Sheena Gayle, Freelance Writer

These William Knibb High School students share an English language past paper during The Gleaner's Youthlink CSEC Exam Techniques Seminar at the Montego Bay Civic Centre in St James yesterday. - photo by Sheena Gayle

WESTERN BUREAU:

In anticipation of the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) in May, more than 400 students from 14 high schools along the north coast flocked to the Montego Bay Civic Centre auditorium for The Gleaner's Youthlink CSEC Exam Techniques Seminar on Monday and Tuesday.

Students from as far away as Trelawny and St Ann, who attended the two-day seminar, revealed that they had garnered a wealth of information and clarification that would be useful in their upcoming exams.

Saschel Lee, an 11th-grade student from St Hilda's Diocesan High in St Ann, noted: "I have received a lot of information from the sessions I have attended. I now have a better understanding of what the persons grading the exams are looking for, so I have a clearer understanding of what I need to do."

Another 11th-grader, Kameka Rose from Cambridge High School in St James, expressed similar sentiments after the English language session.

"I got a lot of clarification on some of the English topics that were discussed that I can share with my friends during revision, so I am happy that I came to the sessions today," she stated.

Largest crowd support

The culmination of the CSEC Exam Techniques Seminar on Tuesday saw the largest crowd support at the English language session, which featured lecturer Godfrey Fisher.

Fisher emphasised that students needed to practise past papers in order to familiarise themselves with the format of the CSEC exams.

"I know some of you may have jitters during your exams, but I want to assure you that once you have spent the time to practise and understand the usage of the English language, you will not fail your exam," he stated.

The exam techniques seminar saw teachers, who are markers of the CSEC, and teachers of English language, principles of accounts, information technology and mathematics - providing effective guidelines to students that will be useful in their exams.

sheena.gayle@gleanerjm.com