The Caribbean Examinations Council recorded 128 cases of examination irregularities during its 2026 May-June sitting, a 60 percent jump from the 80 cases logged the previous year, according to figures released Tuesday at the council’s results ceremony in Anguilla.

The number has climbed steadily over four years, from 36 cases in 2023 to 54 in 2024, then 80 in 2025 and now 128. Most of the increase came at the CSEC level, where irregularities rose from 57 to 106 cases. CAPE cases dipped slightly, from 23 to 22.

Dr. Nicole Manning, CXC’s Director of Operations, told reporters the leading offenses were unauthorized electronic devices, collusion between candidates and possession of unauthorized materials. For the first time, the council flagged misuse of artificial intelligence tools as a distinct category of misconduct.

“The top three issues this year were the use of unauthorised devices, collusion, and use of unauthorised material, and, the new one for us, artificial intelligence misuse,” Manning said. “This year we saw a whopping 128 such cases, moving from 80 last year.”

Candidates found responsible for an irregularity face either cancellation of the affected grade or full disqualification from the examination. Manning said some students who were caught in one subject went on to repeat the same conduct in later exams.

The irregularity figures came alongside data showing more than 35,000 registered candidates did not sit their exams this cycle. CSEC absences totaled 32,403, roughly ten times the 3,534 recorded at the CAPE level. Manning said council surveys point to a common reason: many candidates who skip exams say they feel unprepared. She urged students to sit exams regardless, noting that an absence forecloses any chance of a final grade.

CXC has faced separate questions this year over the security of its exam papers. In earlier reporting the council said it was investigating issues with the distribution of some papers, without specifying the subjects or territories involved. Unverified claims of a paper leak circulating on social media were dismissed by CXC as false in the past, with the council saying it discourages the spread of misinformation that could unsettle candidates ahead of sittings.

The council did not say Tuesday whether any of the 128 irregularity cases were tied to the paper distribution matter. Manning’s remarks focused on candidate-level misconduct rather than systemic issues with exam materials.

CXC administers CSEC and CAPE examinations across the English-speaking Caribbean, with results this year released to territories including Jamaica, Barbados, Belize and the Eastern Caribbean states. The council has not indicated whether it will introduce new detection measures for AI-assisted cheating ahead of the next sitting.