificate.
CXC officials believe the modular system could help more students remain engaged with mathematics while maintaining the same academic standards.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: CXC Mathematics Pass Rate Rises to 42% Across the Caribbean.