What exams and assessments are
Exams and assessments are the tools used to measure what a learner has understood – ranging from a competency-based rubric that describes what a learner can do, to a written examination paper that tests recall and application against a marking scheme. They are how a teacher, a parent or a learner checks progress: not the content being learned, but the means of finding out how well it has been learned.
On this site, the resources go by several names – exams, assessments, tests, homework, quizzes, and (at secondary level) past papers – because the form changes with the level. This page explains what each level uses and links you to the right collection.
How assessment differs by level
The key difference is between competency-based assessment under the CBC and examination-based testing under 8-4-4 – and it shapes what you download.
CBC levels (Playgroup, Pre-Primary, Grade 1 to Grade 10) use competency-based assessment. Rather than a single mark, assessment describes a learner against performance levels – from below expectations up to exceeding expectations – for each skill or strand, using rubrics, observation and practical tasks alongside written work. Assessments at these levels are built to show what a learner can do, so they double as classwork, homework and continuous-assessment tools.
8-4-4 secondary (Form 1 to Form 4) uses examination papers. These are structured tests – topical and full-paper – marked against a scheme, built to prepare learners for the KCSE. The focus is on recall, application and exam technique across each subject.
Choosing the right resource starts with the level: a Grade 4 learner needs a competency assessment, a Form 3 learner needs exam papers. The browse section below is organised on exactly that split.
Who this page is for
Go straight to your level below if you know what you need – otherwise, here's how to use this page:
- Teachers – use the assessments as ready-made continuous-assessment, homework and test material that matches how your level is assessed, whether that's CBC rubrics or 8-4-4 exam papers.
- Learners and home users – find your class below for tests to practise with; CBC learners get assessment and homework tasks, Form 1–4 learners get exam papers for revision.
- Parents, and anyone sourcing these on a learner's behalf (including from a cyber café or business centre) – exams and assessments are specific to class, and at secondary level to subject. Confirm the class (and, for Form 1–4, the subject) before downloading so you fetch the right file.
- Researchers and education-sector readers – the split below (CBC competency assessment from Playgroup to Grade 10, versus 8-4-4 examination at Form 1–4) reflects the two assessment systems the site spans.
Browse exams and assessments by level
Primary & Pre-Primary (CBC, Playgroup–Grade 6)
Our primary exams & assessments hub explains how competency assessment works at these levels, or go straight to a class:
- Playgroup Assessments
- PP1 Assessments
- PP2 Assessments
- Grade 1 Assessments
- Grade 2 Assessments
- Grade 3 Assessments
- Grade 4 Assessments
- Grade 5 Assessments
- Grade 6 Assessments
Junior School (CBC, Grade 7–9)
Our Junior School assessments hub covers how Grade 7–9 assessment works, or go straight to a grade:
Senior School (CBC, Grade 10)
Secondary (8-4-4, Form 1–4)
Our secondary exams hub explains the exam-paper structure, or go straight to a form:
How exams and assessments fit with the other resources
Assessment is the last link in the chain the other resources build. A curriculum design sets out what should be learned and how it's assessed; a scheme of work plans the teaching across the term; notes are the content a learner studies; and exams and assessments then measure how well that content has been learned. At CBC levels the assessment traces directly back to the design's rubrics; at 8-4-4 the exams track the syllabus toward the KCSE.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an assessment and an exam here? Broadly, "assessment" refers to the competency-based, rubric-led tasks used at CBC levels (Playgroup to Grade 10), which describe what a learner can do rather than giving a single mark. "Exam" refers to the 8-4-4 examination papers at Form 1–4, marked against a scheme in preparation for the KCSE.
Which levels are covered? Playgroup, PP1 and PP2, Grade 1 to Grade 6 (primary), Grade 7 to Grade 9 (Junior School), Grade 10 (Senior School), and Form 1 to Form 4 (8-4-4 secondary). Use the browse-by-level section above.
Do these cover both CBC and 8-4-4? Yes. CBC competency assessments run from Playgroup through Grade 10; 8-4-4 examination papers cover Form 1 to Form 4. Pick the level that matches the learner.
I've been asked to download an exam for a learner – what do I check? The class first. For CBC levels that's usually enough. For Form 1–4, also confirm the subject, and whether a topical test or a full paper is wanted, before downloading.
Download exams and assessments
All the exams and assessments above are in our catalogue, organised by level and class. Use the browse-by-level section to go straight to the class you need, or the buttons below for the Primary, Junior School and Secondary collections.