COMMUNICATION

STUDIES
RATIONALE

The ability to communicate

thoughts, emotions, ideas and
attitudes is a critical factor in the
management of our physical and
social environment.
RATIONALE

Communication Studies builds

students’ awareness of the
centrality of language to the
normal functioning of human
beings and facilitates their ability
to operate in the Caribbean
linguistic environment and beyond.
RATIONALE

It also provides students with the

confidence to respond appropriately
and creatively to the implied
challenges of that environment
through the development of their
language awareness and
communicative competencies.
 AIMS

This syllabus aims to:

Develop an understanding of the

nature of language and its various
functions in social, aesthetic, work
related and other contexts;
AIMS

Develop an appreciation of
speech and writing as mental and
social processes;
AIMS

 Enable students to use language

varieties and registers accurately,
appropriately and effectively in a range
of contexts;
AIMS

Provide an understanding of the

use of technology and its impact
on communication;
AIMS

Develop an appreciation of the role

of language in shaping Caribbean
cultural identity;
AIMS

Develop an appreciation of the

complex process of communication
within a wide range of discourse
contexts;
AIMS

Encourage students to use

communication strategies
appropriate to specific discourse
contexts.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO BE
ASSESSED
The skills that students are expected to have
developed on completion of the syllabus have
been grouped under three main headings:

(i) Comprehension; (ii) Language Awareness and

Use; (iii) Expression.

COMPREHENSION

The ability to understand and

respond appropriately to written,
oral and visual communication
from a variety of sources.
LANGUAGE AWARENESS AND
USE

The ability to understand and discuss the

various features and roles of language in
general and Caribbean languages in
particular and to apply them appropriately
in different communication contexts.
EXPRESSION

The ability to speak and write

Caribbean Standard English with
effectiveness, precision, clarity and
fluency.
THE EXAM
Paper 1
(A) Listening exam
(B) Multiple choice questions based on scenarios

45 Compulsory Questions
30%

1 Hr 30 Mins
THE EXAM
Paper 2

Three Compulsory Essay type questions

Requiring more depth than questions in paper 1
One question from each module
The paper is worth 75 (by 2) marks and contributes 50%
 THE EXAM

Internal Assessment (IA) 20% of final grade

School-Based Assessment

A Portfolio on a theme selected by the candidate

and approved by the teacher
THE MODULES

Module 1 – Gathering and Processing

Information

Module 2 – Language and Community

Module 3 – Speaking and Writing

REFERENCES
CXC CAPE SYLLABUS