KINGSTON, Jamaica - Poor Mathematics performance at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level is worrying those who administer the exams. 

Only 33 per cent of students who sat the exam earned a passing grade, one to three, a decline from last year’s 35 per cent.

In 2010, 41 per cent of Mathematics entrants passed.

CSEC’s Subjects Awards Committee said it was “deeply concerned about the poor quality of work produced by candidates at this level” and has called for regional action to address the deficiencies.

“Topics such as the range, perimeter, and profit and loss that should be covered at the lower secondary level were not fully understood”, the committee said.

One question in particular, which tested perimeter and area, saw 36 per cent of candidates scoring no marks. 36 per cent scored no marks on another which tested algebra.

Additionally, overall performance in the May/June sitting declined for the third straight year.

Sixty-two per cent of candidates achieved passing grades, lower than 66 per cent last year and 69 per cent in 2010.

Of the 35 subjects offered, performance improved in nine, declined in 19 and remained unchanged for six. A new subject, Additional Mathematics had 58 per cent passes.