KNEC Announces Major Changes To KPSEA and KJSEA 2025 Exams

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced significant changes to the upcoming Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) examinations, in line with the continued implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

In an official statement issued by KNEC on June 24, 2025, the examination body revealed that learners sitting for these assessments will now be required to shade their answers using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets, marking a departure from the traditional format where candidates would draw lines or write letters to indicate their responses.

“The Council posted KJSEA sample papers on the KNEC portal in January 2025 for schools to download and familiarize their learners with the new formats,” read the statement from KNEC.

This transition to OMR-based marking is part of KNEC’s broader strategy to digitize and streamline the assessment process. OMR technology enables automated scanning of answer sheets, reducing human error and speeding up the marking process.

To help schools and learners prepare adequately for this new format, KNEC has made available a comprehensive set of sample materials. These include sample question papers, cover pages, and OMR sheets for both KPSEA (Grade 6) and KJSEA (Grade 9) learners. All the materials can be accessed through the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portal.

How to Access KPSEA and KJSEA Sample Materials

Step 1: Access the CBA Portal

Open your browser and go to the official Competency-Based Assessment portal via this link: https://cba.knec.ac.ke

Step 2: Log In to the Portal

Use your Assessment Centre credentials (Username and Password) to log in.

Ensure your credentials are kept confidential to avoid unauthorized access to sensitive assessment materials.

To Access KJSEA (Grade 9) Sample Papers:

Once logged in, navigate to the Grade 9 portal.

Click on the ‘Instructions & Sample Papers’ button.

You will be presented with a list of available sample papers across different learning areas.

Click the ‘Download’ button next to the specific sample paper you wish to retrieve.

To Access Sample Cover Pages and OMR Sheets for Both KPSEA and KJSEA:

Open either the Grade 6 (KPSEA) or Grade 9 (KJSEA) portal depending on your target level.

Click on the ‘Download Sample Cover Page and OMR’ button.

The following sample documents will be displayed for download:

601 – English Language – Sample Cover Page

602 – Kiswahili Lugha – Sample Cover Page

606 – KSL (Kenya Sign Language) – Sample Cover Page

To download each document, simply click the ‘Download’ button next to the desired file.

KNEC has urged all users to log out immediately after completing their session on the portal. This is a critical step in safeguarding the integrity of examination data. Users are also reminded not to share their login credentials, as doing so could result in unauthorized access to confidential information.

With the implementation of these changes, schools are now expected to adjust their internal assessments and mock exams to mirror the new OMR format. Teachers have been encouraged to use the sample papers and resources provided to guide learners through practice sessions ahead of the final assessments.

This change is seen as a step towards aligning Kenya’s assessment systems with global standards, where machine-readable answer sheets are widely used to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and credibility.

KNEC is expected to conduct sensitization forums for teachers and school heads across the country in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition to the new system ahead of the examinations.

For further updates, KNEC advises schools to frequently check the official CBA Portal and the main KNEC website for any new releases or clarifications regarding the 2025 assessments.

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