KCSE 2020/2021 Grading System- The Kenya National Examinations Council, KNEC, grades students per performance in subjects attempted during the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams. This grading is dynamic as it is dependent on the performance of candidates in a particular year.

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) is offered to learners who have completed the secondary education cycle of four years.

KCSE SUBJECT CODES

Each subject offered by Knec has its own code. Check the table below before we take you through the grading process;

S/N	Subject Name	Subject Code
1	English	101
2	Kiswahili	102
3	Mathematics	121
4	Mathematics, Alternative B	122
5	Biology	231
6	Physics	232
7	Chemistry-	233
8	Biology for the Blind	236
9	General Science	237
10	History	311
11	Geography	312
12	CRE	313
13	IRE	314
14	HRE	315
15	Home Science	441
16	Art and Design	442
17	Agriculture	443
18	Wood Work	444
19	Metal Work	445
20	Building Construction	446
21	Power Mechanics	447
22	Electricity	448
23	Drawing and Design	449
24	Aviation Technology	450
25	Computer Studies	451
26	French	501
27	German	502
28	Arabic	503
29	Sign Language	504
30	Music	511
31	Business Studies	565

These subjects are grouped into five (5) as depicted in the image below;

Knec Subject Choices for KCSE candidates

KCSE GRADING.

For you to be graded, you must take a minimum of seven (7) subjects. Out of these, English, Kiswahili and Mathematics are compulsory. You must further take a minimum of two sciences and one Humanity. The seventh subject can as well be chosen from the remaining categories i.e Applied, Humanities, Sciences etc.

In a nutshell, a Candidate must enter for at least 7 subjects which must include:

From Group I – All the three subjects of Code Numbers 101, 102 and either121 (option “A” )or 122 (option “B”)
From Group II – At least two subjects of Code Numbers 231, 232 , 233,236( Blind candidates) or 237 for option “B”
From Group III – At least one subject code of 311,312 or any one among 313/314/315
Note: Only one of the Religious subjects 313, 314 , 315 and one Mathematics option is to be taken. One other subject selected from the remaining subjects in Group II ,III and IV (Code Numbers 441,442,443,444,445,446,447,448,449,450 and 451) or V(Code Numbers 501,502,503,504,511 and 565)
Candidates can sit for 9 subjects and the extra 1 or 2 subjects can be selected from the remaining subjects of groups II, III, IV and V.

Again, it is advisable that you undertake 8 or 9 subjects as opposed to 7. This gives you more grading options. The grade you get is dependent on scores in your subjects. To get your mean score, the Council totals the points that you get per subject.

The highest grade you can get is an A(plain) which carries a point load of 12. Conversely, the lowest grade is an E (that has one point only); See more details on the table below.

Points	Grade
12	A (plain)
11	A- (Minus)
10	B+ (plus)
9	B (plain)
8	B- (minus)
7	C+ (plus)
6	C (plain)
5	C- (minus)
4	D+ (plus)
3	D (plain)
2	D-(minus)
1	E

Mean Grade Award Descriptions

Mean grade will be X, if a candidate is absent in all subjects
Mean grade will be Y, if one or more subjects are cancelled.
Mean grade will be U, if the entry requirements for the KCSE examination are not met
Mean grade will be CRNM, if the course requirements for the Teacher education, Business and Technical examinations are not met
Mean grade will be P, if results are pended
Mean grade will be W, if the examination results are withheld;

KNEC KCSE Grading Scale – Per Subject 2021-2022

It is important to note that each subject has its own grading system as shown below;

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR ENGLISH

Points	101; ENGLISH
12	80 – 100	A
11	75 – 79	A-
10	70 – 74	B+
9	65- 69	B
8	60 – 64	B-
7	55 – 59	C+
6	50 – 54	C
5	45 – 49	C-
4	40 – 44	D+
3	35 -39	D
2	30 -34	D-
1	0 -29	E

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR KISWAHILI

POINTS	102; KISWAHILI
12	78 – 100	A
11	73 – 77	A-
10	68 – 72	B+
9	63 – 67	B
8	58 – 62	B-
7	53 – 57	C+
6	48 – 52	C
5	43 – 47	C-
4	38 – 42	D+
3	33 – 37	D
2	28 – 32	D-
1	0 – 27	E

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR MATHEMATICS

POINTS	121; MATHEMATICS
12	70 – 100	A
11	65 – 69	A-
10	60 – 64	B+
9	55 – 59	B
8	49 – 54	B-
7	43 – 48	C+
6	37 – 42	C
5	31 – 36	C-
4	25 – 30	D+
3	19 – 24	D
2	12 – 18	D-
1	0 -11	E

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR BIOLOGY

POINTS	231; BIOLOGY
12	80 – 100	A
11	75 -79	A-
10	70 – 74	B+
9	65- 69	B
8	60 – 64	B-
7	55 – 59	C+
6	50 – 54	C
5	45 – 49	C-
4	40 – 44	D+
3	35-39	D
2	30-34	D-
1	0 -29	E

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR PHYSICS

POINTS	232; PHYSICS
12	60 – 100	A
11	55 – 59	A-
10	50 – 54	B+
9	45 – 49	B
8	40 – 44	B-
7	35 – 39	C+
6	30 – 34	C
5	25 – 29	C-
4	20 – 24	D+
3	15 – 19	D
2	10 – 14	D-
1	0 – 9	E

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR CHEMISTRY

POINTS	233; CHEMISTRY
12	65 – 100	A
11	60 – 64	A-
10	55 – 59	B+
9	50 – 54	B
8	45 – 49	B-
7	40 – 44	C+
6	35 – 39	C
5	30 – 34	C-
4	25 – 29	D+
3	20 – 24	D
2	15 – 19	D-
1	0 – 14	E

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR HISTORY & GOVERNMENT

POINTS	311- HISTORY
12	80 – 100	A
11	75 – 79	A-
10	70 – 74	B+
9	65 – 69	B
8	60 – 64	B-
7	55 – 59	C+
6	50 – 54	C
5	45 – 49	C-
4	40 – 44	D+
3	35 – 39	D
2	30 – 34	D-
1	0 -29	E

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR GEOGRAPHY

POINTS	312- GEOGRAPHY
12	66 – 100	A
11	61 – 65	A-
10	56 – 60	B+
9	51 – 55	B
8	46 – 50	B-
7	41 – 45	C+
6	36 – 40	C
5	31 – 35	C-
4	26 – 30	D+
3	21 – 25	D
2	16 – 20	D-
1	0 – 15	E

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (CRE)

POINTS	313- CRE
12	90 – 100	A
11	85 – 89	A-
10	80 – 84	B+
9	75 – 79	B
8	70 – 74	B-
7	65 – 69	C+
6	60 – 64	C
5	55 – 59	C-
4	50 – 54	D+
3	45 – 49	D
2	40 – 44	D-
1	0 – 39	E

KCSE GRADING SCALE FOR AGRICULTURE

POINTS	443- AGRICULTURE
12	88 – 100	A
11	83 – 87	A-
10	78 – 82	B+
9	73 – 77	B
8	68 – 72	B-
7	63 – 67	C+
6	58 – 62	C
5	53 – 57	C-
4	48 – 52	D+
3	43 – 47	D
2	38 – 42	D-
1	0 – 37	E

KCSE 2021 grading system per subject