Guyanese students recorded notable performances in the 2026 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations, with preliminary results released Tuesday showing increases in CSEC participation and the number of students earning multiple Grade Ones.
The results for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) and Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) were announced at a ceremony at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.
The results are preliminary and remain subject to reviews before being finalised.
At the CSEC level, 13,052 students sat the examination this year, compared with 12,685 in 2025, representing a three per cent increase. The Ministry of Education requested from CXC a list of candidates who secured Grade Ones in eight or more subjects. A total of 264 candidates met that threshold.
More significantly, 78 students secured 12 or more Grade Ones, compared with 59 students who achieved the same feat in 2025.
Education Minister Sonia Parag described the results as another indication of improved performance.
“It is another indication of the strong performance we are seeing this year,” Parag said at the ceremony.
Tagore student produces standout CSEC performance
The leading CSEC performance came from Nitya Narine of Tagore High School in Berbice, who secured an outstanding 26 Grade Ones and one Grade Two.
Parag singled out Narine’s achievement, particularly because of her school’s location outside Georgetown.
“Now, this is something the country has not seen. In all of the years of our results, I believe this is a wonderful first,” the Minister said.
Other leading CSEC performers were Anushka Singh of Queen’s College, with 25 Grade Ones and one Grade Two; Shreya Ramnarine of Anna Regina Secondary, with 22 Grade Ones and six Grade Twos; and Joseph Daniel of The Bishops’ High School, with 21 Grade Ones.
J’kell Whyte of Queen’s College and Feiaz Dhanny of Saraswati Vidya Niketan each secured 20 Grade Ones. Queen’s College students Abhigyan Chatterdeo and Ethan Thakurdin each earned 19 Grade Ones.
Michael Somwar of Tagore High School and Zhijie Yang of Saraswati Vidya Niketan each obtained 18 Grade Ones, while Sanjana Mohan, Anna Singh and David Thorne of Queen’s College, together with Serena Gangoo of Abrams’ Zuil Secondary, each earned 17 Grade Ones.
The Ministry cautioned that these students should not yet be formally designated as the country’s final top performers because the results remain preliminary and candidates have an opportunity to request reviews.
Queen’s College dominates CAPE
At the CAPE level, 666 students wrote the examination in 2026, compared with 650 in 2025, representing a 2.5 per cent increase.
David Sugrim of Queen’s College emerged as the leading preliminary performer, earning 11 Grade Ones and seven Grade Twos.
Queen’s College again featured prominently among the leading candidates, with Toreka Persaud and Mahesa Boodhoo each earning nine Grade Ones and Savannah Bovell securing eight.
Other Queen’s College performers included Dave Chowtie, with six Grade Ones and four Grade Twos; Annessa Hussain, with six Grade Ones and one Grade Two; Malique Lindore, with six Grade Ones; Siddiqah Nizamudeen, with six Grade Ones; Maria Pertabsingh, with six Grade Ones and two Grade Twos; and Shanel Storm, with six Grade Ones and one Grade Two.
Outside Queen’s College, Affianne Kellman of St Stanislaus College secured six Grade Ones, three Grade Twos and one Grade Three, while Janee Greene of Mackenzie High School earned six Grade Ones.
CAPE is currently offered at 18 public and private institutions. Diamond Secondary School participated for the first time this year and recorded a preliminary pass rate of 96.8 per cent.
Parag urged students to treat their results as the beginning of the next stage rather than an endpoint.
“After you have checked your results today, open another account and start looking at what comes next,” she told students, encouraging them to pursue available opportunities.
“Do not stop here,” she added.
2,813 students set for CVQs
The results release also highlighted the expansion of technical and vocational education. According to the Department of Public Information, 2,813 students are expected to gain Caribbean Vocational Qualifications in 2026.
The students are being trained in areas including agro-food processing, aquaculture, crop production, electrical installation, construction, welding, motor vehicle repairs, metalwork engineering, garment making, data operations, business administration, commercial food preparation and housekeeping.
The number of students writing at least one TVET subject at CSEC also increased by 8.9 per cent, bringing participation to nearly half of all CSEC candidates. At CAPE, almost half of all entries were in TVET or science-based subjects.
Parag said the Government would continue investing in the education system and expanding opportunities for students.
“We [government] will continue to strengthen our schools, support our teachers, expand opportunities, and make the investments necessary to ensure that every child, wherever they live in Guyana, can receive a quality education and fulfill their potential,” she said.
The 2026 CXC results are preliminary, and the final standings and results could change following the review process.
