Knec Grading system and Scale for KCSE 2022/2023
KNEC: Releases New Grading System for KCSE 2022 Candidates
The grading system for candidates’ performance per subject differs from one subject to the other during the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
The KNEC grading system is very dynamic for it is pegged on the performance of candidates in a particular year.
KNEC KCSE SUBJECT CODES
Kindly note that to avoid any confusion during registration and when keying in candidates’ scores, the council has assigned each subject a special code. A quick look at the table below will give you a glimpse of all the subject codes;
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 categorized into five (5) major groups.
KNEC KCSE GRADING 2022/2023
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.
A Candidate must sit for at least 7 subjects to be graded by KNEC 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 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 in the table below.
KNEC KCSE Points Grade 2022/2023
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
Official Mean Grade Award Descriptions
Mean grade will be X, if a candidate is absent in all subjects
The mean grade will be Y, if one or more subjects are cancelled.
The mean grade will be U, if the entry requirements for the KCSE examination are not met
The 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;
KNEC KCSE GRADING SCALE PER SUBJECT; 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
KNEC KCSE GRADING SCALE PER SUBJECT; 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
KNEC KCSE GRADING SCALE PER SUBJECT; 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
