What the 8-4-4 syllabus is
The 8-4-4 syllabus is the official subject-by-subject statement of what a secondary learner studies from Form 1 to Form 4 under the 8-4-4 system, and it is what the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examines. For each subject it sets out the objectives and the topics for each form, broken into subtopics with their content. It is developed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), and KCSE papers are set by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) against it.
For a Form 1 to Form 4 teacher, the syllabus is the starting point for everything else: the scheme of work spreads the syllabus topics across the terms, lesson plans take one topic or subtopic at a time, and the record of work shows which topics were covered.
Syllabus or curriculum design?
The syllabus belongs to 8-4-4; the curriculum design belongs to the CBC. They do the same job, saying what should be learned, but they are organised differently:
| 8-4-4 syllabus | CBC curriculum design | |
|---|---|---|
| Classes | Form 1 to Form 4 | PP1 to Grade 12 |
| Organised by | subject, topic and subtopic | learning area, strand and sub-strand |
| Outcomes | objectives and content per topic | specific learning outcomes, learning experiences and key inquiry questions per sub-strand |
| Assessed through | KCSE at the end of Form 4 | continuous assessment and the national assessments (KPSEA, KJSEA) |
So if you are looking for a "syllabus" for Grade 1 to Grade 11, what you need is the CBC curriculum design for that grade and learning area. Start from our CBC Curriculum Designs guide, which covers every grade from Pre-Primary to Grade 11. For Grade 11, taught under the CBC for the first time in 2027, see Grade 11 Curriculum Designs.
How teachers use the syllabus
A Form 1 to Form 4 teacher works from the syllabus in three ways.
- Planning: the topics and subtopics for the form are spread across the three terms in a scheme of work, in the order the syllabus gives or the order the school's coursebook follows.
- Coverage: the record of work is checked against the syllabus, so a head of department can see which topics were taught and which remain.
- Revision: for KCSE, the full syllabus from Form 1 to Form 4 is examinable, so a Form 4 revision plan lists every topic across the four years and works through the weak ones.
Planning around the 2027 calendar
Secondary schools open for Term 1 2027 on 4 January, and KCSE 2027 runs from 8 to 26 November. Term 1 runs 13 weeks to 2 April, Term 2 13 weeks from 3 May to 30 July, and Term 3 10 weeks from 30 August. A Form 4 class needs the syllabus covered early enough to leave time for revision, which in practice means most new content is finished within the first two terms. The Kenya School Calendar 2027 has every date.
Who this page is for
Form 1 to Form 4 teachers can get the syllabus for their subject before planning the term. Heads of department can check coverage against it. Form 4 learners and parents preparing for KCSE can use it as the checklist of everything examinable. Trainee teachers get the difference between a syllabus and a CBC curriculum design in one place. And anyone downloading for a teacher at a cyber café or school office should confirm the subject first, and whether the teacher actually needs a CBC curriculum design instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 8-4-4 syllabus? The official statement of the objectives, topics and content for each secondary subject from Form 1 to Form 4 under the 8-4-4 system. KCSE examines it.
Is there a syllabus for Grade 8, Grade 9 or Grade 10? Not in the 8-4-4 sense. Grades 1 to 12 follow the CBC, which uses curriculum designs instead of syllabuses. See our CBC Curriculum Designs guide for the design for your grade.
Who develops the syllabus, and who sets KCSE? KICD develops the syllabus. KNEC sets and marks the KCSE.
How do I turn the syllabus into a scheme of work? List the topics for your form, spread them across the term's weeks and plan the lessons for each subtopic. Ready-made Form 1 to Form 4 schemes of work are linked from our Schemes of Work by Grade & Term guide.
More Form 1 to Form 4 resources
For secondary practice papers, see our Secondary Exams guide; for topic notes, our Secondary Notes guide.
Download the 8-4-4 syllabus
The 8-4-4 syllabuses are in our catalogue by subject. Use the button below to open the collection and choose your subject.