Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has confirmed the official release dates for the 2025 national examinations, including the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, October 29, CS Ogamba said the KPSEA and KJSEA results will be released in December 2025, while KCSE results will be announced in January 2026.
The KCSE examinations officially began on Tuesday, October 21, with candidates sitting for oral papers in French, German, Arabic, and Kenyan Sign Language. Practical exams are running from October 29 to 31, marking a crucial stage for the 996,078 students registered for this year’s exams.
Meanwhile, over 2.4 million learners across Kenya are currently sitting their KPSEA and KJSEA assessments, which started on Monday, October 27. Of these, 1,130,669 are Grade 9 students taking KJSEA, while 1,298,089 are Grade 6 pupils completing KPSEA — a combined total of 3.42 million candidates under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will release the 2025 KPSEA and KJSEA results in December. Learners in Grade 6 are completing primary school, while those in Grade 9 will transition to senior school in January 2026.
“The new system represents a fundamental shift from the old KCPE model. It emphasizes creativity, skills development, and continuous learning instead of one-off, high-stakes exams,” CS Ogamba said.
Unlike the former KCPE, learners will not receive certificates for KJSEA. Instead, they will get result slips showing performance per subject. The assessment evaluates competencies in English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Religious Education, Agriculture, Pre-Technical Studies, Creative Arts, and Physical Education.
KJSEA results will contribute 60% of each learner’s final score, while the remaining 40% will come from continuous classroom assessments in Grades 7 and 8. This blended model provides a more accurate representation of a student’s strengths and progress.
Students completing Junior Secondary School (JSS) will transition to Senior Secondary under one of three pathways — Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The placement will depend on learners’ interests, talents, and potential.
Schools have been categorized into four clusters: Cluster 1 (national schools), Cluster 2 (extra-county schools), Cluster 3 (county schools), and Cluster 4 (day schools), ensuring equitable distribution and access for all learners.
The Competency-Based Education model aims to nurture creativity, innovation, and adaptability in learners preparing them for both local and global opportunities.
