The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) final results will combine school-based assessment scores with marks from the national examination assessments, Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has announced.
In his message to students ahead of the official commencement of the exams on Monday, October 26, KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere said the results would reflect learners' performance in both components.
“For KPSEA and KJSEA candidates, your results will combine your scores in school-based assessments and the summative assessment you are about to sit,” Njengere stated on sunday October 25.
This means that the national examination outcome alone will not determine a student's performance, but the collective national exam results as well as school-based assessment scores.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) offices in Nairobi.
Photo KNEC
Under the grading system, for KJSEA, for instance, a student's total performance will be determined by 60 per cent of the KJSEA national exam result and 20 per cent of school-based assessments (SBA) for Grades 7 and 8. A further 20 per cent will come from marks of the KPSEA assessment, making it a total of 100 per cent.
For KPSEA, however, it uses a system of capacity bands instead of general empty number symbols.
The examination does not determine which school a student will attend, but rather provides a 20 per cent contribution towards future Senior School entrance scores as well as measuring the effectiveness of the curriculum.
It is worth noting that regardless of a student's result in KPSEA, every student is assured to continue to Grade 7, as the government announced a 100 per cent transition.
Following the transition to the Competency-Based Education (CBE), the Ministry of Education introduced a four-band structure to replace the traditional marks and grade system.
The bands include 'exceeding expectations' for top-performing learners, followed by 'meeting expectations', 'approaching expectations', and 'below expectations' for the least performing learners.
For the Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education (KCSE), the 2026 candidates are the second-to-last phase of students to sit for th 8-4-4 system, as the country moves towards the full rollout of the CBE.
Njengere cautioned candidates against pressure to engage in examination malpractice, warning that results could be cancelled.
"For the 2026 KCSE candidates, this examination carries special historical significance. The 2026 KCSE is the second-last examination under the 8-4-4 system as the country progressively transitions from it. You are therefore among the final cohorts representing an important chapter in Kenya's education journey," the KNEC boss added.
Secondary School students sitting for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
KNA