The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has shared a tip for students applying for admission to universities, colleges, and TVET institutions on securing admission to their preferred programs.
In a response to a student’s question, KUCCPS advised candidates to ensure their cluster weights are above the set cut-off points.
According to the Placement Service, students with a cluster weight above the previous cut-off points have a good chance if they apply for a specific programme.
“It is advised that you apply for courses where your cluster weight is higher than the previous year’s cut-off points,” KUCCPS said.
“If your Cluster Weight is above the previous cut-off points, you have a good chance if you apply for that programme.”
Cluster weight is the ranking of a student’s performance in a specific subject cluster against all other candidates in a given KCSE year.
It is based on the cluster’s subject requirements and the candidate’s overall performance.
Students who sat for the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations are using the 2024 cut-off points on the portal as a reference when making their applications.
Also Read: KUCCPS Cut Off Points for Bachelor of Commerce Across Kenyan Universities
How Cut-Off Points are Set and How to Check
Cut-off points are generated after placement, being the cluster weight of a student who is placed in the last available slot in a degree programme after all applicants are considered.
The points are determined by the performance of applicants for a degree course and the number of students a university can admit for the course.
During processing, applicants are arranged in descending order of cluster weight (highest to lowest). They take up the available slots in that order until the last student is placed.
The cluster weight of the last student placed becomes the cut-off point for the programme. The process is automated and KUCCPS cannot predetermine cut-off points.
Once you log in to your student portal, click the ‘All Programmes’ tab and select your preferred degree cluster and program name.
You will then see the minimum entry requirements, minimum subject requirements, and the 2023 and 2024 cut-off points against your cluster weight.
Also Read: KUCCPS Cut-Off Points for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 13 Universities
Why Cut-Off Points are Raised or Lowered
Speaking in a webinar on April 18, KUCCPS CEO Agnes Wahome said that cut-off points are lowered or raised depending on the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) performance.
Wahome said that cut-off points increase when KCSE candidates perform well in a given year, as competition for courses rises. On the other hand, she noted that cut-off points are reduced when candidates in a given KCSE year perform poorly, resulting in less competition for available courses.
“Unless there is a sudden change, as long as everything is okay where we see students performing better every year, better than last year, you expect the cut-offs to go higher. Because more and more students will be going for that course,” Wahome said.
