KCSE 2025 Kicks Off with Oral and Practical Assessments

The 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations officially began on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, with oral and practical papers for elective subjects. A total of 996,078 candidates are registered to sit for the examinations this year. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) released the comprehensive timetable, outlining the schedule for the national assessments that will run until November 21, 2025.

Examination Schedule and Key Dates

The initial phase of the KCSE examinations, focusing on oral and practical skills, is scheduled from Tuesday, October 21, to Monday, October 27, 2025. Subjects in this category include French (Oral), German (Oral), Kenyan Sign Language (Practical Signing Skills), Music (Practical), and Arabic (Oral). Following this, practical examinations for subjects such as Home Science, Art and Design, Woodwork, and Metalwork will take place from October 22 to October 31.

The written theory papers are set to commence on Monday, November 3, 2025, and will conclude on Friday, November 21, 2025. Key subjects like English and Chemistry will be examined on November 3, with Mathematics and English Literature following on November 4. Kiswahili papers are scheduled for November 6, while Christian Religious Education (CRE) and Biology Paper 1 will be taken on November 11.

Context and Preparations

KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere confirmed that all preparations for the examinations are complete. To enhance logistics and curb examination malpractice, KNEC has increased the number of storage containers in sub-counties to 642, up from 617 in the previous year. The council has also deployed a significant number of personnel, including 10,765 centre managers, 12,126 supervisors, 54,782 invigilators, and 22,247 security officers, alongside 2,692 drivers to assist with transportation, particularly in areas affected by poor road conditions and heavy rains.

Rehearsals for the KCSE examinations were conducted on Friday, October 17, 2025, despite it being a public holiday, to ensure candidates and examination officials were familiar with the procedures and guidelines. This decision by the Ministry of Education aimed to avoid any disruptions to the national examination calendar.

Broader National Assessments

The KCSE examinations are part of a larger national assessment season. Following the KCSE, the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will be conducted concurrently. The KJSEA, which is the first-ever exit exam for Junior Secondary School under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, will involve 1,130,669 learners. Additionally, 1,298,089 candidates are registered for KPSEA.

Evidence/Data Box

• Total KCSE Candidates 2025: 996,078
• Oral & Practical Exams: Tuesday, October 21 – Monday, October 27, 2025
• Written Exams: Monday, November 3 – Friday, November 21, 2025
• KNEC Storage Containers: 642 (up from 617 in 2024)
• Examination Personnel Deployed: Over 90,000 (including managers, supervisors, invigilators, and security officers)

What to Watch

Stakeholders will closely monitor the smooth administration of the examinations, particularly in regions prone to logistical challenges. The effectiveness of the enhanced measures to curb cheating, including personalized exam papers and a ban on phones in examination centres, will be a key area of observation. The performance of the inaugural KJSEA candidates will also be keenly watched as it provides initial insights into the outcomes of the Competency-Based Education system.