External exam results for the Bermuda Public School System have highlighted “continuing challenges” in student achievement in mathematics.

The Ministry of Education today released the results for the 2015/16 school year in the Cambridge International Examinations at the primary 6, middle 3, and senior school years in mathematics, science, and language arts.

The Cambridge Examining Board considers that achieving a level of 2.0 reflects a “basic acceptable understanding” of the Cambridge curriculum.

At the P6 level, the Bermuda national average score was 2.2 in maths compared with the Cambridge International Examinations average score of 3.9.

At the M3 level, the Bermuda national average score was 2.2 in maths while the CIE average score was 4.4. The Department of Education set a national threshold standard of 3.0 for its students.

Education minister Wayne Scott said: “This year all students were challenged to write the Cambridge extended math level exams. The mathematics results clearly revealed deficits in key conceptual areas.

“Nonetheless the results of the extended math level has helped to identify P6 and M3 students who should continue to sit the extended math exam, or sit the core math exam or follow a different success path altogether in mathematics.

“The Department of Education will always work towards doing better to prepare our students for these external international examinations. The knowledge gaps in mathematics are recognised and technical officers are now seeking alternative pathways of success in this core subject which continues be a struggle for our students as reflected historically in the Checkpoint exam results.”

Some 89 per cent of students were reported to have achieved a grade of A* to G.

At the Primary 6 (P6) level, 83 per cent of students scored 2.0 and above in language arts; 54 per cent scored at level 2.0 and above in mathematics, and 86 per cent scored 2.0 and above in science.

At the Middle School (M3) level — 66 per cent of students scored at level 2.0 and above in language arts; 49 per cent scored at level 2.0 and above in mathematics, and 83 per cent scored at the 2.0 and above in science.

Overall, the exams covered, English, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign languages, business & technology, arts and physical education. One third of students — 33 per cent — scored grades of A* to C.

Senior students performed well in selected academic (non-core) subjects. All 37 students who sat examinations in art and design, dance, drama and music successfully achieved their IGCSE; 97 per cent of the 65 students who took the IGCSE exams in accounts, business studies and information and communication technology passed; and all students passed their exams in geography, history and citizenship studies.

Mr Scott said that the Checkpoint results were “both encouraging and enlightening”.

“I commend our P6 and M3 teachers and students who worked hard during the year to achieve these results. However, it is important to keep in mind that Bermuda is the only public school system that participates in the undertaking of the global Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Thus, when compared with the average CIE scores, our public school students at both the P6 and M3 levels continued to score competitively on average, in both language arts and science. However, there are still some challenges in student performance as it relates to mathematics”.

The ministry mentioned the possibility of introducing a new success pathway in that students can acquire an international mathematics certification through a multi-level City & Guilds offering which serves as an intervention tool for students while pursuing an IGCSE in mathematics.