Frequently Asked Questions
Listed below are common questions persons have asked regarding the OEC. If you do not find the information you are looking for you may use the live chat (bottom right) or call us directly.
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I am studying on my own, i.e., as a Private Candidate. How do I register to sit the CXC or the Cambridge examinations?
Please note that the CXC CSEC examinations are held twice yearly in January & May/June, while CXC CAPE examinations are held annually in May/June.
The Cambridge IGCSE, AS’ & A’Level examinations are held in May/June.
Entry forms can be obtained from and returned to our offices:
Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC) Head Office
6 Manhattan Road, Kingston 5
OR
Overseas Examinations Commission Western Office
18 Queens Drive
Praise Concourse Plaza
Montego Bay
St. James
What do I need when I go to register for examinations?
You are only required to have your payment which is only accepted via debit/credit card in office at our cashier, and a pen to complete the application form.
Can I pay by cash at the OEC office to register for my CXC exams?
No. The OEC offices accept debit and credit card payments only for CXC examination registration. You can make cash payments at any Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) with a voucher provided by our offices or through Bill Express using an account number provided by the OEC.
How can I access syllabuses for the subject(s)?
Syllabuses for CSEC, CAPE and Cambridge examinations are available from the respective websites:
CXC – www.cxc.org
Cambridge – www.cie.org.uk
Do you sell exam study guides?
Study guides are no longer available at the OEC. You can visit the respective websites to access study guides.
Where is the Overseas Examinations Commission’s office located?
The Head Office is located at 6 Manhattan Road, Kingston 5. Manhattan Road is opposite the NWC entrance on Marescaux road and is on the same side as the Mico University.
Our second location is 18 Queens Drive, Praise Concourse Plaza, Montego Bay. It is located beside the UWI Western Campus.
If I register as a private candidate, where will I sit the examination?
Candidates are typically placed at centres within their parish of residence. Once you complete the examination form(s) you are given the opportunity to state your preference in location to sit the exam. However, some centres are determined based on the number of registered candidates.
There are fewer venues for Cambridge examinations. Centres are established outside of Montego Bay and Kingston, depending on the number of candidates registered for the examination.
How will I know where to go to sit my Exam?
At least two (2) weeks before the examination starts, you will receive your Timetable by regular post (mail). You will also receive an instruction sheet which will give you your centre location.
If you do not receive your timetable through the post you should contact the OEC office nearest to you to get a duplicate Timetable.
At least two (2) weeks before the start of the examination, you will get your Timetable in the mail. You will also receive an instruction sheet which will give you your centre location.
What do I do if I do not receive my Timetable?
Contact the OEC immediately. When entries are checked the candidate can receive his/her registration / candidate number. This is enough, along with a valid identification card.
Alternatively, the OEC can provide the candidate/registration number. This is adequate along with a valid identification card.
If I have lost my certificate, how do I get a replacement?
For additional information on how to replace your CXC/Cambridge certificate, visit https://www.overseasexams.org.jm/certificate-replacement to learn more.
The Overseas Examinations Commission will forward a statement of your results to an education institution or to a place of employment on your behalf. You would have to complete a transcript request form
Transcript Application Form
There is a cost for this service.
How can I apply to work as an exam Supervisor or Invigilator?
To become a member of our team, please submit an application letter with your resume to exams@overseasexams.org.jm.
If you are over eighteen (18) years, honest and reliable and have completed Secondary Education and are not registered for CXC or Cambridge, NCTVET examinations in the current sitting, you may apply to the Overseas Examinations Commission for the position as an invigilator.
A Supervisor must be mature (over 25) and have completed Secondary/ Post-Secondary education. The age limit is 70 years. Must have at least two character references and own/operate a reliable motor vehicle or have available private transportation.
If I am preparing candidates for CXC/Cambridge Assessment examinations, how do I register as a centre?
Your institution must first be approved and registered with the Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY). Once you have been assigned a registration number by the MOEY, proceed to apply to the OEC for centre registration. An officer from the OEC will visit to ensure that the necessary facilities; including security arrangements and accommodation, are in place. If you meet the required standards, you will be awarded a CXC/Cambridge centre number.However, this does not mean that examinations will necessarily be allowed at your school. That process is separate.
If I am doing a correspondence course or studying with an overseas institution, can you provide a Proctor for the examinations/can I do my examinations through OEC?
The core function of the OEC is to administer examinations and as such, we are able to Proctor your exam. You can send an email to help@overseasexams.org.jm with the details of your institution and we will make contact with them.
You will need to allow the OEC to communicate with your institution to determine what is required by them for the OEC to administer the examination on their behalf.
What type of identification is acceptable for examinations?
A valid Driver’s License, Passport, School ID (once the candidate is in uniform) or an Electoral ID are all acceptable forms of identification.
If I have none of the acceptable identification for examination, what should I do?
Take immediate steps to procure at least one. You will not be allowed to write examinations without appropriate identification.
If I have none of the acceptable identification for examination, what should I do?
Take immediate step to procure at least one. You will not be allowed to write examinations without appropriate identification.
Does OEC offer classes for examinations?
The OEC does not offer classes.
Can I reuse my SBA score/grade?
SBA scores can be reused 2 times over a 2-year period, unless it is stated on the candidate’s preliminary slip that the score cannot be used by CXC. This means that SBA scores from 2022 can be used for 2 examination sittings up to 2024.
What is the Alternate 3/2 Paper?
It is an additional examination paper, i.e., a 3rd question paper that is given when the candidate does not have an SBA score for the subject they are sitting.
Who needs to attend the Alternate 3/2 Paper Seminar?
Private Candidates, who will be sitting the alternate 3/2 paper. This Seminar will enable you to understand what the Paper 3 entails as well as assist you in improving your exam performance.
Is the Alternate 3/2 Paper Seminar Free?
No, there is a cost associated with participating in the seminar.
Can I resit a subject I have done before?
Yes, you can. You can resist a subject if you are carrying forward an SBA score from a previous sitting
Can I repeat a subject I have done before?
Yes, you can. If you did the subject before but have no SBA score to carry forward, you are repeating the subject.
Is the Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC) the same as the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC)?
The OEC office is the local Registrar in Jamaica for CXC examinations. However, the OEC administers many other examinations.
I did not collect my CXC certificate from my school and sat my exams in the 1980s. Is it possible for me to get a replacement certificate through the OEC?
Yes, you can request a replacement certificate through the OEC.
How soon do you get your results after sitting an IELTS exam?
Results are generated within 3- 5 business days.
How long is the IELTS certificate valid for?
IELTS certificates are valid for a period of 2 years.
ACCA on demand
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How often are exams administered?
Exams are administered once per week.
Up to what level of ACCA can I register at the OEC?
You can register up to Level 4.
Level 5 and other candidates would have to register with the ACCA.
Can a friend or family member request a replacement certificate or transcript on my behalf?
Yes, you can ask a family member to request a transcript on your behalf. Click on our ‘Transcripts & Verification’ tab to learn more.