With hundreds of schools still reeling from Hurricane Melissa, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has announced special exam accommodations for students in the hardest-hit parishes. CXC says affected CSEC and CAPE candidates sitting exams in May–June 2026 may be allowed to use a modified assessment option, relying mainly on Paper 1 and school-based assessments (SBAs), in an effort to protect fairness while showing compassion. The council has also offered added flexibility through extended SBA deadlines, waived late registration fees, and options for refunds or deferrals for students who may not feel ready to sit the exams this year.

Mercy tests

CXC modifies exams for students scarred by Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica Gleaner/8 Jan 2026/Sashana Small/staff Reporter

SIGNALLING ITS solidarity with Jamaica as the nation recovers from the devastation and dislocation caused by Hurricane Melissa, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) says it will be offering modified exams to students in the seven most impacted parishes.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, CXC Chief Executive Officer Dr Wayne Wesley said the plan of action decided on – in agreement with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information – is for students sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination in May-june 2026.

“CXC will administer examinations in its normal format for all schools and will offer the flexibility of using the modified approach to those schools negatively affected by the hurricane,” Wesley stated.

He noted that these modifications and adjustments will be facilitated with respect to school-based assessments (SBAS).

Dr Nicole Manning, director of operations at CXC, explained that candidates will be graded on Paper 1 and the SBA if they are selected for the modified approach.

Manning said the organisation is aiming to create equity in its approach to Jamaica as it

ensures a balance of “compassion with the maintenance of fairness in the assessment”.

CXC examinations are administered combining internal SBAS with external exams – papers one, two, and sometimes three.

“We will work with our local registrar to ensure that we can identify these schools, and we will manage accordingly,” she said. “The submissions from the schools will be required by January 14. So by January 14, we will know the schools that will be doing the full, normal assessment versus the modified approach,” Manning said.

Jamaican students will also be given concessions for the SBAS.

She noted, too, that the Ministry of Education has also identified special cases of schools equally devastated that are not in the seven identified parishes.

“And CXC will take that into consideration and offer that provision in terms of the facilitation of the use of the modified approach,” she said.

“Recovery and continuity are two important components for growth. And thus, we at the Caribbean Examinations Council are seeking to support the candidates and their parents in the continuity of their lives and livelihood and, in so doing, the economic growth of the region,” she added.

More than 600 educational institutions sustained damage during the passage of the Category 5 hurricane, which made landfall on October 28.

Meanwhile, Wesley stated that late registration has been accommodated for candidates from schools negatively affected without any late-fee requirements. CXC will also extend the timeline for submission of SBAS for schools negatively impacted to June 15, 2026 without any late-fee requirements.

Further, all candidates based in Jamaica will receive their results in August 2026 along with the rest of the region. Where candidates register and pay for their examinations but no longer feel ready to sit the examinations, they can seek a refund or defer to another session in 2027.

RECOVERY PROTOCOL

These measures, he noted, are in line with the regional body’s Disaster and Business Recovery Protocol, which was approved by CXC’S board of governors.

The six-step protocol governs how CXC responds when a participating member state is affected by a disaster, such as a hurricane, flood, or volcanic eruption, or other unusual events such as civil disorders.

Wesley stated that CXC first initiates a response and statement of support for the affected participating state. Second, it then coordinates with the ministries of education in the assessment and recovery efforts. Third, the council engages in wider stakeholder consultations that include parents, teachers, employers, and other crucial stakeholders.

The CXC management then drafts recommendations and action plans for consideration by the board. The board then reviews, ratifies, and approves what CXC should implement in facilitating the region affected by the disaster. Finally, CXC implements and engages in an ongoing evaluation with the affected state.

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