How to receive your 2020 KCSE results.
How to receive your 2020 KCSE results. See also the latest Knec grading system per subject.

KCSE 2020/2021 Grading System- The Kenya National Examinations Council, KNEC, grades students per performance in subjects attempted during the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams. This grading is dynamic as it is dependent on the performance of candidates in a particular year. 

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) is offered to learners who have completed the secondary education cycle of four years.

KCSE SUBJECT CODES

Each subject offered by Knec has its own code. Check the table below before we take you through the grading process;

S/N Subject Name Subject Code
1 English 101
2 Kiswahili 102
3 Mathematics 121
4 Mathematics, Alternative B 122
5 Biology 231
6 Physics 232
7 Chemistry- 233
8 Biology for the Blind 236
9 General Science 237
10 History 311
11 Geography 312
12 CRE 313
13 IRE 314
14 HRE 315
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
26 French 501
27 German 502
28 Arabic 503
29 Sign Language 504
30 Music 511
31 Business Studies 565

 

These subjects are grouped into five (5) as depicted in the image below;

Knec Subject Choices for KCSE candidates
Knec Subject Choices for KCSE candidates

See also; How to download KCSE results for the whole school.

KCSE GRADING.

For you to be graded, you must take a minimum of seven (7) subjects. Out of these, English, Kiswahili and Mathematics are compulsory. You must further take a minimum of two sciences and one Humanity. The seventh subject can as well be chosen from the remaining categories i.e Applied, Humanities, Sciences etc.

In a nutshell, a Candidate must enter for at least 7 subjects which must include:

  • From Group I – All the three subjects of Code Numbers 101, 102 and either121 (option “A” )or 122 (option “B”)
  • From Group II – At least two subjects of Code Numbers 231, 232 , 233,236( Blind candidates) or 237 for option “B”
  • From Group III – At least one subject code of 311,312 or any one among 313/314/315
    Note: Only one of the Religious subjects 313, 314 , 315 and one Mathematics option is to be taken. One other subject selected from the remaining subjects in Group II ,III and IV (Code Numbers 441,442,443,444,445,446,447,448,449,450 and 451) or V(Code Numbers 501,502,503,504,511 and 565)
  • Candidates can sit for 9 subjects and the extra 1 or 2 subjects can be selected from the remaining subjects of groups II, III, IV and V.

Again, it is advisable that you undertake 8 or 9 subjects as opposed to 7. This gives you more grading options. The grade you get is dependent on scores in your subjects. To get your mean score, the Council totals the points that you get per subject.

The highest grade you can get is an A(plain) which carries a point load of 12. Conversely, the lowest grade is an E (that has one point only); See more details on the table below.

Points Grade
12 A (plain)
11 A- (Minus)
10 B+ (plus)
9 B (plain)
8 B- (minus)
7 C+ (plus)
6 C (plain)
5 C- (minus)
4 D+ (plus)
3 D (plain)
2 D-(minus)
1 E

Mean Grade Award Descriptions

  • Mean grade will be X, if a candidate is absent in all subjects
  • Mean grade will be Y, if one or more subjects are cancelled.
  • 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;

KNEC KCSE Grading Scale – Per Subject 2021-2022 

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

 

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR PHYSICS

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)

POINTS 313- CRE
12 90 – 100 A
11 85 – 89 A-
10 80 – 84 B+
 9 75 – 79 B
8 70 – 74 B-
7 65 – 69 C+
6 60 – 64 C
5 55 – 59 C-
4 50 – 54 D+
3 45 – 49 D
2 40 – 44 D-
1 0 – 39 E

 

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR AGRICULTURE

POINTS 443- AGRICULTURE
12 88 – 100 A
11 83 – 87 A-
10 78 – 82 B+
9 73 – 77 B
8 68 – 72 B-
7 63 – 67 C+
6 58 – 62 C
5 53 – 57 C-
4 48 – 52 D+
3 43 – 47 D
2 38 – 42 D-
1 0 – 37 E

 

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