All in Place for GSAT Sitting

The Ministry of Education has advised that all is in place for the 2014 sitting of the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21, 2014 in 1135 centres across the island. A total of 40,676 students are confirmed to sit the tests, of which 21,120 are females and 19,556 males; 4,457 registered and eligible students have deferred sitting the tests.

Chief Education Officer, Grace McLean has disclosed that schools which operate as examination centres will be closed on both days to minimise distractions to those students sitting the test. Where approved, accommodations have been made for students with special needs, and timetables have already been dispatched to all regions.

Students will be assessed in critical areas of the primary school curriculum, namely Mathematics, Social Studies, Language Arts, Science and Communication Tasks. Students are encouraged to:

• Focus on doing their best
• Ensure that they have pencils and an eraser to complete the tests
• Follow the instructions of the examiners
• Answer all the questions on each test in the time allotted

Meanwhile, the Ministry is advising parents of students sitting the GSAT that they are to:

• Remain calm
• Support, rather than pressure the students
• Ensure that students are well rested
• Make plans for students to have a nutritious breakfast and a snack during the two days of the examination
• Ensure that students arrive at the examination centre on time
• Leave the examination centre before the tests begin

GSAT Hotlines

In order to ensure quick and easy access to information, the Ministry has activated the customary telephone hotlines as follows: