KNEC Has Released 2026 KCSE Examination TimetableThe Kenya National

Examinations Council (KNEC) has officially released the timetable for the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, outlining a month-long assessment period that will see thousands of secondary school candidates across the country sit for their final national exams.

According to the KNEC schedule, the examinations will begin on October 19 and run through to November 20, marking one of the most important academic milestones for Kenyan Form Four students.

The examination period will open with language and arts-related subjects. On the first day, candidates will sit for papers in French, German, Kenyan Sign Language, and Music. These subjects traditionally mark the beginning of the national examinations before students proceed to practical assessments and the core theory papers that follow later in the schedule.

Following the opening papers, the next phase of the KCSE assessments will focus on practical examinations in various technical and creative subjects. These practicals will be conducted between Wednesday, October 21, and Monday, October 26.

During this period, candidates enrolled in subjects such as Home Science, Art and Design, Building Construction, Electricity, and French will undertake hands-on tests designed to evaluate their practical skills and technical knowledge. The practical exams are a key component of these subjects because they measure the students’ ability to apply theoretical concepts in real-world situations.

After the practical examinations are completed, students will then move on to the main theory papers, which form the bulk of the KCSE assessments. These written examinations are scheduled to start on Monday, November 2. On that day, candidates will first sit for the English paper in the morning, followed by Chemistry later in the day. 

Each of the two papers will last for two hours, and there will be a long break of approximately three hours and thirty minutes between the morning and afternoon sessions to allow candidates time to rest and prepare for the next exam.

The following day, Tuesday, November 3, candidates will take the first Mathematics paper. Mathematics is a compulsory subject for all KCSE candidates, and the first paper will run for two hours and thirty minutes. Later in the afternoon, students will sit for the English Grammar paper, which is scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm.

On Wednesday, November 4, candidates will return to Chemistry for the second paper, which will also take two hours. The day’s examinations will conclude with the English Composition and Essay paper, beginning at 2:00 pm and ending at 4:30 pm. This paper is designed to test students’ writing skills, creativity, and ability to organize ideas effectively in written English.

The examinations will continue on Thursday, November 5, with Kiswahili papers. In the morning session, students will sit for Kiswahili (Lugha), which will start at 8:00 am and end at 10:30 am. Later in the afternoon, candidates will tackle Kiswahili (Insha), a composition paper that will run from 2:00 pm to 4:15 pm. These papers assess learners’ command of the Kiswahili language and their ability to express ideas clearly.

The second week of examinations will begin on Monday, November 9, with the second Mathematics paper scheduled for the morning session. Later that day, students will sit for Kiswahili (Fasihi), which focuses on literature in Kiswahili.

On Tuesday, November 10, candidates will take Religious Education papers between 8:00 am and 10:30 am. These may include Christian Religious Education (CRE), Islamic Religious Education (IRE), or Hindu Religious Education (HRE), depending on the student’s chosen subject. In the afternoon session, students will sit for the first Biology paper from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

The following day, Wednesday, November 11, candidates will complete the second Religious Education paper, which will last for two hours and thirty minutes. Later in the afternoon, students will sit for the History and Government paper, one of the humanities subjects offered in the KCSE curriculum.

On Thursday, November 12, candidates will continue with science and humanities examinations. The day will begin with the second Biology paper from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, followed by the second History and Government paper in the afternoon session from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

The second week of examinations will conclude with the Biology practical. This practical assessment will take place over the course of the day, with each candidate allocated a one hour and forty-five minute session to complete the laboratory-based test. The practical exam evaluates students’ laboratory skills, observation abilities, and understanding of biological experiments.

The final phase of the KCSE examinations will begin in the third week. On Monday, November 16, candidates will sit for the first Geography paper in the morning session. Later that afternoon, students will take the first Physics paper, scheduled from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

On Tuesday, November 17, learners will sit for the Business Studies examination in the morning, followed by the Agriculture paper in the afternoon. Each of these papers will last two hours and will test students on business concepts, entrepreneurship, and agricultural practices.

The examinations will continue on Wednesday, November 18, with the second Geography paper in the morning session. This will be followed by the second Physics paper later in the afternoon. Students taking Agriculture and Business Studies will then sit for their second papers on Thursday, November 19.

The 2026 KCSE examinations will officially come to an end on Friday, November 20, with the Physics practical. Each candidate will have two hours and thirty minutes to complete the laboratory-based test, which will serve as the final paper of the national examination period.

The KCSE examinations remain a critical step in Kenya’s education system, as the results determine students’ eligibility for university admission, technical training, and other post-secondary opportunities. With the timetable now released, schools, teachers, and candidates are expected to intensify their preparations in the months leading up to the national examinations.

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