Queen’s College tops both CAPE, CSEC 2025 results
The preliminary results for the 2025 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Carib-bean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) examinations were released yesterday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal, Georgetown, with the top performers for this year present to receive plaudits for their hard work. Several of them spoke to the media in attendance and shared their experiences preparing for their exams as well as their motivations.
This year’s top CAPE performer after preliminary results is Arthur Roberts of Queen’s College who scored nine Grade Is and four Grade IIs. He stated that his teachers, and his parents pushed and guided him to achieve this milestone. Roberts said that throughout the school year he along with other colleagues faced minor setbacks, mainly the demolition of their school’s west wing for renovation and expressed his gratitude to God.
When asked what advice he would give to others who plan to write CAPE, Roberts replied, “They should do whatever they can to find strategies that would work for them because simply doing what I did will not guarantee success.” He cautioned that CAPE isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and is not something is easily achievable, adding, “However I do believe that with the correct will and discipline, anyone can achieve anything they put their mind to.”
Arthur Roberts, 2025 top CAPE performer (Source: Ministry of Education)
Another CAPE top performer, Michael Henry, also of Queen’s College, scored six Grade Is and three Grade IIs. He expressed satisfaction that his hard work has paid off and credited his preparation and use of past papers for his success. Henry stated that time was a major challenge, and he had to figure out many things through trial and error. When asked what comes next, Henry stated his wish to pursue engineering and business and attend university locally or abroad. His words of encouragement to others: “It’s simple – just never stop.”
Michael Henry (Source: Ministry of Education)
Top CSEC performer after preliminary results, Jayden Adrian. of Queen’s College, who scored 21 Grade Is and six Grade IIs, told the media that this was all he had been working for over the past two years and would not have settled for anything less. When asked why he chose to write 27 subjects, he said it was to gain a scholarship from the government to study abroad. Adrian disclosed that he wanted to be like his father and grandfather and become a mechanical engineer, quickly adding that he could change his mind because he also likes aeronautical engineering.
Top CSEC 2025 performer, Jayden Adrian
Another top performer, Najeeb Mohamed, of Qayyim Academy, who scored 17 Grade Is and three Grade IIs, told Stabroek News that his parents were his motivators. “I didn’t really think of doing 20 subjects, but they told me I had the ability to do it, so I decided I’ll do it and I’m surprised at the results.” Mohamed advised that if anyone intended to write a large number of subjects, they had to have a strict study schedule. He shared that in addition to reading, he would also use YouTube videos to study topics he wasn’t too familiar with. Mohamed, who won the 2024 Brainiacs competition last year, explained that he wrote so many subjects because he wanted a large range of careers to choose from, adding that he preferred a science-based field and expressed his love for sports. When asked about future plans, he responded, “Right now I think my most important step is to go to CAPE and figure out what I’m gonna do and see what happens from there.” Meanwhile, staff of Qayyim Academy pointed out that they were one of the only schools where students didn’t have to seek extra lessons outside of the institution.
Najeeb Mohamed
Isa Bremner, a fifth form student of Qayyim Academy, scored 13 Grade Is and eight Grade IIs. Speaking with Stabroek News, he shared that he and his colleagues were in school most of the time and their teachers were very supportive. “Sir David for example, he would encourage us and motivate us by disciplining us and at home I would study every night and whenever I had time during the day I’d study.” Bremner stated that his mother played a major role in this achievement as she would encourage him to study. He advised that anyone wishing to succeed in these exams would have to make sacrifices to gain success.
Isa Bremner
Top performer, Odwin Bouyea, of Fraser Educational Institute, scored 19 Grade Is and one Grade III. He told Stabroek News that he faced many challenges and late nights. “There were many challenges, many late nights as well because a typical day for me was from eight in the morning to eight in the night, and I was very tired when I got home. Some nights I felt like not getting up to study.” Bouyea disclosed that he had many motivations despite the challenges. “I had many sources of motivation, first off God was a big part in where I am today, my mother as well, she is the pillar… and my father, my teachers, pushed us to achieve this. Our principal as well, he usually says everything rises and falls with leadership and he really showcased his leadership in terms of us completing our SBAs because he pushed us to complete them.”
Bouyea advised others who plan to write these exams to endure. “Endure it, no matter how tired or demotivated you feel, find that discipline and motivation in yourself, what makes you go, find that and you will not stop.” Bouyea revealed that he would not go on to sixth form, but planned to attend the University of Guyana to pursue electrical engineering, and later down the line, civil engineering, noting, “both very stable careers from what I can see so far in the country and I have a fascination with circuits and electrical stuff and would really love the opportunity to further a study in that.”
Odwin Bouyea (Source: Ministry of Education)
Brandon Ramdin of Queen’s College was also amongst the top CSEC performers with a tally of 15 Grade Is. In an interview with the Stabroek News, he stated that the SBAs were more stressful than the exam itself. He shared that he did many past papers and stayed up late studying and revising the syllabus. Ramdin said that he knew he wanted to do well and wanted 15 Grade Is on his record. He also expressed the desire to enter into the field of engineering.
Brandon Ramdin (Source: Ministry of Education)
Joshua McArthur, a fourth form student at Queen’s College, wrote nine CSEC subjects and achieved 8 Grade Is and one Grade II. He said he decided to write the subjects in fourth form because he felt he was capable of doing so and went ahead and took a risk which was worth it. McArthur acknowledged that the SBAs were challenging to complete in a short amount of time as well as learning the practical material such as chemistry in the lab. He said his motivation came from wanting to complete school faster as well as achieving his goal of becoming a petroleum engineer faster. McArthur advised those who would follow in his footsteps to study hard.
Joshua McArthur
Another Queen’s College student, Gabriel Felix, who achieved 13 Grade Is and four Grade IIs, was amongst the top performers at the CSEC examinations. Felix said he wanted to see the pride on the faces of his parents, teachers, and everyone who helped him. He prepared by studying from night until morning, and sometimes a few hours before exams. Felix advised that anyone with plans to write these exams should start early with their studying and get ahead. When asked about his future plans he replied, “I want to be a lawyer just like my mom so I’m focusing on working towards that goal.”
Gabriel Felix
Daniel Elliot, another fifth form student of Qayyim Academy, scored 12 Grade Is, five Grade IIs, and two Grade IIIs at CSEC examinations. Speaking with the Stabroek News, Elliot stated that his school provided the majority of the tools he needed. “The teachers were very encouraging, the headmistress made classes so he never had to attend individual classes, they were completely free, and he stayed consistent throughout.” Elliot said his parents and his headteacher were big motivators and pushed him to achieve his goal. He advised that anyone who intends to write this exam should know that it is very challenging, but as long as they stay calm and consistent they can do extremely well. Elliot wants to become a petroleum engineer or a mechanical engineer.
