CSEC Examination Changes-Yes Mathematics has a SBA component from May 2018 onward

CXC - CSEC will be implementing a SBA component for Mathematics beginning September 2016. With that in mind there are some changes to the examination itself as well as to the syllabus. You may download the new syllabus that becomes effective 2018 below. The syllabus has detailed information about the SBA and also contains a sample SBA.
csec_mathematics_syllabus_exam_2018__.pdf
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Changes to Mathematics Paper 2

  • The new paper has 10 questions down from 11
  • There are no more choices, you do all questions
  • There are no more optional questions – all questions and topics are compulsory. This means that teachers and students alike no longer have the option of ignoring a topic simply because it is optional. It also places significant stress on shift schools who suffer a time deficit.
  • Sets will no longer be tested on paper 2, it will only appear on paper 1
  • Paper 2 is now worth 100 marks

Why Have a SBA?

It is the view of CXC-CSEC that the former syllabus lacked the capacity to effectively demonstrate multiple literacies, unearth independent and critical thinking skills and encourage innovative application of science and technology to problem solving. It is their view that by solving a real world problem and presenting its solution in a project/written form that these other literacies which were not taken care of in the current syllabus will be catered for. CXC-CSEC Mathematics is presently a primarily concept based exam as opposed to other examinations like City&Guilds which are practical and workplace based.

Changes to paper 1

Paper 1 still has 60 questions with a value of 60 marks
There are some topic changes however. Vectors and Matrices are now a part on Paper 1.  

The SBA Outline

1. Project Title
2. Introduction
3. Method of Data Collection
4. Presentation of Data
5. Analysis of Data
6. Discussion of Findings
7. Conclusion

The SBA will be worth 20% of the final grade

There will be an alternate paper 3 for candidates or schools who choose that route

The sample SBA outline can be downloaded below
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csec_mathematics_sba_outline.pdf
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