FAQ Page

The Primary Exit Profile (PEP) is Jamaica’s national assessment used to measure students’ readiness for transition from primary to secondary education. The PEP assessments measure students’ level of achievement of the learning outcomes outlined in the National Standards Curriculum at Grades 4, 5 and 6. The scores from the PEP assessments also inform placement in high schools.

For 2026, the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth & Information has made adjustments to:

• the components students will sit at Grades 4, 5 and 6
• the timing of the examinations
• the curriculum content emphasized, to ensure fairness and alignment with what students have had adequate opportunity to learn.

These changes were necessitated based on the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, which has significantly disrupted the education system, particularly for parishes in the western end of Jamaica.

In 2026, Grade 6 students will sit the following three assessments:

• Mathematics Curriculum-Based Test, including Numeracy items
• Language Arts Curriculum-Based Test, including Literacy items
• Ability Test

The Mathematics and Language Arts Performance Tasks, as well as the Science and Social Studies Curriculum-Based Tests will not be administered at Grade 6 in 2026.

In 2026, Grade 5 students will sit the following two assessments:

• Mathematics Performance Task
• Language Arts Performance Task

The Science and Social Studies Performance Tasks will not be administered at Grade 5 in 2026.

In 2026, Grade 4 students will sit the following two assessments:

• Literacy Test
• Numeracy Test

The Mathematics and Language Arts Performance Tasks will not be administered at Grade 4 in 2026.

Special Accommodations refer to support that is needed for students who have been deemed to have special needs and/or learning challenges as outlined in a Psycho-Educational evaluation report. These Psycho-Educational evaluation reports are reviewed by the Officers in the Special Education Unit of the MoEYSI who make the recommendation of the specific accommodation that the student is granted during the examination. Special Accommodations include, but are not limited to:

• Extra Time
• Assignment of a Reader, Writer, Prompter or Shadow for the student
• Preferential Seating in the Examination Centre
• Allowance of breaks during the examination
• Interpreters/Linguistic Aides for students whose first language is not English
• Examination printed in large print or braille

Special Accommodations are available for students with special education needs in the sitting of the Grades 4, 5 and 6 PEP examinations.

The parent/ guardian can apply for special accommodations for their child/ ward by going through their child/ ward’s school or applying directly to the Ministry. In order for consideration for special accommodation to be made, the following documentation must be submitted within 6 weeks of the administration of the examination: psycho-educational evaluation report, medical report or letter from the school (in the case of students whose first language is not English).

Objectives from the following units of the Curriculum Analysis: Essential Objectives and Content Focus 2^nd Edition (NSC Modified Curriculum) will be used to develop the assessments for the 2026 administration of the Primary Exit Profile.

Term 1: All Units

Term 2: Units 1 and 2

The Ministry has taken steps to ensure curriculum coverage reflects actual instructional time, especially considering disruptions in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Yes. The 2026 PEP examinations will be administered within an adjusted assessment window as shown below:

The following table outlines the structure and duration of the PEP assessments:

Students’ scores from the Grades 4, 5 and 6 PEP assessments are combined to give a total contribution score for placement purposes as follows:

The placement mechanism remains the same. Placement in high school is based on students’ performance in the PEP assessments.

Parents can help by:

• Encouraging regular school attendance
• Supporting homework and revision routines
• Focusing on understanding concepts rather than rote memorization
• Reassuring children that PEP is one part of their educational journey, not a measure of their worth or potential

Parents should rely on:

• Official Ministry of Education announcements
• Information sent home by schools

Approved Ministry communication channels and parent meetings

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information issued printed copies of Test Preparation Publications for Grades 4, 5 and 6 students. All students are to receive a copy. Schools/ Parents should contact their Regional Office if their child/ ward has not received their copy.

These Test Preparation Publications, along with other exam preparation resources such as, released assessments, are also available at pep.moey.gov.jm