NO extra classes were necessary for Brihalia Kenton as she prepared for GSAT, the high school entrance examination which many parents and teachers have criticised as being too difficult for primary school students.

The 12-year-old student of Yallahs Primary in St Thomas, described as an avid reader, told the Jamaica Observer from her home on Friday that her preparation routine was simply to review each day’s work when she got home.

“It (the exam) wasn’t hard.I didn’t prepare much,” she said.

Even so, Kenton didn’t expect the 99.6 per cent average she scored. On the other hand, her mother, Keena Duffus, expected nothing less.

“I was not surprised because that’s where (Campion College) she wanted to go and she told herself that that’s where she was going,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Duffus, a mother of three, could not find words to express how proud she is of her daughter. She told the newspaper that while her job as a hairdresser generally had her spending long hours at the shop, she didn’t neglect helping her with school work.

Kenton is also the pride of her school and community. Her GSAT score has earned her the title of top student in the eastern parish and coupled with the scores of her classmates — including 15 perfect scores in science — Yallahs Primary has been declared the top school.

Principal Yvette Graham said the newly-formed mathematics and science clubs were significant contributors to the students’ success this year.

“All of us are elated and we are planning for the future to see how we can keep it up,” she said Friday.

Kenton’s teacher, Jenita Lumsden-Black, is very impressed with her.

“She is well-mannered, well-disciplined, and very quiet,” she said of the student.

Of her GSAT preparation strategy, Lumsden-Black said she made sure to motivate her students to do well.

“I organise standard monthly tests to motivate them. I have award ceremonies as an incentive programme, with buttons, etc. I also award the top students,” said the teacher, who has 40 students in her grade six class.

As for Kenton, who counts mathematics as her favourite subject and language arts as her least favourite, life at Campion will not be a walkover, but she believes she has what it takes to remain successful.

“I will work harder,” she promised. “It’s not impossible as long as you work hard,” she said, sounding ages older than her pre-teen years.

Kenton hopes to become a gynaecologist.

— Aldane Walters