The KCSE subject is graded on the basis of a twelve-point scale, with 12 points being the highest score and 1 is the lowest.
These grades are accompanied by an expanded grading system from A, A-, B+ to E as seen on the table below.
| 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 |
Subject Choices for KCSE Candidates
Each subject offered by KCSE has its own code, these subjects are grouped into five (5) as depicted in the image below;
| 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 |
KCSE Grading 2022/2023
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 anyone 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.
It’s advisable that you undertake more than 8 subjects as opposed to 7 as 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.
KCSE 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 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;
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 |
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 |
