Today’s guide explains the KPSEA and KJSEA guidelines so candidates, parents and school staff know what to expect during the assessments. It summarises container handling, packet opening, candidate rules, absentee handling, end-of-day procedures and reporting channels in plain language.
Key Takeaways
- Containers open at 6:00 a.m.; assessments run between 8:30 a.m. and the scheduled finish time.
- All question papers and OMR sheets are personalised this year — never remove or damage the area with candidate details.
- Only authorised people may be at the centre during exams; mobile devices must be locked away with the Supervisor holding the key.
- Report emergencies, weather risks or malpractice immediately to the KNEC Call Centre or the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
Overview of KPSEA and KJSEA Guidelines
The assessment process starts at the container and ends only after scripts are returned and verified. These guidelines focus on secure transport, careful unpacking, strict invigilation and clear record-keeping to protect every candidate’s result.
Before the Exam: Container and Material Handling
On the first day a briefing must be held before any container is opened. Everyone present should witness the opening time and confirm the cartons are intact. Materials are collected once each morning by Sub-County Directors of Education (SCDEs) and Centre Managers who must verify and sign for every carton.
Colour coding helps: KPSEA cartons have white labels with pink stickers; KJSEA cartons have green labels. Polybags and cover pages are also colour-coded to avoid mix-ups. Materials must move in the designated transport and are escorted by security officers when needed.
Opening the Packets and Personalisation
Packets are opened five minutes before the scheduled start time with Supervisors verifying receipt in the presence of invigilators and candidates. Supervisors must ensure:
- Each candidate receives the question paper or OMR sheet with their own details.
- Each candidate signs and dates the space provided.
- Question papers for absent candidates are stapled, placed in the question paper envelope and kept at the front of the room.
Personalisation is significant: all KJSEA question papers and all KPSEA and KJSEA OMR sheets carry candidate details. KJSEA papers use random numbers and OMR forms use assessment numbers.
Format of KJSEA Papers
KJSEA papers fall into three clear formats:
- Multiple-choice only — uses question papers and OMR sheets (no perforation).
- Structured questions only — personalised papers with perforation and no OMR.
- Mixed formats — personalised perforated papers plus OMR sheets (e.g., Mathematics, Integrated Science).
Candidates should confirm which format they have before starting the paper.
Rules for Candidates
Keep answers and materials neat. Key rules include:
- Use only transparent, clear-bodied biro pens for structured responses; shade OMR answers with a pencil inside the ellipses.
- Do not cut off or damage the area with personalised details on the paper or OMR sheet.
- Calculators (where allowed) must be codeless and non-programmable; remove covers before entering the room.
- Wristwatches are not permitted; rooms must have a wall clock.
Conduct Inside the Centre
Invigilators should stand at the back of the room to deter access to unauthorised materials. Supervisors record incidents as they happen, and all officers must display appointment letters, ID and badges. Mobile phones and electronic devices for everyone at the centre are kept under lock and key outside the exam room with the Supervisor holding the key.
Only authorised staff may remain on site while assessments run. Where a centre runs both assessments, one Supervisor may serve both but each assessment must have separate rooms and invigilators.
Handling Absentees and Hardship Cases
Supervisors mark absent candidates as AB and Centre Managers report absentees daily on the CP2 portal. An absent candidate’s OMR sheet must never be given to another candidate; their question papers remain sealed and visible throughout the session.
If a candidate sits at a different centre due to hardship, Centres must:
- Report the case to KNEC immediately and capture it on the CP2 portal.
- Record details in the Script Control Form and Certificate of Supervision.
- Place answer sheets in a special hardship envelope and follow instructions for non-personalised papers.
End-of-Day Procedures
At the end of each session the Supervisor must account for all scripts publicly before handing materials to the Centre Manager. Return envelopes must be correctly packed with OMR sheets and the Supervisor’s Instruction Sheet. Note:
- KPSEA return envelopes are black; KJSEA return envelopes are green.
- OMR sheets must not have any other papers between them (no seating plans or letters).
- Only one seating plan is drawn for the entire assessment and submitted with supervision materials.
SCDEs verify packets at the container, place them in recycled cartons with pre-printed return labels and resolve any discrepancies before materials leave the container.
Officers, Integrity and Reporting
All officers must carry appointment letters and wear badges. Replacement officers must be briefed and the daily online register printed, signed and stamped by the Centre Manager and SCDE. KNEC monitoring officers may enter assessment rooms directly, and IPOA officers will monitor security conduct.
Report malpractice or security complaints through the official KNEC channels. Prompt reporting helps protect candidates and preserve exam integrity.
Weather, Safety and Contingency
With weather risks such as El Niño, county and sub-county officers are asked to flag risks early and relocate candidates when necessary. Safety of candidates, officers and materials comes first; emergencies should be reported immediately.
What Parents and Learners Should Do
Learners should arrive early, bring a pencil and clear biro, and keep OMR sheets clean and crease-free. Parents should leave phones and unnecessary items at home and keep access routes clear so the assessment runs smoothly.
For practice and revision resources related to primary and CBC exams, see the KCPE and KPSEA practice exams and exam resources:
- KCPE and KPSEA practice exams
- CBC exam resources and past papers
- CBC curriculum designs for teachers and learners
Following these simple, clear procedures helps safeguard every candidate’s result and ensures assessments run fairly and securely.
