For six of Guyana’s outstanding Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) performers, the release of results has brought more than impressive grades it has offered a glimpse into the discipline, sacrifices and support systems behind their success.
The students, representing schools across the country, produced some of the most remarkable performances in this year’s examinations, with several securing more than a dozen Grade Ones and one student recording 26 Grade Ones from 27 subjects.
While their approaches to preparation differed, the students shared a common commitment to their academics, with parents, teachers and faith playing significant roles in helping them navigate the pressure of preparing for multiple examinations.
Among them is Roshan Ulla of Qayyim Academy, who wrote 21 subjects and secured 16 Grade Ones, four Grade Twos and one Grade Three.
For Ulla, success was less about allowing the pressure of examinations to become overwhelming and more about making deliberate choices with his time.
“It wasn’t extremely hectic, like to the point where I would start crying or anything like that,” he said.
Instead, much of his preparation involved staying up late to complete School-Based Assessments (SBAs) and making academics his priority.
“I prioritize my time with the academics and not for more leisure time,” Ulla explained.
He also deliberately reduced his use of his phone and sacrificed leisure time in favour of studying.
“I use my phone less and focus more on my academics. I sacrifice my leisure time for academics,” he said.
With CSEC now behind him, Ulla is considering either pursuing the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) or attending the University of Guyana. He said his parents would prefer that he attend UG.
His interests are already pointing him towards a career in engineering, with mechanical engineering among the fields he is considering. He is also interested in becoming an engine officer.
For Shreya Pratima Ramnarine of Anna Regina Secondary School, the sheer number of subjects made preparation considerably more demanding.
Ramnarine wrote 30 subjects, earning 23 Grade Ones, six Grade Twos and one Grade Three.
She admitted that preparing for so many subjects was stressful.
“Considering the fact that I did 30 subjects, it wasn’t exactly easy to balance preparations for all of them, so it was very stressful,” she said.
Yet Ramnarine said she was pleasantly surprised by her results. While she had hoped to perform well, she remained open-minded because she knew other students had also worked exceptionally hard.
Her success, she said, was supported by a strong network of people around her including her parents, teachers, lesson teachers and friends.
“Most importantly, God,” she added.
That support helped her persevere through the demanding preparation period.
Ramnarine now has her sights set on law. She is contemplating pursuing CAPE before eventually becoming a lawyer, a career she sees as an opportunity to use her voice to help others.
“I like public speaking, so I would like to be able to use my voice for a good cause,” she said.
She is particularly drawn to the idea of helping people who may be disadvantaged and advocating for justice.
“I want to help,” she said.
At Queen’s College, Az-Zahra Mohamed produced a perfect performance, securing 12 Grade Ones from 12 subjects.
But the achievement did not come without considerable sacrifice.
Mohamed described her preparation as “very stressful”, involving sleepless nights and sacrifices as she worked towards the examinations.
Despite the pressure, she said she was relieved and happy that the sacrifices ultimately paid off.
“I’m so glad it all paid off in the end and I’m really happy about my results,” Mohamed said.
Her next step is already taking shape. She plans to return to Queen’s College to pursue the CAPE programme, with business management among her intended areas of study.
Rihanna James of St Stanislaus College also delivered an impressive performance, writing 18 subjects and earning 15 Grade Ones and three Grade Twos.
For James, preparation involved attending numerous classes, but she credited her teachers and parents with making the process easier.
She also singled out her teacher, Ms Persico, for her discipline and support, while expressing appreciation to the teachers at St Stanislaus College and Morgan’s Learning Centre.
Above all, however, James said she was grateful to God.
With secondary school examinations completed, James is considering either CAPE or university, although she has not yet made a final decision.
One thing she appears certain about is her career interest.
“I’m definitely feeling medicine,” she said.
“Definitely feeling medicine.”
For JiaYing Yu of Saraswati Vidya Niketan, the results brought relief after a period of intense preparation.
Yu wrote 18 subjects, earning 14 Grade Ones, two Grade Twos and one Grade Three.
Although she expected to perform well, she admitted that she was still nervous about the results.
Her preparation involved long hours of studying, including late nights, with particular attention given to subjects and topics she found more difficult.
“I study a lot. I sleep very late, of course, and I prepare a lot,” she said.
Yu is now looking beyond Guyana. She hopes to attend university in Canada, with plans to begin her studies in September next year.
But perhaps the most striking performance among the students interviewed came from Nitya Narine of Tagore Memorial Secondary School.
Narine wrote 27 subjects and earned 26 Grade Ones and one Grade Two, an extraordinary result that reflected years of preparation rather than last-minute examination cramming.
Unlike students who drastically reduced their leisure time during the examination period, Narine said she began preparing from Form One.
She developed a study timetable early and gradually built her academic routine throughout high school.
Starting early, she said, allowed her to maintain a balance between academics and her personal interests.
“I had more time for myself also, time for my social life, time for my phone, time to do art because I’m an artist. I like drawing and painting,” she explained.
Narine said she made it a point to pay attention in class and seek help whenever she did not understand a topic. She would turn to her parents, who are both teachers, or use online resources such as Google and YouTube.
Before tests, she also worked through past CSEC examination papers.
She believes that approach helped because questions and concepts often reappeared in the actual examinations.
Rai estimated that she studied for about five to six hours each day, but made sure to take breaks and reserve time for herself.
For her, balance was essential.
“Studying doesn’t feel like a burden because it may feel like one but it shouldn’t feel like one … or else you’re just going to crash,” she said.
“And if you want to excel, you need to focus on yourself as well.”
Her academic journey began well before CSEC.
In 2021, while in Grade Five, Rai wrote the National Grade Six Assessment and earned a place at the Bishops’ High School. She has also distinguished herself outside the classroom, including through art competitions and the inaugural “Spell Me for Guyana” competition hosted by the Guyana Learning Channel.
She credits her parents, whom she describes as her biggest support system, for helping her throughout the journey.
Now, Narine plans to attend the University of Guyana to study law.
Her motivation is rooted in a desire to help others and pursue justice.
“I want to help people and I want to fight for justice. That is my passion,” she said.
Narine also believes her strong memory will serve her well in the legal profession.
Two other outstanding performers, Boveen Dwarka of Anna Regina Secondary School and Somadevi Motiram of Frasers Educational Institute, also reflected on the work and personal challenges behind their results.
Dwarka wrote an impressive 26 subjects, securing 15 Grade Ones and 11 Grade Twos. He attributed his performance largely to discipline, organisation and taking his studies seriously.
“I remained diligent in my studies. I took studies more seriously and I stayed organized, which is one of the most important aspects in preparation for CXC exams,” Dwarka said.
With secondary school examinations now completed, Dwarka hopes to pursue a career in the medical field, where he wants to combine his interest in science with his desire to help others.
For Motiram, however, the journey to her results was marked by significant personal challenges.
The Fraser’s Educational Institute student wrote 15 subjects and achieved Grade Ones in all 15. While the academic workload was demanding, she was also dealing with difficult circumstances outside of school.
“It was really tough. My journey wasn’t easy,” Motiram said, recalling sleepless nights and periods spent in hospital. Along the way, she also experienced the loss of three of her grandparents.
Despite those challenges, Motiram said she was able to persevere because of the support she received from those around her.
Her parents remained a constant source of encouragement, while her teachers including Sir Marlon, whom she described as more than a teacher and a mentor and father figure at school—played an important role in helping her through the difficult period.
Other teachers and friends also supported her along the way.
Motiram is already pursuing studies at ACCA and hopes to build a career as an accountant, with a particular interest in auditing.
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