How to Register For KCSE Examinations

Apply Online

Normal Registration.

1. Registration for The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) for candidates in secondary school is done online through the KNEC Online Portal.
2. The following documents and information are required from the candidate for registration.

   • Digital Passport photos
   • Copy of Birth Certificate (Verifying date of birth)
   • Candidate’s index number:
   • Candidate’s Full Name
   • Subjects Choices

3. All documents for the registration of candidates are to be downloaded from the KNEC website and used to capture the information of the candidates.
4. The headmaster of a particular school or any authorized persons is then required to log into the KNEC portal for capturing of the registration details of the candidates and uploading of the photographs using the registration password for the respective examination center.
5. All candidates must be registered where they have been learning. Registration in two centers (double registration) will be treated as an examination malpractice.
6. Examination registration is free of charge. The government of Kenya shall pay examination fees for all candidates in public and private schools except for the following:

   • Candidates who are re-sitting/repeating
   • Non-Citizens and Private candidates registering in the Sub County private examination centers;

7. All heads of institution are expected to ensure all candidates registration details are captured correctly and every candidate has confirmed the same and signed the nominal roll. Verification of registration data usually takes place in the last two weeks of February.

Registration of private candidates

1. All private candidates are registered by the Sub County Director of Education.
2. Candidates wishing to register privately are required to download the KCSE Private Candidate Registration Form from the KNEC website.
3. They should complete the registration form in triplicate as required and present two copies to the respective Sub County Education office for further instructions within the registration period.
4. The Sub County Education Officers is required to log onto the [www.knec-portal.ac.ke KNEC website] for capturing of the registration details of the candidates and uploading of the photographs using the registration password for the respective examination center.
5. Private candidates are required to pay registration fees as per the number of examination papers they intend to do. The fees vary, depending on the number of examination papers one intends to do. A schedule of fees payable is detailed in our “Fees” section.
6. Private candidates are allowed to individually deposit money into the KNEC collection accounts and Sub-County Education Officers are asked to ensure compliance to this regulation. After making the payment submit the receipt to the Sub-County Education Officer.
7. The Sub-County Education Officer is expected to ensure that all Private Candidates registration details are captured correctly and every candidate has confirmed the same and signed the nominal roll. Verification of registration data usually takes place in the last two weeks of February.
8. All Heads of Institutions and Sub County Education officers registering private candidates are asked to note that there will be no keying or amending of candidates’ details after verification.

Required Documents

1. Digital Passport photos
2. Birth Certificate

For Private Candidates must include

1. They must be holders of a valid KCPE certificate, EACE, KCE or a foreign qualification accompanied by a KNEC equation letter or
2. A primary certificate other than KCPE (CPE or Foreign) and a qualifying test result slip from KNEC indicating that they have passed the KNEC KCSE Qualifying Test;
3. They must produce evidence of having spent at least 3 years preceding the year of KCSE registration after sitting the KCPE and other primary examinations;
4. They must produce a letter of confirmation from the SCEO/head teacher of the approved private candidate examination center where the candidate will sit for the practical examinations papers;
5. They must produce a National Identity card, a passport or an alien card (for foreign candidates). Where this is not possible, the birth certificate and evidence of National Identity card application (waiting card) will be required;

Office Locations & Contacts

Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) – Head Office
Address: National Housing Corporation (NHC) House,
Aga Khan Walk , Nairobi
Telephone: +254 020 3317412 / 3317413 / 3317419 / 3317427 / 3341027 3341050 / 3341071 / 3341098 / 3341113 / 2213381
Mobile Number: 0720741001/0732333860
Fax Number: +254-020- 2226032
Email Address: exams@knec.ac.ke
KNEC Website

Eligibility

• Individuals (Citizens and Non-citizens) who have undergone secondary school education.

Fees

• The government of Kenya shall pay examination fees for all candidates in public and private schools except for the following:

• Candidates who are re-sitting/repeating
• Non-Citizens and Private candidates registering in the Sub County private examination centers;

Fees Expected To Be Paid By Government for Public and Private Schools.

• For seven subjects Ksh 5,000.00 is paid.
• For eight subjects Ksh 5,400.00 is paid.
• For nine subjects Ksh 5,800.00 is paid.

Fees to be paid by Private Candidates.

• For seven subjects Ksh 5,500.00 is paid.
• For eight subjects Ksh 5,900.00 is paid.
• For nine subjects Ksh 6,300.00 is paid.

Fees to be paid by Repeaters.

• For one subject Ksh 3,100.00 is paid.
• For two subjects Ksh 3,500.00 is paid.
• For three subjects Ksh 3,900.00 is paid.
• For four subjects Ksh 4,300.00 is paid.
• For five subjects Ksh 4,700.00 is paid.
• For six subjects Ksh 5,100.00 is paid.
• For seven subjects Ksh 5,500.00 is paid.
• For eight subjects Ksh 5,900.00 is paid.
• For nine subjects Ksh 6,300.00 is paid.

Project fees

• Home Science Ksh 200.00
• Art and Design Ksh 200.00
• Agriculture Ksh 200.00
• Woodwork Ksh 200.00
• Metal Work Ksh 200.00
• Building Construction Ksh 200.00
• Power Mechanics Ksh 500.00
• Electricity Ksh 500.00
• Drawing & Design Ksh 200.00
• Aviation Technology Ksh 2,500.00
• Computer Studies Ksh 200.00
• French Ksh 500.00
• German Ksh 500.00
• Arabic Ksh 500.00
• Kenyan Sign Language Ksh 500.00
• Music Ksh 500.00

All Examination fees must be paid through any of the following banks

–

• Co-operative Bank.
• National Bank of Kenya.
• Equity Bank.
• Kenya Commercial Bank.

Validity

• The validity period is one year

Documents to Use

• KCSE registration forms

Processing Time

• The Processing time is one month.

Instructions

1. Registration of candidates for the KNEC examinations is based on the Regulations and Syllabuses for specific examination which give the guidelines and procedures required for the registration of candidates.
2. After all the information for the candidates has been keyed online, heads of institutions/schools MUST re-check the online report thoroughly to ensure that it is accurate. The head institution must then download the list of candidates, sign and stamp on the space provided and indicate all other details required in the nominal roll after verification.
3. The Ministry of Education will remit examination fees for all KCPE and KCSE candidates for both private and public schools. However the following candidates will be required to pay examination fees:-

   • KCPE and KCSE private candidates
   • Candidates in prisons

Registration of Candidates with Special Needs for KCSE Exams

1. The Kenya National Examinations Council has categorized the candidates with special needs as follows:-

   • Visually impaired – low vision and blind candidates
   • Hearing impaired candidates
   • Physically challenged candidates
   • Mentally Challenged candidates

2. Information on the above candidates giving details of index number, subjects and degree of impairment must be captured during registration.
3. Depending on the degree of impairment, the Council will facilitate the candidates appropriately upon receipt of supporting evidence from competent medical authority.
4. For the mentally and physically impaired candidates and those who suffer psychomotor disorders the head teacher must write a letter on the same which MUST be accompanied by a recent detailed medical doctor’s report, a full size photograph for physical disability, an Education Assessment Resource Centre (EARC) officers assessment report on each of candidate’s functional ability. Candidates whose doctors’ medical reports are not received will NOT be considered for any assistance during the examination time.

Required Information

1. Candidate’s index number
2. Candidate’s Full Name
3. Centre name
4. Centre no.
5. County name
6. Sub county name
7. Sex
8. Year Of Birth
9. Address
10. Mobile phone no. ( Private candidate)
11. Qualifications (Attach Copies of Certificates/ Result slips) ( Private candidate)
12. KCPE year/ Index no
13. CPE year/ NO
14. School where to sit For Practical Examination (Private Candidate)
15. Subjects Choices

Need for the Document

• Registration allows the candidate to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E.) for the year they have applied for. This will enable them to acquire a K.C.S.E. Certificate.

More Information 

1. A candidate who withdraws from the examination will NOT be entitled to a refund.
2. All candidates for both KCPE and KCSE examinations will be issued with an INDEX NUMBER as per the school’s ADMISSION REGISTER, NOT class performance as was the case in previous years
3. Candidates are expected to check in the KNEC website to ascertain the correctness of their entries before 31st March every year and to alert the SCEO’s office for any amendments to be effected before 31st March every year. No amendments will be effected after this.
4. Registration of candidates ends on 31st March every year. Any entries received at the Council after this date will not be accepted irrespective of when the money was deposited in the KNEC accounts. Private candidates should pay examination fees to the SCEO and should not deposit fees individually in the KNEC deposit accounts.
5. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure the accuracy of his/her registration details. All candidates MUST report to the Sub County Education Officer (SCEO) to sign the nominal roll and to verify their registration details after the closure of the registration period.

A candidate is considered duly registered after fulfilling the following

1. Candidate’s details are successfully uploaded onto the registration platform for the specific examination.
2. The subjects are duly selected as per subject cluster as stipulated in the regulations governing the specific examination.
3. Payment of fees where applicable (examination fees is not refundable or transferable to another candidate nor to another year)
4. Submission of all the candidates’ registration materials to KNEC

   • All candidates must be registered where they have been learning. Registration in two centers (double registration) will be treated as an examination malpractice.
   • Private candidates are not allowed to individually deposit money-into the KNEC collection accounts and Sub-County Education Officers are asked to ensure compliance to this regulation.
   • Some of people who can register as private candidates for KCSE in Kenya include:

5. Those who failed their KCSE exam in Kenya, and wish to try again without having to attend classes and wear uniforms,
6. Those who are older and had missed a chance in their youth in Kenya to sit for KCSE Examination,
7. Those due to unforeseen circumstances, especially due to sickness or accidents in Kenya, were unable to sit their KCSE examinations in Kenya

   • There is no late registration for candidates.

External Links

• Registration of Candidates
• The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Online Portal

Others

• Any school that has between 6 and 15 candidates will be hosted by another center to be determined by the Sub County Director of Education.
• The information on such schools should be submitted to KNEC together with the registration materials.
• The hosted school will retain its code during registration of candidates.
• Schools with less than five (5) candidates are advised to register their candidates in another approved examination center.