Common Entrance Exam tomorrow

Do your best!

That was the advice that Minister of Labour Colin Jordan and St. James North Member of Parliament Edmund Hinkson shared with pupils of the Gordon Greenidge Primary school ahead of tomorrow’s Secondary Schools Entrance Examination.

On Tuesday some 3,300 pupils across the island are expected to write the exam. Speaking to the pupils at the Rock Dundo, St. James school today, the two politicians shared encouraging words and gave assurances that their best was good enough. Noting that the Common Entrance was an important exam, Jordan emphasized that it was one among many that they will have to take in their lives. He noted that while there may be some feelings of stress or nervousness ahead of the exam, they must reassure themselves that there are accustomed to tests.

“If you move from Infants B to Class 1 you did a test . . . when you get to secondary school, to move from first to second form there will be some testing and from second form to third form and every form until you finish school there will be testing. Life is about testing.

Asher Downes, Jayden Jemmott, Oasis Worrell and Saliyah Greaves chatting with MPs Edmund Hinkson (right) and Colin Jordan.

“Testing is really something that tells you how well you are doing and where you need to make improvements. Tests are an assessment. The tests that you have been doing so far during classes three and four. . . it was an assessment to help you,” Jordan, the St Peter MP said while urging the students to commit to learning at whichever secondary school they ultimately attend.

Hinkson also recounted feeling the pre-examination jitters but he assured the youngsters that they will make it through because there was nothing on the exam papers that their teachers had not already prepared them for in class.

Hinkson continued: “Don’t feel pressured. It is another test, yes the most important assessment you’ve had to date, but you’ve had previous tests and you will have many more in your future because that is what life is about -examinations and testing. You have been

trained by your teachers, you have done many past papers before under exam conditions so nothing that you see tomorrow on any of these exams papers you have not done before.

And all we are doing as policymakers, leaders of this country, as well as your teachers, is asking you to do your best. Your best is good enough.” (KC)