Beginning today, high school students around the country are preparing for a rite of passage: the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.
Developed and administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), KCSE examinations are mandatory achievement tests for all secondary school graduates at the end of their four-year high school education cycle. They are aligned with the Ministry of Education’s learning standards in Kenya and are used for admission to any college or university in the country.
The nationwide standard exams test knowledge in core subjects, including:
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* Group One: Compulsory subjects, including Mathematics and one language (English or Kiswahili)
* Group Two: Sciences, including Biology, Physics, and Chemistry
* Group Three: History and Government, Geography, Christian Religious Education, Islamic Religious Education, and Hindu Religious Education
* Group Four: Technicals, including Home Science, Art and Design, Agriculture, Computer Studies, Aviation, Electricity, Power Mechanics, and Woodwork
* Group Five: French, German, Arabic, Music, and Business Studies
The average grade a student receives on the KCSE determines which post-secondary educational opportunities are available to them, with the minimum grade for university admission being a C+.
Previously, KNEC calculated a candidate’s final grade using scores in Mathematics (compulsory), two compulsory languages (English and Kiswahili), and two sciences chosen from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
However, in KCSE 2024, a new grading system will be applied. Only Mathematics and one language (English, Kiswahili, or Kenyan Sign Language) will be mandatory, and a candidate’s final mean grade will be based on their five best-performed subjects.
That said, the KCSE examination timetable is already available, with the general exam period set for Monday, November 4, 2024, through Friday, November 22, 2024.
KCSE 2024 exams timetable week 1: November 2024
You can view the final KCSE exam schedules in two ways: either by accessing the full PDF from KNEC, which details the date and time of each exam, or by checking the week one schedule provided here.
| Day/date | Time | KCSE 2024 Subjects |
| Monday 4/11/2024 |
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM | – English (Functional Skills)
– English (Functional Skills) Large Print |
| 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM | – English (Functional Skills) Braille
– English (Hearing Impaired) |
|
| 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM | – Chemistry Paper 1
– Chemistry Paper 1 Large Print |
|
| Tuesday
5/11/2024 |
8:00 AM to 10:30 AM | – Mathematics Alt. A Pp 1
– Mathematics Alt. A Large print – Mathematics Alt. B Pp 1 – Mathematics Alt. B Large Print |
| 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM | – Mathematics Alt. A Pp 1 Braille | |
| 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM | – English Paper 2 (Comprehension, Literary Appreciation & Grammar)
– English (Comprehension, Literary Appreciation & Grammar) Large Print |
|
| 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM | – English Pp 2 (Comprehension, Literary Appreciation & Grammar) Braille
– English Pp 2 (Hearing Impaired) |
|
| Wednesday
6/11/2024 |
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM | – Chemistry Paper 2
– Chemistry Pp 2 Large print |
| 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM | – General Science Paper 1
– General Science Large Print |
|
| 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM | – English Paper 3 (Creative Composition and Essays based on Set Texts)
– English (Creative Composition and Essays based on Set Texts) Large Print |
|
| 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM | – English (Creative Composition and Essays based on Set Texts) Braille
– English Pp 3 (Hearing Impaired) |
|
| Thursday
7/11/2024 |
8:00 AM to 10:30 AM | – Kiswahili Paper 2 (Lugha)
– Kiswahili (Lugha) Large Print |
| 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM | – Kiswahili (Lugha) Braille | |
| 2:00 PM to 3:45 PM | – Kiswahili Paper 1 (Insha)
– Kiswahili (Insha) Large Print |
|
| 2:00 PM to 4:15 PM | – Kiswahili (Insha) Braille | |
| Friday
8/11/2024 |
8:00 AM to 10:15 AM | – Chemistry Paper 3 (Practical)
– Chemistry (Practical) Large Print |
The above is a simplified timetable for week one of KCSE 2024. Students can use it to manage their time during the exams, allowing them to allocate time wisely and give each subject the attention it needs.
According to research in the Journal of Educational Psychology, students who follow a timetable are more likely to manage their time well, complete tasks on time, and achieve higher grades.
Wishing you success in your exams!
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