St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry of Education has released preliminary results for the 2024 Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA), naming Draádon A. Ackie from Richland Park Seventh-day Adventist Primary School as the nation’s top-performing student. Ackie secured the first-place position with an exceptional overall score of 98.20%, and also ranked among the top nine scorers in the exam’s language section with a 96% mark. The 2024 ranking features multiple tied positions across the top 10 spots, with a total of 11 students earning placement in this elite group.
Following Ackie, Naailah Azziza Stevenson of Kingstown Preparatory School (KPS) claimed second place overall, as well as the second-highest rank among female test-takers. Three candidates tied for third place overall: Amiah Kristal Anderson from KPS, Uliano Ozarie Ryan of Dickson Methodist Primary School, and Michael E. Febuary, Ackie’s schoolmate from Richland Park SDA. All three also earned second-place rankings in their respective gender categories.
A three-way tie for sixth place went to Anniah Aysia John (KPS), Philan B. Lewis (Richland Park SDA), and Akili Adekola Neverson (Sugar Mill Academy). John took third place among female students, while Lewis and Neverson tied for fourth in the female rankings. Damien Skyler Franklyn of Windsor Primary School secured ninth place overall and sixth rank among male participants. The 10th spot was split between Orijé Orando Brewster (KPS) and Zuri Sarina Salandy of Brighton Methodist, with Brewster ranking seventh among boys and fourth among girls.
A total of 1,766 sixth-grade students registered for this year’s assessment, which concluded its on-site testing phase on May 14, and 1,760 candidates completed all required components. Preliminary data shows an overall pass rate of 88.47%, with 1,557 students meeting the passing threshold – a small but noticeable improvement over the 2023 pass rate of 87.34%. Of the successful candidates, 732 are male and 825 are female. To pass, students must earn a minimum of 250 marks, or 50% of the maximum 500 total available points across the assessment’s two components.
CPEA final scores are calculated by combining results from two core components: an external national assessment and a school-based assessment (SBA). The SBA contributes 40% of a student’s total grade, with a maximum possible 200 marks, while the external exam accounts for the remaining 60% (300 total points). The external assessment consists of multiple-choice tests covering four core subjects: mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies. The SBA, by contrast, evaluates students through a diverse set of in-school work, including a cumulative research project, writing portfolio, book report, teacher-created unit tests, student-developed assessments, and practical skills exercises across the four core subject areas.
In the external assessment component, several students earned perfect 100% scores in individual subjects. Amiah Anderson and Uliano Ozarie Ryan both achieved full marks in mathematics. Four candidates – Akili Neverson, Amauri Greaves (both Sugar Mill Academy), Jediah Luke (Windsor Primary), and Noah Yorke (Mustique Primary) – scored 100% in science. Nine students tied for the highest language arts score at 96%, including top overall performer Ackie, alongside Kelleigh Kirby (Windsor Primary), Shanae Joseph (Richland Park Government), Faith Ballantyne (KPS), Damari Williams (CW Prescod Primary), Isabella Currency (Sugar Mill Academy), Havanna James (New Grounds Primary), Gabrielle Glasgow (Lowmans Windward Anglican), and Rockell Ballantyne (Clare Valley Government). For social studies, four students earned perfect 100% scores: Naailah Stevenson, Amiah Anderson, Michael Febuary, and Damien Franklyn.
In an official press statement announcing the results, the Ministry of Education extended formal congratulations to all students who completed the assessment. The statement also expressed gratitude to headteachers, teaching staff, school personnel, and all education stakeholders for their ongoing support of student learning and preparation for the national assessment.