More than 32,000 registered CSEC candidates failed to appear for examinations during the May-June 2026 sitting, prompting concern from the Caribbean Examinations Council. Photo: Antigua Newsroom

CXC Director of Operations Dr. Nicole Manning said 32,403 CSEC candidates missed examinations, leaving them without an opportunity to receive a grade for the affected subjects.

The council also recorded 3,534 absences among CAPE candidates, while absenteeism at the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence level remained a concern when measured as a percentage of registered candidates.

Manning said CXC surveys found that some students stayed away because they believed they were not adequately prepared for the examination. She urged candidates to attend and make an attempt, even when they are uncertain about their chances of success.

“This is not a reason to be absent. Just try,” Manning said during Tuesday’s official release of the 2026 regional examination results in Anguilla.

She explained that candidates who miss a required component have no opportunity to be graded, meaning they lose the time and effort already invested in preparing for the subject.

CXC is calling on parents, guardians, teachers and education officials to encourage students to attend all scheduled examinations.

The council also raised concerns about candidates who failed to complete or submit their school-based assessments. Manning explained that non-submission can occur when a student does not complete the assignment or when an examination centre fails to forward completed work to CXC.

In either case, candidates may be left ungraded because the school-based assessment is a required component of many subjects.

CXC said the non-submission of SBAs by candidates has been increasing and urged education ministries to investigate the reasons behind the trend.

The council wants schools, families and community leaders to ensure students understand that they must complete every required component to receive a final grade.