Whiz kid - 11-year-old conquers CSEC math while prepping for PEP

At just 11 years old, Amari Chamberlain has accomplished what many older students struggled to achieve -- he passed the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) mathematics exam this year.

The remarkable young scholar, who just started high school at St George's College in Kingston on Monday, managed to secure a pass in the challenging exam while simultaneously preparing for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams, which earned him a place at his school of choice.

While preparing for his grade six PEP exams, Chamberlain, with the support of his parents and teachers at Kemet Maasai Academy in Portmore, St Catherine, took on an extraordinary challenge. He registered for six CSEC subjects and two City and Guilds exams in the May-June sitting. The youngster said he spent, on average, 10 to 12 hours at school each day preparing for his exams, but found time to enjoy his childhood, as he took breaks to play games.

Chamberlain's hard work paid off as passed CSEC mathematics, and human and social biology with grade threes.

Only 33.4 per cent of candidates who sat CSEC mathematics passed the subject this year. Across the Caribbean, only 36 per cent of the candidates received passing grades for mathematics.

Despite his success, Chamberlain isn't entirely satisfied. "I was focused, and my classes were seven days a week, so it was easier to prepare at times... but I don't like my grade," he admitted, showing a level of determination beyond his years.

His mother, Theresa McLeod-Scott, said Chamberlain is already focusing his attention on getting a grade one in mathematics.

"When he passed the CXC, he cried and said, 'Mommy, I'm going to redo the math because I don't think that's my grade. I'm also going to do two more subjects,'" McLeod-Scott shared.

His stepfather, John Scott, is immensely proud but believes there's more to Chamberlain's potential.

"I feel really good when I think about his age, but I don't think the grade reflects Amari's true value, his true worth," Scott said.

McLeod-Scott couldn't agree more. "We are so proud of him, and even though he didn't get the grade he wanted, he did tremendously well," she said, attributing his achievements to his competitive spirit and the nurturing environment at Kemet Maasai Academy.

Chamberlain's journey with Kemet Maasai Academy began about three years ago when his parents realised that his previous school struggled with online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The constant technical issues left the young boy disconnected and frustrated. But once he joined Kemet Maasai, his grades soared, setting him on the path to his current success.