Understanding the Kenya Grading System
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Kenya grading system information centres on the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) letter scale, which runs from A to E, with A highest and E lowest. D is the lowest grade that counts as a pass.
There is no percentage key, and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) sets the rules nationally.
This page explains how to read the scale and how grading works in Kenya. It also gives teachers context for working with students from Kenya and points to related systems and sources used to verify the information.
Reading the Kenyan scale
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education scale runs from A, the best grade, to E, the worst, and D is the lowest passing grade.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Distinction | Yes | 12 |
| A- | Very Good | Yes | 11 |
| B+ | Credit | Yes | 10 |
| B | Good: Good | Yes | 9 |
| B- | Yes | 8 | |
| C+ | Yes | 7 | |
| C | Average: Average | Yes | 6 |
| C- | Yes | 5 | |
| D+ | Fair | Yes | 4 |
| D | Fair: Fair | Yes | 3 |
| D- | No | 2 | |
| E | Poor: Poor | No | 1 |
D is the lowest passing grade; E is described as Poor.
D has numerical grade 3 and is described as Fair, while E has numerical grade 1 and is described as Poor. The scale has no percent key.
Compared with related systems
Kenya
10 of 12 grades pass
Australia
No pass mark
Canada
10 of 11 grades pass
Germany
4 of 6 grades pass
How grading works in Kenya
Kenya’s grading rules are set nationally by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC). At the end of the fourth year, pupils take the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), administered by the council.
The KPSEA score combines summative assessment scores with School Based Assessment scores from Grades 4 and 5. (Nuffic; knec.ac.ke)
Teaching students from Kenya
Teachers may see an Individual Learner Report prepared for a learner for the KPSEA. Check that the document is for the learner you are assessing, and record the grades using the scale shown on the report.
Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
Sources and verification
- [1]knqa.go.ke. [PDF] Education system Kenya | Nuffic. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [2]knec.ac.ke. KPSEA Regulations. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [3]education.go.ke. kenya school readiness assessment tool. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 12, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Kenya?
For the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), D is the lowest passing grade. It is described as Fair and has numerical grade 3.
Do schools in Kenya use percentages for grades?
The KCSE letter-grade scale has no percentage key.
Is a C a good grade in Kenya?
C is described as Average on the KCSE scale.
