Understanding the Current KCSE Grading System
The current Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) grading system operates on a 12-point scale, with specific thresholds determined by students’ performance in individual subjects. The grading system is based on a percentage scale from 0 to 100%. Below is a summary of the grading system:
Grades and Points:
– A (81-100%) = 12 points
– A- (75-80%) = 11 points
– B+ (70-74%) = 10 points
– B (65-69%) = 9 points
– B- (60-64%) = 8 points
– C+ (55-59%) = 7 points
– C (50-54%) = 6 points
– C- (45-49%) = 5 points
– D+(40-44%) = 4 points
– D (35-39%) = 3 points
– D- (30-34%) = 2 points
– E(0-29%) = 1 point
Subject Categories:
Students are required to take at least 7 subjects and can take up to 9 subjects, grouped as follows:
1. Group I: Core subjects – English, Kiswahili, and Mathematics.
2. Group II: Science subjects – Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
3. Group III: Humanities – History, Geography, CRE/IRE/HRE.
4. Group IV: Technical and Applied subjects – Agriculture, Home Science, Computer Studies, etc.
5. Group V: Foreign Languages – French, German, Arabic, etc.
Final Grade Calculation
A student’s overall grade is determined by averaging the scores from their best 7 subjects, which must include the three compulsory subjects (English, Kiswahili, and Mathematics). Each subject score is converted to points on the 12-point scale, and the average is used to determine the student’s final mean grade.
These grades are critical for university admissions, with a minimum of C+ (7 points) required for entry into Kenyan universities.
