School Examinations
School Examinations are administered in the below levels:
- The Kenya Primary School Assessment (KPSEA) is administered to learners who have completed the primary education cycle of six years.
- The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) is administered to learners who have completed the primary and junior school education cycles of nine years.
- The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) is offered to learners who have completed the secondary education cycle of four years.
- Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Qualifying Test (QT) is offered to learners without KCPE qualification who wish to sit for KCSE examination.
Teacher Examinations
The Teacher Education Examinations are professional examinations administered to persons wishing to join the teaching profession at various levels. These examinations are listed below: –
- Primary Teacher Education (PTE)
- Diploma in Teacher Education (DTE)
- Teacher Certificate in Adult Education (TCAE)
- Diploma in Special Needs Education Part I and II
- Early Childhood Development Education
- Proficiency
- Certificate
- Diploma Examination (ECDE)
Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) examinations are courses taken by students who wish to specialize in Early Childhood Education.
Primary Teacher Education (PTE) examination is a two-year course taken by students who wish to be teachers at Primary School level after they complete the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. The students who pursue the course are awarded with Certificate in Primary Teacher Education.
Teacher Certificate in Adult Education (TCAE) examination is a two-year course taken by students who wish to be teachers at Adult Education centres after they complete the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. The students who pursue the course are awarded with Certificate in TCAE. This examination is administered to eligible candidates within Kenya by the Directorate of Adult and Continuing Education, in the Ministry of Education on behalf of Kenya National Examinations Council.
The teachers who pursue the course are awarded with either Diploma or Certificate in ECDE after two years of study.
Diploma in Special Needs Education (SNE) examination is a two year course taken by teachers who wish to specialize in Special Needs Education after they complete the teacher training course at various levels. The teachers who pursue the course are awarded with Diploma in Special Needs Education.
Diploma in Teacher Education (DTE) examination is a three-year course taken by students who wish to be teachers at secondary school level after they complete the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. The students who pursue the course are awarded with Diploma in Teacher Education.
Business & Technical Examinations
The Business and Technical Examinations are categorized under Post School examinations. These are professional examinations offered to candidates who have completed primary and/or secondary school education. The examinations are offered twice a year during the months of July and November. All courses are offered in both series.
Categories of examinations in Business Technical examinations.
- Single and Group – this is an examination where candidates can sit for single papers and obtain a certificate. After completion of the course, the certificates are combined into three levels of elementary, intermediate and advanced. With the advanced certificate, candidates can proceed to Higher Diploma or Degree level of education.
- Artisan– these level places emphasis on acquisition/mastery of practical skills. Candidates are awarded after passing practical examinations. The levels are:
- Certificate courses
- Diploma courses
- Higher Diploma courses
Those who successfully complete any of the above courses can proceed to the next stage or join the job market. Holders of Diploma certificates can proceed to pursue Degree courses.
More information on Business and Technical examinations can be found in the Regulations for the TIVET craft and diploma Business/Technical Examinations.
Technical Vocational Education & Training (TVET) Courses
The following levels of Technical Education Examinations are offered by the KNEC: –
- Artisan Certificate Examinations
- Craft Certificate Examinations
- Diploma Certificate Examinations
- Higher Diploma Certificate Examinations.
Candidates can sit these examinations under the Modular and Non- Modular curriculum. In modular curriculum, the Craft certificate examinations has two modules; I and module II, Diploma level has three modules; module I, module II and module III and Higher Diploma level has two modules; module I and module II.
Candidates must take all the examinations papers of the module at one sitting except for the referred candidates.
Foreign Examinations
The Kenya National Examinations Council is mandated by law to collaborate in with foreign examinations boards to administer and monitor the conduct of foreign examinations in Kenya.
The level of involvement with the boards varies from board to board, where some boards involve the Council in both registration of candidates and the administration of the examinations. Other boards involve the Council only in the administration and monitoring the conduct of the examinations.
Currently the Council conducts examinations on behalf 13 foreign boards at both school (primary and secondary) and post school (professional examinations) levels at various times of the year. Below are the mentioned boards.
- Educe International (EI) – offering GCE/IGCSE Examinations
- International Examinations (CIE) – GCE/IGCSE Examinations
- International Baccalaureate Organization (IB Diploma).
- Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM)
- Cambridge International College (CIC)
- University of London International Programmers (ULIP)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
- Institute for the Management of Information Systems (IMIS).
- Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA).
- Association of Business Managers and Administrators (ABMA).
- Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX).
- Association of Business Executives (ABE).
