Two candidates scored 453 marks to top this year’s KCPE exam tests. Results officially released by Education CS Amina Mohamed indicate that over 50% of the 1,052,364 candidates who sat for the exams have scored over 250 marks and the CS said the number of candidates who’ve scored above 400 marks in 2018 has also increased significantly to 12,273 translating to 1.17% from 9,846 last year which translated to less than 1%, “A clear indicator that the number of quality grades is rising,” she said, adding that the quality of grades has improved in other mark ranges. This year’s exam which begun on October 30th and ended on November 1st recorded a candidature increase compared to last year, of 5.9% which equates to 58,626 candidates more this year.
228,414 candidates scored between 301 to 400 marks, 574,927 candidates scored between 201 to 300 marks, 234,573 candidates scored between 101 to 200 marks and 2,177 scored between 0 to 100 marks. Of all the candidates who sat for the KCPE exams, 50.1% were boys while 49.9% were girls. She noted that the girls have posted better results in English, Swahili, and Kenyan sign language while the boys outperformed the girls in Maths, Science, Social Studies and religious Education. Four Counties registered the highest number of candidates; Nairobi, Nakuru, Kakamega and Bungoma.
CS Amina, who released the results at the Star of the Sea Primary School in Mombasa, said reforms done to streamline the education and exam sector have contributed to significant improvements with teachers more focused on their work and candidates working hard with the knowledge that only hard work will produce results. She said that 4 candidates will not receive their exam results due to malpractice. The Form One selection process will commence on December 3rd this year, with the government focused on a 100% transition to secondary schools, and furthermore, CS Amina has affirmed that holiday tuition is banned and those found propagating the same will be dealt with.