Over a six-week testing window concluding earlier this year, Dominica successfully hosted the June 2026 sitting of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) qualifications, with exam sessions running at 17 dedicated centres distributed across the island. Details of the large-scale assessment exercise were outlined by Magalie Celestine, the CXC Local Registrar for Dominica, during an official results presentation held on Monday at the Dominica Public Service Union Building.
Celestine shared that 66 percent of all examination staff deployed for the 2026 sitting served as invigilators, tasked with monitoring test sessions and upholding the CXC’s strict assessment integrity rules. One of the most notable shifts in this year’s administration was the expansion of electronic testing: 12 of the 17 local centres were able to fully deliver Paper One assessments via digital platforms. However, infrastructure gaps slowed full digital transition at the remaining five sites. Limited available devices and unreliable, inconsistent internet connectivity meant those locations could only offer electronic testing for a subset of subjects. To mitigate risks of service disruptions from power outages or digital failures, every centre maintained printed physical copies of all exam papers as a fail-safe backup, ensuring no candidate was unable to complete their assessment due to technical issues.
Despite robust invigilation protocols, two separate examination integrity breaches were recorded during the 2026 sitting. According to Celestine, one candidate sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) was caught attempting to use a prohibited cell phone during their exam. A second candidate, registered for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), was found in possession of a defaced timetable that contained hidden handwritten notes for unauthorized use. In line with CXC’s zero-tolerance policy for examination misconduct, both candidates have had their entire 2026 sitting results cancelled.
The 2026 examination cycle also showcased the flexible cross-regional cooperation that underpins the CXC’s service model, Celestine noted. Thanks to coordination through the CXC’s interconnected regional network, Dominican candidates who were unable to return to the island for the sitting were able to complete their CSEC and CAPE assessments at test centres in four neighboring Caribbean territories: Anguilla, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts and Nevis. In turn, Dominica accommodated external candidates from Montserrat who registered through the Academic School of Learning, allowing them to complete their exams at local Dominican centres.
Special accommodations were also extended to elite athletes whose training and competition schedules required cross-border travel. One competitive athlete from Dominica’s Goodwill Secondary School, who had scheduled commitments in Saint Lucia, was permitted to complete their CXC exams at a test centre in that territory. Conversely, an athlete based in Barbados was accommodated at Dominica’s Portsmouth Secondary School to sit their assessments during the June sitting.
Looking ahead to future CXC cycles, Celestine emphasized that the ongoing expansion of electronic testing is transformative for the regional examination body. The shift to digital delivery is steadily increasing the CXC’s ability to serve candidates who reside outside their home countries, or who have had to relocate temporarily for work, education, athletic or other legitimate reasons, making the qualification more accessible to mobile populations across the Caribbean.