The Kenya National Examinations Council has reopened the KNEC CBA portal, giving schools a final window to upload missing School‑Based Assessment (SBA) scores for KPSEA and KJSEA candidates. Heads of Institutions must complete all pending entries by 30th September 2026 to prevent permanent gaps that can lower learners’ final grades.
Key Takeaways
- The KNEC CBA portal is open again until 30th September 2026 for uploading missing SBA scores.
- School‑Based Assessment (SBA) contributes 15%–20% of final scores in primary and junior levels, so missing data can penalize learners.
- Grade 6, Grade 9 and Grade 12 are exempt from SBA uploads because they sit terminal national exams (KPSEA, KJSEA, KCBE).
- For genuine absences, administrators must enter “AB” rather than leaving fields blank to avoid locked or incomplete profiles.
KNEC CBA portal: what reopened and why it matters
The reopened KNEC CBA portal allows schools to correct omissions and upload SBA scores for KPSEA and KJSEA candidates. Under the Competency‑Based Curriculum (CBC), school‑based projects, practical tasks and term tests are integral to a learner’s summative grade. When SBA records are missing, the digital system can lock candidate profiles and produce artificially low final results.
Which grades are affected and which are exempt
Assessments through the CBA portal run from Grade 3 to Grade 11. Important grade notes:
- Grade 3 — Early diagnostic assessments (Integrated Learning Assessment) that do not roll into upper primary totals.
- Grades 4 and 5 — Continuous SBA recorded and carried forward toward transition calculations.
- Grade 6 — Exempt from SBA uploads; learners sit the KPSEA terminal exam.
- Grades 7 and 8 — Continuous SBA captured for junior school tracking.
- Grade 9 — Exempt from SBA uploads; learners sit the KJSEA.
- Grades 10 and 11 — Senior school continuous assessments recorded; Grade 12 focuses on the final national certificate.
How SBAs influence final results
Continuous SBA elements — including term two practical projects and term three written tests — typically account for 15% to 20% of the final grade depending on the grade cluster. These scores combine with summative national exam marks (KPSEA, KJSEA, KCBE) to form the final qualification. Missing SBA entries therefore create measurable drops in learners’ reported performance.
Immediate actions for Heads of Institutions
- Log into the institutional CBA portal immediately and run a candidate completeness audit.
- Upload all outstanding term two practical scores and term three written test marks before the 30th September 2026 deadline.
- If a student legitimately missed an activity, enter “AB” to indicate absence rather than leaving the field blank.
- Keep local records (spreadsheets or printed project sheets) to support any future verification requests from the council.
Common causes of portal gaps and how to avoid them
Portal gaps usually arise from late data entry, system lockouts during the operational window, or failing to mark genuine absences. To reduce risk:
- Designate at least one trained staff member to handle uploads and backups.
- Work in small batches — upload per class or per subject to reduce errors and avoid session timeouts.
- Keep an offline copy of scores and date‑stamped evidence of practical projects and tests.
Where to find supporting resources
Teachers and administrators preparing uploads or checking SBA procedures may find curriculum and exam resources helpful. Use the official CBC materials and revision tests to cross‑check recorded scores. For additional practice and downloadable resources, see the free CBC exam banks and curriculum guides:
- Free CBC exams and practice papers for term tests and preparation.
- Free KCPE exam resources to understand how terminal exams interact with SBA weights.
- CBC curriculum designs for correct learning outcomes and assessment mapping.
Final checklist before submission
- Confirm every candidate has entries for required SBAs or an “AB” mark where appropriate.
- Ensure continuous scores for Grades 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11 are complete and correctly scaled.
- Verify spelling and admission numbers to avoid mismatches that cause lockouts.
- Submit uploads well before the 30th September 2026 deadline to allow time for corrections.
Reopening the KNEC CBA portal is a last chance to protect learners from avoidable grading losses. School administrators should prioritize the audit and upload process now to secure accurate final results for all candidates.
