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KCSE Grading System Per Subject 2022 Exams

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The KCSE subject is graded on the basis of a twelve-point scale, with 12 points being the highest score and 1 is the lowest.

These grades are accompanied by an expanded grading system from A, A-, B+ to E as seen on the table below.

Grade A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- E
Points 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

 

Subject Choices for KCSE Candidates

Each subject offered by KCSE has its own code, these subjects are grouped into five (5) as depicted in the image below;

S/N Subject Name Subject Code
  Group I –  Compulsory  
1 English 101
2 Kiswahili 102
3 Mathematics – A 121
4 Mathematics, Alternative B 122
Group II
5 Biology 231
6 Physics 232
7 Chemistry- 233
8 Biology for the Blind 236
9 General Science 237 (with 122)
Group III
10 History/Government 311
11 Geography 312
12 CRE – A 313
13 IRE  Alternative B 314
14 HRE 315
Group IV
15 Home Science 441
16 Art and Design 442
17 Agriculture 443
18 Wood Work 444
19 Metal Work 445
20 Building Construction 446
21 Power Mechanics 447
22 Electricity 448
23 Drawing and Design 449
24 Aviation Technology 450
25 Computer Studies 451
Group V
26 French 501
27 German 502
28 Arabic 503
29 Sign Language 504
30 Music 511
31 Business Studies 565

KCSE Grading 2022/2023

For you to be graded, you must take a minimum of seven (7) subjects. Out of these, English, Kiswahili, and Mathematics are compulsory. You must further take a minimum of two sciences and one Humanity.

The seventh subject can as well be chosen from the remaining categories i.e Applied, Humanities, Sciences, etc.

In a nutshell, a Candidate must enter for at least 7 subjects which must include:

  • From Group I – All the three subjects of Code Numbers 101, 102, and either121 (option “A” )or 122 (option “B”)
  • From Group II – At least two subjects of Code Numbers 231, 232, 233,236( Blind candidates) or 237 for option “B”
  • From Group III – At least one subject code of 311,312 or anyone among 313/314/315
    Note: Only one of the Religious subjects 313, 314 , 315 and one Mathematics option is to be taken. One other subject selected from the remaining subjects in Group II ,III and IV (Code Numbers 441,442,443,444,445,446,447,448,449,450 and 451) or V(Code Numbers 501,502,503,504,511 and 565)
  • Candidates can sit for 9 subjects and the extra 1 or 2 subjects can be selected from the remaining subjects of groups II, III, IV, and V.

It’s advisable that you undertake more than 8 subjects as opposed to 7 as this gives you more grading options. The grade you get is dependent on scores in your subjects. To get your mean score, the Council totals the points that you get per subject.

KCSE Mean Grade Award Descriptions

  • Mean grade will be X, if a candidate is absent in all subjects
  • Mean grade will be Y, if one or more subjects are canceled.
  • Mean grade will be U, if the entry requirements for the KCSE examination are not met
  • Mean grade will be CRNM, if the course requirements for the Teacher Education, Business, and Technical examinations are not met
  • Mean grade will be P, if results are pended
  • Mean grade will be W, if the examination results are withheld;

University matriculation is based on the best performance in particular subjects relevant to degree courses. Example below:

KNEC KCSE Subject Group Grade Points

English 1 B+ 10
Kiswahili 1 A- 11
Mathematics 1 A 12
History & Government 3 B 9
Geography 3 A- 11
Physics 2 B+ 10
Chemistry 2 B- 8
Biology 2 A- 11

 

KNEC KCSE Grading Scale Per Subject

It is important to note that each subject has its own grading system as shown below;

KCSE Grading Scale for English

Points 101; ENGLISH
12 80 – 100 A
11 75 – 79 A-
10 70 – 74 B+
9 65- 69 B
8 60 – 64 B-
7 55 – 59 C+
6 50 – 54 C
5 45 – 49 C-
4 40 – 44 D+
3 35 -39 D
2 30 -34 D-
1 0 -29 E

 

KCSE Grading Scale for Kiswahili

POINTS 102; KISWAHILI
12 78 – 100 A
11 73 – 77 A-
10 68 – 72 B+
9 63 – 67 B
8 58 – 62 B-
7 53 – 57 C+
6 48 – 52 C
5 43 – 47 C-
4 38 – 42 D+
3 33 – 37 D
2 28 – 32 D-
1 0 – 27 E

KCSE Grading Scale for Mathematics

POINTS 121; MATHEMATICS
12 70 – 100 A
11 65 – 69 A-
10 60 – 64 B+
9 55 – 59 B
8 49 – 54 B-
7 43 – 48 C+
6 37 – 42 C
5 31 – 36 C-
4 25 – 30 D+
3 19  – 24 D
2 12 – 18 D-
1 0 -11 E

 

KCSE Grading Scale for Biology

POINTS 231; BIOLOGY
12 80 – 100 A
11 75 -79 A-
10 70 – 74 B+
9 65- 69 B
8 60 – 64 B-
7 55 – 59 C+
6 50 – 54 C
5 45 – 49 C-
4 40 – 44 D+
3 35-39 D
2 30-34 D-
1 0 -29 E

 

KCSE Grading Scale for Physics

POINTS 232; PHYSICS
12 60 – 100 A
11 55 – 59 A-
10 50 – 54 B+
9 45 – 49 B
8 40 – 44 B-
7 35 – 39 C+
6 30 – 34 C
5 25 – 29 C-
4 20 – 24 D+
 3 15 – 19 D
2 10 – 14 D-
1 0 – 9 E

 

KCSE Grading Scale for Chemistry

POINTS 233; CHEMISTRY
12 65 – 100 A
11 60 – 64 A-
10 55 – 59 B+
9 50 – 54 B
8 45 – 49 B-
7 40 – 44 C+
6 35 – 39 C
5 30 – 34 C-
4 25 – 29 D+
3 20 – 24 D
2 15 – 19 D-
1 0 – 14 E

 

KCSE Grading Scale for History & Government

POINTS 311- HISTORY
12 80 – 100 A
11 75 – 79 A-
10 70 – 74 B+
9 65 – 69 B
8 60 – 64 B-
7 55 – 59 C+
6 50 – 54 C
5 45 – 49 C-
4 40 – 44 D+
3 35 – 39 D
2 30 – 34 D-
1 0 -29 E

 

KCSE Grading Scale for Geography

POINTS 312- GEOGRAPHY
12 66 – 100 A
11 61 – 65 A-
10 56 – 60 B+
 9 51 – 55 B
8 46 – 50 B-
7 41 – 45 C+
6 36 – 40 C
5 31 – 35 C-
4 26 – 30 D+
3 21 – 25 D
2 16 – 20 D-
1 0 – 15 E

KCSE Grading Scale for Christian Religious Education (CRE)

POINTS 313- CRE
12 90 – 100 A
11 85 – 89 A-
10 80 – 84 B+
 9 75 – 79 B
8 70 – 74 B-
7 65 – 69 C+
6 60 – 64 C
5 55 – 59 C-
4 50 – 54 D+
3 45 – 49 D
2 40 – 44 D-
1 0 – 39 E

 

KCSE Grading Scale for Agriculture

POINTS 443- AGRICULTURE
12 88 – 100 A
11 83 – 87 A-
10 78 – 82 B+
9 73 – 77 B
8 68 – 72 B-
7 63 – 67 C+
6 58 – 62 C
5 53 – 57 C-
4 48 – 52 D+
3 43 – 47 D
2 38 – 42 D-
1 0 – 37 E
KNEC News Portal

kcse mean grade points: kcse grading system 2023 all subjects

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Education CS Machogu has announced a new KCSE grading system. Machogu has announced that Maths and 1 language and 5 other best performed subjects will be used by KNEC to compute the 2023 KCSE candidates’ grades in the new grading system. He said the new system will trigger an increase to the number of students joining university.

In the new grading system, only two mandatory subjects, Mathematics and one language (English, Kiswahili, or Kenyan Sign Language), will be used to compute the mean grade.

“Previously there were five mandatory subjects across three cluster groups – Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two sciences and one humanity,” said Machogu on Monday during a stakeholders’ engagement on the new grading system at the New Mtihani House.

Additionally, examiners will be required to pick five of the best-performed subjects from a candidate, doing away with the previous grading system.

Also read: The latest KCSE grading system per subject

“In addition to the two mandatory subjects – the Kenya National Examinations Council will consider any other five best performed subjects. It is expected that the new reform measure will increase the number of students qualifying for universities, Diploma and TVET training at Certificate and Artisan levels,” said the Education CS.

The previous system was perceived to disadvantage some learners whose best-performing subject was not considered if not within the clusters, as has been the case since the inception of the 8-4-4 education system.

Under the previous grading system, students’ final grades were determined by five compulsory subjects plus one humanity course. However, the newly introduced system will evaluate students based on two compulsory subjects and any five other best-performed subjects, effectively altering the way students’ academic achievements are assessed.

The two compulsory subjects in the new grading system are Mathematics, a single language, and five of the best performed subjects. The language that yields the higher performance will be considered in the grading process. Similarly, it won’t matter what subjects are best performed, those will be the ones used in the final grading.

In the previous grading system, students were assessed based on Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, the two best-performed sciences, and two other best-performed electives, including a humanity course. This change represents a significant shift away from the previous structure, streamlining the grading process to create a more equitable and inclusive system.

The primary objective of this educational reform is to increase the number of students who qualify for university and diploma education. By allowing students to select their best-performed subjects from a broader pool, the new system aims to recognize and reward individual strengths and talents, promoting diversity in higher education.

Demonstration of the old and new grading systems

Look at the performance below for a KCSE 2023 and beyond learner:

Subjects done 8:

  1. Mathematics: C+ (7 points)
  2. English: C plain (6 points)
  3. Kiswahili D plain (3 points)
  4. CRE: B+ plus (10 points)
  5. History: B plain (9 points)
  6. Agriculture: A- minus (11 points)
  7. Biology: C+ plus (7 points)
  8. Chemistry: C- minus (5 points).

Comparison of the grading systems

Grading as per the old system

Chosen Subjects for Grading Grade Points
Mathematics (Compulsory) C+ 7
English (Compulsory) C 6
Kiswahili (Compulsory) D 3
Biology (Copmulsory Science 1) C+ 7
Chemistry (Compulsory Science 2) C- 5
CRE (Mandatory Humanity) B+ 10
Agriculture (Any Category) A- 11
Totals C+ (Plus) 49

 

Grading as per the new system

Chosen Subjects for Grading Grade Points
Mathematics (Compulsory) C+ 7
English (Best Language) C 6
Agriculture A- 11
CRE B+ 10
History B 9
Biology C+ 7
Chemistry C- 5
Totals B- (Minus) 55

 

According to the new grading system, the student will get a B- (minus) of 55 points as opposed to the C+ (plus) of 49 points in the old KCSE Grading System.