The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) practical examinations are nearing completion ahead of the start of written Form Four examinations on November 2.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) ended on Wednesday, setting the stage for the transition of 1,206,028 Grade 6 learners to Junior school in January 2027.
A total of 1,206,028 Grade 9 candidates are sitting the 2026 KJSEA, while a record 1,048,355 candidates are taking the KCSE examination, whose candidature crossed the one-million mark for the first time.
KJSEA candidates will sit three papers on Thursday, with the examinations scheduled to run from 8.30am to 4.10pm, including a 30-minute tea break and a 50-minute lunch break.
The first paper will be Integrated Science, lasting one hour and 40 minutes for regular candidates and two hours and 10 minutes for candidates using Braille.
After the first break, candidates will sit Social Studies, which will run for one hour and 30 minutes for regular candidates and two hours for those using Braille.
A 50-minute lunch break will usher in the final paper where candidates will tackle Creative Arts and Sports, lasting one hour and 40 minutes for regular candidates and two hours and 10 minutes for candidates using Braille.
Meanwhile, KCSE candidates will sit practical examinations in morning and afternoon sessions.
The morning session will run from 8am to 10.30am, while the afternoon session is scheduled for 2pm to 4.30pm.
Each practical examination will last two hours and 30 minutes, except Home Science for candidates using Braille, which will take three hours, and Art and Design for candidates using large-print papers, which will last one hour and 30 minutes.
The morning practical examinations will cover Home Science, Art and Design, Woodwork, Metalwork, Building Construction, Electricity and Aviation Technology.
In the afternoon, candidates will sit Power Mechanics, Drawing and Design, and Computer Studies.
The combined candidature for the 2026 KJSEA and KCSE stands at 2,254,383 out of the total 3,634,846 candidates registered for the three national assessments and examinations, including KPSEA.
The combined figure for the three cohorts represents the largest number of candidates ever handled by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) in a single examination cycle.
