A’Level Passes increase in 2004

The 2004 A’Level results show an increase in subject passes by students at the St. Vincent Community College. And Principal Marcus Caine is satisfied that teachers made a conscious effort to prepare students for the examinations, notwithstanding the absence of at least three senior members of staff and a significant increase in the student body population.{{more}}
The results for the May/June 2004 Cambridge International A’level Examinations were released on Monday, August 16.
Caine said that this year 315 students entered from the A’level College, and 255 persons were registered as private candidates, bringing the total number to 570 persons sitting the A’level exams.
According to Caine, from 698 subject areas sat, there were 477 passes. This was up from 394 last year, which presents a 21 per cent increase in the number of subjects passed. A total of 17 different A’level subjects were sat by students.
There was a 72 per cent pass rate in 2003; this, however, went down to 68 per cent this year.
Caine said that there was, however, a significant increase in individual performance. He said that his calculation shows that there is a clustering of at least 11 persons in contention for national and other awards.
The principal highlighted the achievements of some 11 students and said that, “If the results these 11 persons have this year were presented last year they would have been in position for an award.”
Among the names mentioned for potential Island Scholarships are Lenski Douglas, Verona James, Luke Browne, Elingford Roban and Bernard John.
Douglas, who was in the science faculty, received five passes with three grade A’s, a grade B, and an A in general paper. James, who sat business subjects, had three A’s, a C and a B in general paper. Student of the Year Luke Browne (science) had two A’s, two B’s and an A in general paper. Roban had an A, three B’s and an A in general paper. Roban sat the sciences. Bernard John, who was a business student, had two A’s and one B. He was awarded an A in general paper.
“There is competition and quite a bit too; this has come because a group of students was highly motivated and disciplined,” said Caine.
Caine also explained that Cambridge uses general paper grades to help measure the academic competence and roundness of students.
Reflecting on the subject areas, there was a 97 per cent pass in English while art and design maintained the 100 per cent pass rate. Psychology and chemistry also got 100 per cent passes. Caine described the psychology grades as excellent.
Accounting grades saw 88 per cent passes this year, up from 73 per cent last year.
Computing, with increased manpower that included Peace Corps worker Nathaniel Gliecher, made a significant leap from 28 per cent last year to 68 per cent this year; however, law saw the biggest jump from zero per cent in 2003 to 76 per cent in 2004. One person sat law last year.
Management of business/business studies had the most distinctions with six A’s. Caine described these as “quality results”, citing that this was one of the biggest classes being taught by one teacher. Sociology, which the principal described as having the most struggles during the year, was able to reach 53 per cent passes, up from 38 per cent last year.
Nine students from the College obtained four A’s, 65 students received three A’s, 82 scored with two A’s and 82 one A each.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Education is still in the process of carrying out a more detailed analysis of the results.
The teachers who are on study leave include Kathy-Ann Barnweld (English), Indeira Persaud (Psychology) and Louanne Gilchrist (French and Spanish).