By Michelle Gonsalves
NINE students from Queen’s College and one from Bishops topped the list this year at the Advanced and Advanced Subsidiary Levels of the General Certificate of Education (GCE) examinations.

Leading the pack at the Advanced Level is Queen’s College’s Robert Mansell, who obtained straight ‘As’ in Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, and Physics.

The 18-year-old, who likes nothing better than to watch television, read, or browse the internet in his spare time, credits his success to God, his parents and teachers, and wishes to advise his peers “to pay attention in class, and to study hard.”

The nine other top-scorers are Ravi Singh, Natoya Arthur, Valencia Bailey, Tuanna Hardy, Sean Kowlessar, Shervanie Persaud, Adrian Smith, Roopesh Sookhu, and Nanzana Weekes.

According to Education Minister, Mr. Shaik Baksh, who broke the news at a press briefing last Thursday, a total of 62 candidates, including 13 who’d been tutored privately by the Adult Education Association (AEA), had written the examination at the ‘A’ Level, while and another 124 had done it the advanced subsidiary level (‘AS’ Level).

Guyana had a success rate of 82 per cent this year at the GCE ‘A’ Levels.

Eighteen-year-old Ravi Singh of Bishop’s High, who obtained Grade As in Accounting and Pure Mathematics at the Advanced and Advanced Subsidiary Levels respectively, is currently furthering his studies in accounts at the CAT (Certified Accounting Technician) level, but plans to move on later to the more advanced ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

The former Head Prefect attributes his success to the support of his parents, teachers and friends. Besides watching comedies, his other hobbies are “hanging out,” browsing the internet, and a good game of cricket. His advice to other youths is to be balanced, meaning that they need to study hard; to be focused but also make time to have fun.

The Chronicle also caught up with 19-year-old Adrian Smith of Queen’s College, who scored an ‘A’ in Law at the Advanced Level. He intends to further his studies in law at the University of Guyana, but in the meantime leads a very active social life. When he’s not playing cricket, he’s either enjoying a game of tennis, or fulfilling his social obligations as a member of both the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (ROC) and the Leo Club, which latter organisation is a younger version of the Lions Club.

He credits his success to his parents as well as his teachers, particularly Mr. Carol and Mr. Deoraj. His advice to young people is to go after their dreams and to work hard, even when others say you can’t. He also advocates having only positive friends; friends who would always encourage you to give of your best.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Shervanie Persaud did Queens College proud by obtaining a Grade A in Chemistry (Advanced Level) and a Grade B in Biology, Mathematics and Physics, also at the Advanced Level.

Persaud, whose hobbies are dancing and swimming, credits her success to her mother, who is a hard working single-parent. She’d like to encourage others to believe in themselves so that they can rise to any occasion.

Though unable to speak to the remaining six top performers, who are all from QC, we did manage to find out how they did at the exams.

It follows that Natoya Arthur obtained a B in Human Biology (Advanced Level) and an A in Mathematics (Advanced Level); Valencia Bailey an A in Mathematics (Advanced Level); Tuanna Hardy a ‘B’ in English Literature (Advanced Level), a ‘C’ History (Advanced Level), an ‘A’ in Law (Advanced Level), and an ‘E’ in Mathematics (Advanced Level ); Roopesh Sukhu an ‘A’ each in Chemistry and Mathematics (Advanced Level), and a ‘B’ each in Biology and Physics (Advanced Level); Nazana Weekes an ‘A’ in Mathematics (Advanced Level); and Sean Kowlessar an ‘A’ in Mathematics (Advanced Level), a ‘B’ in Accounting (Advanced Subsidiary Level), and an ‘A’ in Law (Advanced Level).