The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has outlined a series of rules that candidates sitting the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations must observe before, during, and after their papers.
In the examination instructions and guidelines, as seen by Kenyans.co.ke, KNEC directed candidates to arrive early, undergo security searches and follow specific procedures when answering questions and submitting their scripts.
According to KNEC, candidates must present themselves for searching outside the examination room and be seated at their desks at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start of each paper.
The morning examination session begins at 8 am, while the afternoon session starts at 2 pm, as indicated on the timetable, with each candidate strictly required to arrive on time.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) offices in Nairobi.
Photo KNEC
For candidates who arrive late, they are required to provide a satisfactory explanation to the supervisor. However, those arriving more than 30 minutes after the examination begins will only be allowed to sit the paper under exceptional circumstances.
"A candidate who arrives late will be required to give a satisfactory reason to the Supervisor. Only in exceptional circumstances will a paper be given to any candidate who is more than half an hour late," KNEC stated.
Upon receiving the examination paper, students are supposed to confirm that they have received the correct question paper for their registered subject and notify supervisors if any material required to answer a question is missing.
Rules on Answer Booklets and Writing Materials
KNEC instructed candidates to ensure their names and index numbers are correctly recorded on their question papers and answer scripts. They must also sign and write the examination date on their answer booklets.
The candidates are permitted to write on both sides of the answer booklet but not on the margins.
The council further directed candidates not to copy questions into their answer booklets and to leave a blank line after completing each answer.
On the type of pen used when answering, candidates are strictly required to use blue or black ink when writing their responses, with pencils only used for drawing diagrams.
Banned Materials Inside the Exam Room
KNEC has warned candidates against possessing mobile phones or other electronic communication devices at examination centres.
According to the council, wristwatches and programmable calculators are also not allowed in the examination rooms.
Under the guidelines, candidates are not allowed to have books, notes, papers or other unauthorised materials in their possession or within their proximity in the examination room.
Where calculators are permitted, candidates must use the specified non-programmable type without a cover, but for permitted subjects only.
Among the permitted subjects are Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Agriculture, Woodwork, Metalwork, Building Construction, Power Mechanics, Electricity, Drawing and Design, Aviation Technology, Computer Studies and Business Studies.
At the same time, handbags, briefcases, and backpacks will be strictly forbidden in the examination centres.
When the exam ends, candidates must stop writing immediately upon being instructed by the supervisor or invigilator.
They are supposed to ensure that their names, index numbers, signatures and examination dates have been recorded correctly before handing over their booklet.
At the same time, no candidate will be allowed to leave the examination room before the end of the allocated period without special permission from the supervisor. Those granted permission to leave cannot take question papers or answer booklets with them.
"You are not allowed to leave the examination room before the end of the period allocated to the paper except with special permission from the Supervisor. No candidate so permitted to leave may take a question paper or answer booklet out of the examination room," KNEC said.
KCSE candidates in an examination hall.
Photo
SMG