PRIMARY school students from across Guyana on Wednesday sat the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and many said even though the examinations were no “walk in the park” they were still confident of doing well.

The students wrote English and Science Papers 1&11 on the opening day of the examination which concluded yesterday with Mathematics and Social Studies.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Ronald Bacchus of St. Agnes Primary on Church Street said the English Papers were easy but Science Paper 1 gave him some difficulties.

However, he believed that these difficulties were not great enough for him to fail that examination and threaten his dreams of securing a place at the Bishops’ High School.

His colleague, Levar Tafares also related that Science Paper 1 gave him some “headaches” but in spite of that he was still sure he did well and hopefully joining his friend Bacchus at Bishops’ High when school re-opens in September.

Briana Ifill and Otisha Hiles of Green Acres Primary, a private school also lamented their challenge with the Science Paper 1, but said they have amends in the English examination.

The pupils noted that they are looking forward to doing well in the examinations with the hope of obtaining places at St. Stanislaus College when the results are released.

While Science Paper 1 has caused some difficulties with most students, Quan Vanderstoop of St. Angela’s Primary said it was not the case with him.

Instead he pointed out that the English Paper 11 made him think, but overall he was confident of passing that examination and gaining a place at Queen’s College.

The examination experience was a whole lot different for Tashana Khan of Isa Islamic School on East Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, who told this news paper that both the English and Science papers were easy.

Fellow Isa Islamic School pupil, Sakeela Khan however said the examinations had both easy and difficult questions and was optimistic she will pass.

Both students are hoping to continue their post primary education at the Islamic school which also has a secondary department.

The candidates taking the examination were already in grades two and four. Those assessments were graded for five and 10 per cent respectively of the total examination score.

At grades two and four they are examined in English, Mathematics and Reading. Social Studies was added to the NGSA in grade six.

National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) Director, Mr. Mohandatt Goolsarran, said candidates will be given placements based on their performance at the assessments.

“The children are ranked in order of scores attained and they are placed in schools based on their scores. Schools are defined as class A, B and C and based on their performance they’ll be placed in those schools,” he explained.

He noted that top ranking schools such as Queen’s College, Bishops High School, St. Roses High School, St. Stanislaus High School and St. Joseph High School are competed for nationally and when these schools are filled, placement is done in regional categories classified as grade A, B and C schools.

Goolsarran said the grades of schools are determined by their track record at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) over the past three years.

He pointed out that based on their performance during this period, the schools are categorised as either Grade A, B or C.