Jamaicans are almost evenly divided on whether the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) or the old Common Entrance Examination (CEE) better prepare children for high school, a survey done for The Gleaner has found.

At the same time, 81 per cent of Jamaicans said that the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams, which students usually take after at least five years of secondary schooling, serve as a true test of a child's potential at that level. A mere twelve per cent disagreed, with seven per cent not having a view.

This overwhelming declaration of public confidence in CXC exam, at a time of growing concern about the performance of Jamaican students at the secondary level, contrasts with the ambivalence towards GSAT, which 46 per cent of Jamaicans feel provides the better preparation for secondary school. This compares to the 42 per cent who, according to the poll, conducted last month by pollster Bill Johnson, stand by the CEE. Twelve per cent did not have a view.

However, when the poll's margin of error of plus or minus three per cent is taken into account, the already narrow gap between the two views turns to a near statistical dead-heat.

GSAT tests 11 and 12-year-old students in a range subjects - mathematics, language arts, social studies, science and communication tasks - based on a curriculum that they should have followed on entering primary school at grade one.

Continuing assessment

This exam, which, theoretically, is based on a foundation of continuing assessment of students, succeeded the CEE, which was in place for 58 years. Critics of CEE complained that rather than continuous learning it required children to cram for the test in their examination year.

In fact, 64 per cent of the respondents in the survey disagreed that GSAT was too difficult and complicated an exam for 12-year-olds, with 16 per cent holding strongly to that position.

Twenty per cent had the contrary view, with nine per cent holding it passionately.