The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will pilot the new KCBE pilot assessment in June 2027. The exercise targets selected schools and is a full-dress rehearsal of the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The pilot checks logistics, scoring, technology and teacher readiness before the first national KCBE sitting at the end of Grade 12.
Key Takeaways
- The KCBE pilot will run in June 2027 and involve a representative sample of schools.
- KNEC will use the pilot to test systems, timetables and assessor training ahead of the Grade 12 KCBE.
- Final KCBE certification remains a single certificate awarded at the end of Grade 12; earlier stages receive reports (KPSEA, KJSEA).
- Grade 10 and 11 school-based assessments contribute 30% to the final KCBE mark; the Grade 12 summative exam is 70%.
KCBE Pilot: What it is and why it matters
The KCBE pilot is a controlled trial of the new national assessment system for learners under the CBC. KNEC will run the pilot in selected schools to verify that assessment tools, submission portals, and administrative procedures work as intended. This matters because KCBE replaces the old single-exam model with a multi-year, competency-based approach. The pilot gives KNEC time to fix problems while learners are still in Grade 11.
How pilot schools will be chosen
KNEC will not pick pilot schools at random. Selection criteria include:
- Geography: urban, rural and hardship areas to capture real logistical differences.
- School size: both small and large learner populations to test varied logistics.
- School category: different resource and academic profiles (e.g., C1, C4).
- Special needs inclusion: schools with learners requiring accommodations will be included.
This mix ensures problems unique to certain contexts are flagged early and that solutions are practical for the whole system.
KCBE scoring and documentation
KNEC has clarified certification under CBC: learners receive one formal certificate, the KCBE, at the end of Grade 12. At earlier transition points students receive reports only — KPSEA after primary and KJSEA after junior secondary. These reports help with placement but do not replace the final certificate.
Scoring for the KCBE is cumulative across Senior School:
- Grade 10 School-Based Assessment (SBA): 15%
- Grade 11 School-Based Assessment (SBA): 15%
- Grade 12 Summative Assessment (KCBE): 70%
That means the final KCBE grade is a composite of continuous assessment and the summative exam. Performance in Grade 10 and 11 permanently affects the final result.
Annual assessment calendar and teacher responsibilities
KNEC has set an annual schedule to harmonize assessments in Grades 10 and 11:
- Term II (May–September): projects and practicals (hands-on assessments).
- Term III (ends October): written SBA tests for the year.
All scores must be uploaded to the KNEC Senior School portal promptly. Teachers must keep physical evidence of learners’ work — projects, practical outputs and test scripts — to allow verification and reduce malpractice.
Teacher training and support
KNEC provides online, self-paced training through a Learning Management System to help teachers score and manage competency-based assessments consistently. This training aims to reach teachers in remote areas without costly in-person workshops. Senior School teachers should complete the modules to ensure consistent marking and secure upload of SBA data.
What schools, parents and learners should do now
Schools selected for the pilot should familiarise staff and learners with the timetable and rehearsals. KNEC will run a rehearsal day to show learners how test materials are issued and how responses are recorded; the rehearsal will not count for scores but will reduce anxiety on test days.
Parents and learners should note that sustained performance matters more than one-off study. Encourage steady engagement across projects, practicals and written tests in Grades 10 and 11 since they contribute 30% of the final KCBE.
Further resources
Teachers and school administrators preparing for the KCBE pilot can access curriculum and practice materials that align with the Senior School model. Useful resources include Grade 10 curriculum designs and broad CBC practice exams available at CBC practice exams. For senior school planning and assessment templates see senior school curriculum designs.
Final notes
The June 2027 KCBE pilot is a decisive step toward a fairer, competency-based national assessment. The pilot aims to make the KCBE credible by testing systems and training before the first national sitting. Early preparation by schools, teachers, parents and learners will improve readiness and reduce surprises when the KCBE becomes the single national certificate at the end of Grade 12.
