For the next three years, individuals dissatisfied with their performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations will have an opportunity to improve their grades. This initiative comes ahead of the discontinuation of the KCSE under the current education system.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), Dr. David Njeng’ere, announced that mid-year examinations will commence in July 2025, with results expected in August. This new arrangement aims to provide a second chance for candidates, including those from the 2024 cohort, to enhance their scores and qualify for tertiary education admissions in September alongside other eligible students.
Dr. Njeng’ere clarified that anyone who has previously sat for the KCSE, regardless of how many years have passed, can register for the mid-year exams, provided they are not currently enrolled in secondary school. This opportunity extends to individuals who took their KCSE as far back as a decade ago. However, he emphasized that the KCSE will be phased out by 2027 as the country transitions to a competency-based curriculum. “We encourage anyone wishing to retake their exams fully or partially to take advantage of this opportunity before the system changes,” he stated.
The mid-year examinations will be administered at county headquarters, building on the success of a similar arrangement piloted in 2024 for private candidates. The announcement of this mid-year exam series was made by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba during the release of the 2024 KCSE results in Nairobi.
Dr. Njeng’ere noted that KNEC would employ the same pool of examiners for the mid-year exams and is collaborating with the Ministry of Education and the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to ensure that candidates’ results are considered for university placements. “This initiative will cater to a relatively small group of candidates, but it’s essential to accommodate those wishing to join higher education institutions,” he added.
The mid-year KCSE exams also aim to support candidates who may have missed their original exams due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances. Adult learners are also encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Dr. Njeng’ere highlighted that introducing this additional exam cycle was the result of extensive consultations with stakeholders to address the needs of diverse candidates.
The final KCSE exams under the current 8-4-4 education system will be administered in 2027. Candidates and stakeholders are urged to utilize the remaining opportunities to retake the exams, as the system will transition fully to a competency-based assessment thereafter.