Kenya National Examination Council, KNEC, usually administers an exam at the end secondary school level. Grading of subjects done depend on several factors. Each subject is graded differently.
In this write up am going to take you through how subjects are graded.
Before we delve into the grading system, let us learn about letters used by Kenya National Examination Council, KNEC.
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;
The Grade system Depend Certain subjects and Education level.
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
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
Mean Grade Award Descriptions
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
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)
