The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has announced an extension of four additional days for schools to upload learners’ School Based Assessment (SBA) scores. Originally, schools were required to submit these scores by October 23, 2025, via the Competency Based Assessment (CBA) online portal. However, challenges such as slow server responses affected many schools’ ability to meet this deadline.
Key Takeaways
- Deadline for SBA score uploading extended to October 31, 2025.
- Initial deadline was October 23, 2025, but technical difficulties hindered progress.
- Knec has provided specific assessment tools and guidelines for relevant grades.
- Support available for schools experiencing access issues with the CBA portal.
Schools reported encountering slow Knec servers during the upload process, with some unable to access the CBA platform. This situation is not new, as similar issues have arisen during previous assessments due to server overload, where the servers could only accommodate a limited number of users simultaneously.
In readiness for these assessments, Knec released the 2025 term three School Based Assessments (SBA) for primary and junior schools on September 29, 2025. Following the extension, schools must ensure that all learners’ assessment scores are uploaded by October 31. Each year, learners participate in SBA practicals in the second term and written tests in the third term. Notably, Grade 6 and Grade 9 learners are usually excluded from this process to focus on their final KPSEA and KJSEA assessments, respectively.
The assessments for various grades include:
- Grade 3: Mathematics and English writing tests.
- Grade 4 and 5: Assessments cover Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Kenyan Sign Language, Agriculture, Science & Technology, Social Studies, Religious Education (CRE/IRE/HRE), and Creative Arts.
- Grade 7 and 8: Assessments include subjects like English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Agriculture, Social Studies, and Pre-Technical Studies.
The completion of SBA tasks contributes significantly to the final assessment scores, with Grade 7 assessing practical projects and tests contributing 10%, while Grade 8 assessments contribute another 10%, culminating in a total of 20% toward the final Grade 9 KJSEA.
Assessment Tools and Accessibility
Knec will upload various assessment tools on the CBA Portal, including:
- Kenya Early Years Assessment (KEYA) tools for Grade 3.
- Kenya Foundation Level Education Assessment (KFLEA) tools for Stage-based pathways.
- School Based Assessment tools for Grades 4, 5, 7, and 8.
Headteachers must log in to the CBA portal to access these tools. In case of any password issues, schools are advised to reach out to their respective Sub-County Directors for assistance.
Each school is expected to administer the assessments, score, and upload all results within the stipulated timeline. A user manual with detailed instructions on how to access and utilize the tools is available on the CBA portal. All assessment tools should either be printed in color or loaded onto available digital devices in schools.
Final Thoughts
The extension allows schools additional time to ensure that all learners’ scores are carefully accounted for and submitted on time, thereby supporting the overall integrity of the assessment process. For further resource materials, visit Free CBC Exams to explore additional educational resources.
