The Grade 3, 4 and 5 learners are set to start their national writing tests on Monday next week. This will be part of the School Based Assessment (SBA) which started in July this year.
According to a circular that was released by Kenya National Examination Council (Knec), the tests will be made available on the Knec online platform for schools to access.
Both public and private schools will be required to download the tests from 30th October to 11th November 2022 which is the period when the exams will be available for access on the Knec portal.
After downloading schools are required to administer the tests, mark them and upload the scores on the Knec platform by 24th November 2022.
Grade 6 learners already did their projects and their written tests which were marked and results sent to Knec. The learners are now waiting for their final exams, KPSEA, in November.
Grade 3, 4 and 5 also did their practicals and project work which lasted till early September.
In the written tests, Grade 3 learners will sit for two subjects. Mathematics and English activities.
However for Grade 4 and 5 learners they will do thirteen subjects. i) Mathematics ii) English iii) Kiswahili iv) Kenyan Sign Language v) Science & Technology vi) Physical and Health Education vii) Agriculture viii) Home Science ix) Social Studies x) Art and Craft xi) Christian Religious Education (CRE) xii) Islamic Religious Education (IRE) xiii) Hindu Religious Education (HRE).
The test will be combined to have five papers. Integrated Sciences (IS) will combine science and technology and will cover Home Science, Agriculture, and Physical Health while Creative Art and Social Sciences (CASS) will combine Art and Craft, Music, Social Studies and religious education (CRE, IRE and HRE).
The exams will cover both regular learners and those with special needs.
According to Knec primary school results will be determined by the School Based Assessment (SBA), which is done every year in the upper primary classes and the five subject summative national examination done in Grade 6.
The learners will have a 60 per cent of the score coming from SBA spread over Grade Four, Five and Six and 40 per cent from the summative report.
Below is a circular dated 28th June 2022, that was released by Knec to guide the national Competency Based Assessments for Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6.
RE: ADMINISTRATION OF THE YEAR 2022 COMPETENCY BASED ASSESSMENTS
1.0 The Kenya National Examinations Council will upload on the KNEC CBA Portal the following:
1.1 Monitoring Learners Progress (MLP) assessment for Grades 3 and Foundation Level for learners with special needs and disabilities.
1.2 School based assessment for Grades 4, 5 & 6 and Intermediate Level for learners with special needs and disabilities.
2.0 Schools are expected to download the assessment tools, instructions, scoring guides and score sheets.
3.0 The assessment tools with coloured images should be printed in colour or loaded on the digital devices available in the school for learners to answer the questions using separate answer sheets such as exercise books. Where the number of digital devices is not adequate, the test can be done in shifts.
4.0 Schools will be expected to administer the assessment tools, score and upload the assessment outcomes of all learners in the CBA portal.
5.0 To access the assessment portal, Headteachers are required to login onto the CBA portal: https://cba.knec.ac.ke. Any school that will have forgotten their password should contact their respective sub county education offices for a new password.
6.0 Headteachers are requested to keep all records and evidence generated from the assessments.
7.0 The materials required for the assessments should be obtained from the immediate school environment or improvised as much as is possible.
8.0 The tools will be accessed as shown below:
This information is to enable you to prepare and plan adequately.
Dr. David Njengere
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER