KPSEA Ends, KCSE Exams Take Center Stage Next.
The administration of the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for Grade 6 learners concludes today, with students sitting for the Creative Arts and Social Studies paper.
This marks the end of the three-day assessment, which started on Monday with Mathematics and English papers and continued Tuesday with Integrated Science and Kiswahili.
Following KPSEA, the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams will begin next Monday, after a scheduled rehearsal on Friday.
Unlike the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), which featured both multiple-choice and written sections, KPSEA consists solely of multiple-choice questions.
This format allows the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) to mark the assessments using automated scanning, simplifying the grading process.
In previous KCPE exams, multiple-choice sections were machine-graded, while Creative Writing components like Composition and Insha required human markers.
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With KPSEA being entirely multiple-choice, the grading process is anticipated to require less time and fewer resources, potentially streamlining exam operations.
Automatic Transition to Junior Secondary
A significant departure from the KCPE structure is that KPSEA results do not determine where candidates will attend junior secondary school.
All students will automatically transition from primary to junior secondary, reducing the past pressure on students to secure high grades for selective admissions.
This seamless transition discourages grade repetition, which was common when students aimed to improve their scores for better placements.
Although KPSEA aims to reduce the grading pressure, the results will still influence a student’s academic trajectory.
Three years after KPSEA, 20 percent of a student’s score will contribute to their final Grade 9 assessment.
This score, in turn, will partially determine placement into senior secondary school, meaning KPSEA results indirectly impact future educational opportunities.
In a break from tradition, the Ministry of Education has announced that celebratory events surrounding the release of KCPE results will not apply to KPSEA.
Instead, KNEC will issue personalized student progress reports, along with school and national performance summaries. This approach emphasizes personal feedback over public rankings, discouraging competition among schools.
Assessment Structure: Formative and Summative
KPSEA consists of two main parts: formative and summative assessments. The formative component is school-based, accounting for 60 percent of each learning area’s score, and is evaluated by teachers, who submit results to KNEC.
The summative assessment, administered by KNEC, constitutes the remaining 40 percent of the overall score.
This examination marks the final assessment for primary school learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum, with students advancing to junior secondary (Grade 7) in 2025.
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Despite these changes, logistical challenges persist. Unlike the KCPE, which accommodated students in medical facilities or maternity wards, KPSEA lacks clear guidelines for candidates who miss exams due to emergencies.
This leaves open questions on how students unable to take the assessment will be supported in achieving their educational goals.
KPSEA Ends, KCSE Exams Take Center Stage Next
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