Introduction to PEP

• Overview of PEP




• Purpose and importance




• Structure of PEP assessments

Introduction to PEP

The Primary Exit Profile (PEP) is an assessment program in Jamaica designed to evaluate the academic readiness of students at the end of primary education, typically in Grade 6. It replaced the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and focuses on assessing students' critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills.

Overview of PEP

PEP provides a comprehensive profile of students' strengths and areas for development. It aligns with the National Standards Curriculum, ensuring students are prepared for secondary education. The assessment aims to offer a complete picture of students' abilities beyond rote memorization.

Purpose and Importance

• Holistic Assessment: PEP measures a wide range of student competencies, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.


• Improved Learning Outcomes: By focusing on higher-order thinking skills, PEP encourages teaching and learning practices that foster deeper understanding and application of knowledge.


• Informed Decision-Making: Detailed profiles from PEP assessments help educators, parents, and policymakers make informed decisions about students' educational needs and pathways.

Structure of PEP Assessments

PEP consists of several components designed to assess different aspects of student learning:

• Performance Task (PT): Hands-on activities that require students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world
  scenarios. Performance tasks are administered in Grades 4, 5, and 6.


• PEP Ability Test (AT): Measures students' reasoning abilities in areas such as quantitative and verbal reasoning.
  This test does not require prior knowledge of the curriculum.



• The Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Ability Test assesses students' analytical reading and quantitative reasoning skills. The Ability Test is not based on the curriculum.



• Curriculum-Based Tests (CBT): Subject-specific assessments covering Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. These tests evaluate students' mastery of the content taught in the National Standards Curriculum.


• Grade Six PEP Assessments: Administered in Grade 6, these include the Performance Task, Ability Test, and Curriculum-Based Tests.