NAIROBI, Kenya—It has now emerged that 1,693 (0.18%) candidates obtained an overall grade of A in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, compared to 1,216 (0.14%) candidates in 2023.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba Migos, who made the remarks, further said the number of candidates with direct university entry qualification of grade C+ and above was 246,391 (25.53%) in the year 2024 KCSE examination compared to 201,133 (22.27%) in 2023.
“This can be attributed to the new grading system,” said the CS while unveiling the 2024 KCSE examination results at an event held at Mtihani House in Nairobi.
CS Ogamba further said the number of candidates with grade C- (TVET Diploma) and above was 476,889 (49.41%) in the year 2024 KCSE examination compared to 401,216 (44.42%) in 2023.
How other candidates performed in the KCSE 2024
On the other hand, the number of candidates attaining a passing grade (grade D+ and above) was 605,774 (62.76%) in the year 2024 KCSE examination compared to 526,222 (58.27%) in 2023.
To enhance the credibility of the examination process, CS Ogamba disclosed that candidates’ examination question papers were personalised and anonymised for the first time.
“This helped to improve objectivity during marking and holding candidates personally responsible for any irregularities,” the CS said.
Meanwhile, 17 of the 30 subjects offered in the 2024 KCSE examination recorded significant improvement in performance.
Which were the most improved subjects in the KCSE 2024
The CS said these subjects were Mathematics Alt. A & B, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History and Government, Geography, IRE, Agriculture, Woodwork, Metalwork, Drawing and Design, Aviation Technology, Computer Studies, Kenyan Sign Language, and Business Studies.
“Ten subjects recorded a drop in performance: English, Kiswahili, Biology for the Blind, CRE, Home Science, Building Construction, Electricity, French, German and Music,” said the CS.
Female candidates recorded better mean score performance than male candidates in the following seven subjects: English (101), Kiswahili (102), Kenyan Sign Language (504), French (501), Home Science (441), CRE (313), and Art and Design (442).
CS Ogamba, who came into office a few months before the exams, observed that male candidates recorded better mean score performance than female candidates in 23 subjects: Mathematics Alt. A and B, Biology and Biology for the Blind, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History and Government, Geography, IRE, Woodwork, Metalwork, Building and Construction, Power Mechanics, Electricity, Drawing and Design, Aviation Technology, Agriculture, Computer Studies, German, Arabic, Music, and Business Studies.
“As it was in the 2023 KCSE examination, the 2024 KCSE examination results have been graded using the reviewed grading system in which the overall grade at the KCSE examination has considered Mathematics, the best-performed language among English/Kiswahili/Kenyan Sign Language, and the best-performed five subjects,” explained CS Ogamba.
