In his introduction, Mr Soobrayan indicated that the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination in 2011 was the fourth year of the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). Experiences and gains of the previous three years had improved teaching and learning and teacher confidence. Teachers, subject advisors and the examining panels had come to grips with the national curriculum and its associated assessment. Mr Soobrayan emphasised that the performance in the 2011 NSC examination had to be reviewed in the context of: