SCORES of anxious students yesterday sat exams on day one of the final sitting of the two-day Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

A total of 39,093 students were registered to sit GSAT at 1,089 centres across the island.

After completing the mathematics and social studies papers yesterday, the students are expected to sit communication studies, language arts and science examinations today.

“The mathematics [paper] was very manageable and a number of the questions that our teacher went over with us yesterday (Wednesday) came back in the examination today… I did my best,” said a beaming Lauren Daley, student at the Whitfield Primary School in Whitfield Town, Kingston, after the exam yesterday.

Daley was among 18 students at the school that had been registered to sit the examination.

“We started on time at 9:05 am. The invigilator was on time and the students settled in nicely,” said senior teacher Herma Brown, who was serving as the school’s representative for the day.

Asked about hiccups, the teacher said: “We did have one student who turned up this morning but was not registered to sit the examination because she had not mastered the grade four literacy and numeracy tests.”

The teacher pointed out that the student was allowed to sit the exam as outlined by the ministry.

Guidance counsellor at the primary school, Marie Reid, said the student turned up feeling “self-conscious” that she was not able to sit the examination.

“She was really teary-eyed and was adamant that she did not want to go back home and wished to do the examination along with her classmates,” she said, adding that the student’s parents were advised prior to the exam that she had not been registered.

The student, whose name is being withheld, told the Jamaica Observer that she did her best in her examination and was hoping to pass for Camperdown High School.

Acting principal of St Andrew Primary School, Omar Thomas, also reported a similar incident at his school.

Yesterday, Ministry of Education Press Secretary Lisa Rowe confirmed that once a student turns up for an examination he or she must be admitted and allowed to write the examination papers.

She also said that the student’s papers will be marked.

The Observer was also informed that students who do not sit GSAT but are of the eligible age will be placed in schools with a tailored learning programme.

Rowe pointed out that the Alternative Secondary Transitional Education Programme (ASTEP) — a monitored two-year programme with a focus on literacy — was one of the mechanisms in place to assist students who did not qualify for GSAT.

Meanwhile, George Headley, Duhaney Park and Half-Way-Tree primary schools reported smooth sailing on day one of the examinations.

“We had a past student that came during our morning devotion and encouraged the students not to be nervous and to keep calm and do their best over the next two days,” said George Headley Primary Vice-Principal Judith Adams.

After the second exam ended at Half-Way-Tree Primary, parents trickled in to pick up the students who excitedly huddled in groups discussing their answers.

“The exams were very good actually, certain children described it as easy and others described it as hard, but for me it was just manageable. All the other students who came and did not feel confident, I tried my best to help comfort and encourage them,” said Immaculate Conception High School aspirant from Half-Way-Tree Primary, Brían Burrow.

Some popular high school picks among the grade six students in the Corporate Area were Ardenne High School, Wolmers’ Boys’ and Girls’ schools, Campion College, Camperdown High, and the Meadowbrook High School.