The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) outlined the grading and placement system for the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) 2025.
This framework will guide the transition of Grade 9 learners to Grade 10 in January 2026.
The pioneer CBC cohorts have already completed the selection of senior schools, Grade 10 subject combinations, and academic tracks and pathways.
Learner performance in the KJSEA will be central to placement decisions for senior secondary schools in December.
KJSEA 2025 Grading System
KJSEA 2025 adopts an 8-level achievement system, with points awarded based on performance:
Exceeding Expectations
- EE1 (Achievement Level 8): 90–100% = 8 points (Exceptional)
- EE2 (Achievement Level 7): 75–89% = 7 points (Very Good)
Meeting Expectations
- ME1 (Achievement Level 6): 58–74% = 6 points (Good)
- ME2 (Achievement Level 5): 41–57% = 5 points (Fair)
Approaching Expectations
- AE1 (Achievement Level 4): 31–40% = 4 points (Needs Improvement)
- AE2 (Achievement Level 3): 21–30% = 3 points (Below Average)
Below Expectations
- BE1 (Achievement Level 2): 11–20% = 2 points (Well Below Average)
- BE2 (Achievement Level 1): 1–10% = 1 point (Minimal)
This system ensures that even learners who score very low are recognized for minimal effort, with no zero marks awarded.
Also Read: How to Check 2025 KJSEA Selected Schools via SMS
Below is a table that shows how grade 9 students will be graded:
| Achievement Level (Label/Code) | Percentage Range | Points Awarded | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE1 (AL8) | 90–100 | 8 Points | Exceptional / Excellent |
| EE2 (AL7) | 75–89 | 7 Points | Very Good |
| ME1 (AL6) | 58–74 | 6 Points | Good |
| ME2 (AL5) | 41–57 | 5 Points | Fair |
| AE1 (AL4) | 31–40 | 4 Points | Needs Improvement |
| AE2 (AL3) | 21–30 | 3 Points | Below Average |
| BE1 (AL2) | 11–20 | 2 Points | Well Below Average |
| BE2 (AL1) | 1–10 | 1 Point | Minimal |
Also Read: How Grade 10 Learners Will Be Placed Into Senior School Ahead of KJSEA Release
Final Placement to Senior Secondary Schools
Placement into senior secondary schools (Grade 10) will be based on a combined score from three components:
- KJSEA (Grade 9 Assessment): 60% of the final placement score
- School-Based Assessments (Grades 7 and 8): 20%
- KPSEA (Primary Assessment, Grade 6): 20%
This means that a student scoring 40 in mathematics in KJSEA, 15 in SBA, and 10 in KPSEA would achieve a final score of 65%, corresponding to ME1 (Meeting Expectation 1).
Placement into different categories of schools, C1 (National), C2 (Extra County), C3 (County), and C4 (Sub-County), will be based on merit.
Higher scores increase a learner’s chances of placement in higher-tier schools, in this case national schools.
Senior schools selected will be either triple pathway institutions, offering all three routes, or double pathway schools, offering two combinations, such as STEM with Arts and Sports (STEAMS) or STEM with Social Sciences (STEMS).
Education CS stated that learners will not be issued certificates, as was the case with the now phased-out Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).
Instead, they will receive result slips indicating their performance in each subject.
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Can a learner choose between the first two best perfomed pathway??
This system is quite good 👍
This system is quite good 👍
My name is Simon chiira. I got exceeding expectation 2 in all learning areas except 1 that I got meeting expectation1. Are there chances of going to a national school
Hallo everybody.i think my sons results were not that satisfying to me.I was wondering if you could make a slight change. The expectation of him was to go to Alliance high please with all do respect may you make some adjustments. His a male energetic boy .first
And last the potential bread winner. He is named :TEHILLAH MUNENE.
Assesment:B001902947.
He has an allergic reaction to excessive sunlight. Please make some arrangements.
I beg on my knees
If you get 62 points out of 72 points are u likely to go to a national school
If you score 62 out of 72 you are likely to go to a national school but your kpsea & Sba will determine if your kpsea and sba you perform high you are likely go to a national school
Is 69/72 points be accommodated by a cluster 1 school through a STEM pathway?
Is 69/72 points be accommodated by a cluster 1 school through a STEM pathway?
Please answer.