CXC to Overhaul School-Based Assessments from 2027 as AI Reshapes Examination System

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has announced sweeping changes to its School-Based Assessment (SBA) system, with the traditional SBA set to be phased out for several Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects beginning in 2027.

The reforms are part of a broader effort to strengthen the integrity and credibility of regional examinations as the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies continues to grow.

Under the new framework, CXC will retain SBAs only for subjects that require practical, hands-on demonstration of skills and competencies.

These include Agricultural Science, Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, Technical Drawing, and Food, Nutrition and Health, where project-based assessments remain essential to evaluating student performance.

For non-practical subjects, however, the traditional SBA will be replaced by an updated version of Paper 032, the council’s existing alternative assessment.

Subjects affected include Mathematics, English, Caribbean History, Social Studies, Principles of Business, and Information Technology.

To ensure students still have opportunities for research and critical thinking, CXC has introduced several changes to the Paper 032 assessment.

Candidates will receive their examination topics approximately one month before the assessment, giving them time to prepare. They will also be provided with additional time to complete the examination and will be allowed to bring reference notes into the examination room.

CXC said the reforms are designed to preserve reflective and extended learning while addressing growing concerns about academic integrity in an era where AI-generated content has become increasingly accessible.

The council believes the new assessment model will better balance independent learning with secure examination conditions, ensuring students continue to develop critical thinking and analytical skills while maintaining confidence in the region’s examination system.

The revised SBA framework will take effect for examinations beginning in 2027.