The Cayman Islands will adopt a new examination model after the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) overhauled its school-based assessment framework in response to the growing use of generative artificial intelligence.
The Department of Education Services confirmed in a video report on 24 July that Cayman will implement the regional changes in line with CXC’s guidance, to take effect from the 2027 academic year.
CXC said in its press release on 16 July, that the reforms are intended to protect the credibility of its qualifications while recognising the increasing role of AI tools in education.
The changes follow consultations across 21 Caribbean states and territories and are designed to ensure students demonstrate their own knowledge under controlled examination conditions.
The move marks a change in how the examinations body approaches artificial intelligence.
In 2025, CXC introduced guidance allowing students to use generative AI when preparing school-based assessments, provided its use was disclosed and acknowledged.
Under the revised framework, the organisation is redesigning assessments for many subjects to better verify that submitted work is the student’s own.
Practical subjects including agricultural science, visual arts, music, physical education, technical drawing, and food, nutrition and health will continue using school-based assessments.
However, CXC said those subjects will be subject to stronger moderation measures.
Traditional school-based assessments will be removed for non-practical subjects including mathematics, English, Caribbean history, social studies and principles of business.
Instead, students will complete a new assessment known as Paper 032 under examination conditions.
Assessment topics will be issued about one month in advance, students will receive additional time to complete the paper and they will be permitted to bring reference notes into the examination room.
CXC registrar and chief executive officer Dr Wayne Wesley said the reforms are not intended to prevent students from using artificial intelligence as part of their learning.
“The SBA has served Caribbean students well for nearly half a century, and we do not reform it lightly,” Wesley said. “But the integrity of our qualifications is not negotiable.”
CXC director of operations Dr Nicole Manning said generative AI had weakened confidence in the authenticity of coursework completed outside supervised settings.
She said AI should continue to be used as a learning and preparation tool, but students must still demonstrate their competence independently during supervised examinations.
The changes will be introduced in phases.
CAPE candidates will begin using Paper 032 from the May to June 2027 examination sitting.
Meanwhile, CSEC schools will be able to choose between the traditional school-based assessment and Paper 032 during 2027 before all non-practical subjects move to the new model for the May to June 2028 examinations.
The Ministry of Education said it will continue supporting teachers, schools and students as they prepare for the transition.
