KNEC Breaks Down KCSE 2025 Timetable

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has released the timetable for the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, which will take place from October 21, 2025, to November 21, 2025.

Candidates will start with French, Sign Language, and German on the first day, followed by practical exams in subjects like Home Science, Art and Design, Woodwork, and Metalwork from October 22 to October 31.

Written exams will begin on November 3, starting with English and Chemistry, with a four-hour break between the two papers.

On November 4, students will sit for Mathematics, a compulsory subject, followed by English Literature later in the day. November 5 will feature Chemistry Paper 2 in the morning and the English composition (essay writing) exam in the afternoon.

Kiswahili Lugha (language) will be tested on November 6 in the morning, followed by Kiswahili Fasihi (literature) in the afternoon.

The second week of exams will kick off on November 11 with Christian Religious Education (CRE) in the morning and Biology Paper 1 in the afternoon.

On November 13, candidates will take Biology Paper 2 in the morning and History and Government in the afternoon. The week will wrap up with Biology practicals, where students will have one hour and 45 minutes to complete the test.

In the final week, Geography Paper 1 will be in the morning, followed by Physics Paper 1 in the afternoon, with Business Studies Paper 1 and Agriculture Paper 1 scheduled for the following day.

On November 20, students will sit for Business Studies Paper 2 and Agriculture Paper 2, and the exams will conclude on November 21 with Physics Paper 3, a practical test.

KNEC has instructed all candidates and schools to strictly follow the timetable and prepare thoroughly. Teachers must ensure students understand the examination guidelines to prevent irregularities and penalties for malpractice.

Additionally, Centre Managers must confirm that supervisors and invigilators assigned to their centres have not worked in the same institution for three consecutive years.

“Supervisors must verify that candidates have signed their answer scripts and the script control form before collecting them for packing. They must also count the scripts to ensure they match the number of present candidates,” the guidelines indicate.

KNEC has cautioned that individuals involved in examination malpractice will face severe consequences as stipulated in the KNEC Act No. 29 of 2012 (Sections 27 to 40).

The Council has emphasized the importance of adherence to these regulations by schools, teachers, and students to uphold the integrity and fairness of the national examinations.

"Any person who gains access to examination material and knowingly reveals the contents, whether orally or in writing, to an unauthorized party, whether a candidate or not, will be in violation of Section 27 of the Act and the penalty will be imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or a fine not exceeding Ksh2 million or both," read the instructions in part.

"Any person who willfully and maliciously damages examination material will be in violation of Section 30 of the Act and the penalty will be imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding Ksh5 million or both."

Meanwhile, KNEC had announced that the registration period for the KCSE 2025 began on February 17, 2025, and is set to lapse on March 28, 2025.