Caribbean Studies Paper
CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
REPORT ON CANDIDATES’ WORK IN THE ADVANCED PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION MAY/JUNE 2010
CARIBBEAN STUDIES
Copyright © 2010 Caribbean Examinations Council St Michael, Barbados All rights reserved.
2
GENERAL COMMENTS The Caribbean Studies examination comprised three papers — Paper 01 consisted of 15 compulsory short-response questions, Paper 02 consisted of eight essay questions of which candidates were required to answer four, and Paper 03 was the Internal Assessment component for which candidates conducted research and submitted a research paper. Paper 03/1, the alternative to the Internal Assessment, was written by private candidates. Paper 01 contributed 27 per cent to candidates‘ overall grade, Paper 02 contributed 33 per cent, and Papers 03/1 and 03/2 each contributed 40 per cent to candidates‘ overall grade.
DETAILED COMMENTS Paper 01 – Short-Response Questions
Once again candidates are required to read all questions carefully. They are to note key elements of questions, such as terms that are to be defined, concepts which are to be explained and/or analysed. Also, candidates should note the limits within time periods and always provide examples when asked to do so. Candidates who performed well on their responses had not only prepared the topics, but also paid close attention to the requirements of the questions. Module 1 – Caribbean Society and Culture Question 1 This question tested candidates‘ knowledge of the basic geography of the Caribbean area and included three specific questions. In Part (a), candidates were required to outline one advantage of defining the Caribbean in geographical terms; they produced a variety of responses, not all of which were accurate. The stronger candidates wrote succinct answers which included references to the chain of islands at the archipelago and the central place of the Caribbean Sea. There was also mention of features such as the nearness to the mainlands of North and South
REPORT ON CANDIDATES’ WORK IN THE ADVANCED PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION MAY/JUNE 2010
CARIBBEAN STUDIES
Copyright © 2010 Caribbean Examinations Council St Michael, Barbados All rights reserved.
2
GENERAL COMMENTS The Caribbean Studies examination comprised three papers — Paper 01 consisted of 15 compulsory short-response questions, Paper 02 consisted of eight essay questions of which candidates were required to answer four, and Paper 03 was the Internal Assessment component for which candidates conducted research and submitted a research paper. Paper 03/1, the alternative to the Internal Assessment, was written by private candidates. Paper 01 contributed 27 per cent to candidates‘ overall grade, Paper 02 contributed 33 per cent, and Papers 03/1 and 03/2 each contributed 40 per cent to candidates‘ overall grade.
DETAILED COMMENTS Paper 01 – Short-Response Questions
Once again candidates are required to read all questions carefully. They are to note key elements of questions, such as terms that are to be defined, concepts which are to be explained and/or analysed. Also, candidates should note the limits within time periods and always provide examples when asked to do so. Candidates who performed well on their responses had not only prepared the topics, but also paid close attention to the requirements of the questions. Module 1 – Caribbean Society and Culture Question 1 This question tested candidates‘ knowledge of the basic geography of the Caribbean area and included three specific questions. In Part (a), candidates were required to outline one advantage of defining the Caribbean in geographical terms; they produced a variety of responses, not all of which were accurate. The stronger candidates wrote succinct answers which included references to the chain of islands at the archipelago and the central place of the Caribbean Sea. There was also mention of features such as the nearness to the mainlands of North and South