For Nitya Narine, success at the 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations was not built on last-minute pressure, but on years of steady preparation, faith, family support and balance.
The Tagore Memorial Secondary School student is among Guyana’s top CSEC performers this year after securing 26 Grade Ones and one Grade Two from 27 subjects.
Narine said her preparation started long before examination season. From Form One, she began using a study timetable, which helped her study gradually instead of waiting until the final months.
That early start, she said, gave her enough room to manage schoolwork while still enjoying other parts of her life.
She explained that the structure allowed her time for social activities, her phone and art, noting that she enjoys drawing and painting.
In school, Narine said she made it a priority to pay attention during lessons. When she returned home and did not fully understand a topic, she would seek help from her parents or use online resources such as Google and YouTube.
Past examination papers were also a key part of her routine. Narine said she practised past CSEC questions before tests, which helped prepare her for the actual examinations.
Although she studied heavily, Narine said she was careful not to let the process consume her. She said students must find balance so studying does not feel like a burden.
“If you want to excel, you need to focus on yourself as well,” she said.
Narine studied for about five to six hours per day but included breaks in her schedule. Those breaks, she said, gave her time to recharge and focus on herself.
She also expressed gratitude to God, saying she believes she has been blessed with academic ability and remains thankful and humble.
Her record of achievement did not begin with CSEC. Narine said she wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) in Grade Five in 2021 and earned a place at The Bishops’ High School. She has also won art competitions and the inaugural “Spell Me” competition hosted by the Guyana Learning Channel.
Narine credited much of her success to her parents, who are both teachers. She described them as her biggest support system, saying they encouraged her when she decided how many subjects she wanted to sit.
With CSEC now behind her, Narine is already looking toward the next stage of her education. She plans to attend the University of Guyana to pursue law.
She said her passion is rooted in helping others and fighting for justice, adding that she believes her memory would be a strong asset in the legal field.
