JORREL De Santos of New Guyana School, who secured a total of 533 marks out of the maximum 540, has emerged as the top 2014 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) candidate. 

De Santos was followed by Aliah Mohamed from School of the Nations, who gained 531 marks and ranked second while Ravi Singh from Westfield Prep took the third spot with 530 and the fourth placed was Isaac Mallampati, also from New Guyana School whose score was 527.
The results, announced on radio and television by Education Minister Priya Manickchand indicated that Analise Samaroo, of School of the Nations, who achieved 525 marks came fifth.
Sixth placed were three candidates, namely Krystal Singh of Success Elementary, Jeremiah Bentham of Winfer Gardens Primary and Jeron Boucher of Genesis Early Childhood, who all scored 524 marks each.
Ninth place was shared between Shania De Groot of Success Elementary and Reuben Stanley of Mae’s Under-12, both of whom achieved 523 marks.
Were combined
The Minister disclosed that 15,227 candidates sat the examination countrywide on April 16 and 17 last. They also wrote the National Grade Two Assessment in 2010 and the National Grade Four Assessment in 2012. A percentage of the marks gained at both the grade two and four assessments were combined with the marks earned at the Grade Six and determined the candidates’ overall scores.
Five percent of each candidate’s grade two score in Mathematics and English and 10 percent of the grade four score in the same subjects were added to 85 percent of every candidate’s score in both subjects. The combined scores in Mathematics and English were added to those gained in Science and Social Studies and, as such, the highest possible standardised scores obtainable were Mathematics 136, English 132, Social Studies 137 and Science 135.
The maximum possible total score obtainable was therefore 540. The top one percent of this year’s cohort comprises 79 males and 89 females for a total of 168 candidates in the top one percent.
The top ten students were all awarded places at Queen’s College (QC) where the minimum cut-off point was 514 marks. Bishops’ High School places were awarded to candidates who would have scored between 510 and 513 marks.
Saint Stanislaus College awardees would have had to attain between 506 and 509 marks, St. Rose’s High School qualifying marks were between 503 and 505, and those gaining in the range of 500 and 504 gained places at St. Joseph’s High School.
The Minister expressed her pride at the achievements, noting the roles of the teachers, parents and others who have contributed significantly to ensuring education of their children remains a high priority.

(By Ravin Singh)