KJSEA 2026 Timetable and What Grade 9 Learners Should Expect

Updated 20 October 2026

Grade 9 learners across Kenya sit the 2026 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) from Monday, 26 October to Friday, 30 October 2026, after a rehearsal on Friday, 23 October. KJSEA is the assessment that closes junior school under the competency based curriculum and feeds into placement in senior school (Grade 10). This guide gives the full day by day timetable from KNEC, the rules learners must follow, a checklist for each morning and what happens after the assessment.

What Has Already Been Done

Part of KJSEA is assessed before the written week. According to the KNEC timetable, the Creative Arts and Sports project (911/1) ran for three months between May and July 2026, while the Pre-Technical Studies project (912/2) and the Agriculture project (906/2) each ran for one month in July 2026. The written papers in October make up the rest of the assessment.

KJSEA 2026 Timetable

Learners using Braille or those with hearing impairment get longer times on several papers, as set out in the full KNEC timetable. Their schools will have the exact end times.

Key Rules from KNEC

• All first session papers start at 8.30 am. Learners must be searched outside the room and seated 15 minutes before each paper.
• The time allowed is printed against each paper and no extra time is given. Reading time is part of the stated time.
• A learner more than half an hour late will only be given the paper in exceptional circumstances.
• Phones and any other electronic communication devices are banned. A learner found with one will have their results cancelled.
• Nothing may be brought into the room except authorised materials, and no paper, used or unused, may be taken out.
• Question papers are personalised with the learner’s name and a random number.

A learner who commits an irregularity in any paper has the results for that whole subject cancelled, and widespread cheating can lead to results for a whole centre being cancelled.

What to Carry Each Morning

• Two black or blue pens. Erasable pens are not allowed.
• A sharpened pencil and rubber. Pencil is allowed for diagrams and for shading the answer sheet in multiple choice questions, so learners should practise shading neatly.
• A ruler and mathematical set for Mathematics and Integrated Science.
• A non-programmable calculator only if permitted, and only KNEC printed mathematical tables.
• A clean handkerchief and water if the school allows it. Leave phones and smart watches at home.

How the Week Flows

Each day has a morning paper, a 30 minute break and a late morning paper, so most learners finish before lunch. Thursday and Friday are longer, with a 50 minute break followed by an afternoon paper at 2.00 pm. Thursday carries three papers, Integrated Science, Social Studies and Creative Arts and Sports, so learners should rest well on Wednesday night. Friday ends with the second Integrated Science paper, which is one hour long.

Grade 6 learners sit KPSEA in the same week, so primary and comprehensive schools will be busy. Parents with children in both grades should confirm reporting times for each.

What KJSEA Results Are Used For

KJSEA results help place learners in senior schools and pathways. When the 2025 results were released on 11 December 2025, they showed each learner’s performance in every subject and their overall performance in the three senior school pathways: STEM, Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports. Results for individual learners were checked online on the KJSEA results portal using the learner’s assessment number and at least one registered name. The 2026 release date will be announced by the Ministry of Education.

Parents planning for Grade 10 can start budgeting now with our senior school fees guide, read how government funding works in our school capitation explainer, and browse other costs in our school fees hub.

Tips for Parents

• Keep the week calm. Avoid late night revision and long travel.
• Make sure your child knows their assessment number and keeps a note of it at home, because it is needed to check results later.
• Ignore social media posts claiming to sell KJSEA papers. They are scams and can lead to cancelled results.
• Talk with your child about pathways early, so their senior school choices match their strengths.

For timed practice this week, CBC Guides has Grade 9 practice papers in the KJSEA format that mark themselves, and our KJSEA 2026 revision guide sets out a day-by-day plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does KJSEA 2026 start?

The written papers start on Monday, 26 October 2026, after a rehearsal on Friday, 23 October.

When does KJSEA 2026 end?

On Friday, 30 October 2026, with Integrated Science Paper 2 from 2.00 to 3.00 pm.

What time does the first paper start each day?

At 8.30 am. Learners should be seated by 8.15 am.

Can learners use pencils?

Yes, for diagrams and for shading answers in multiple choice questions. Written answers must be in black or blue ink.

How will I check my child’s KJSEA results?

Last year results were checked online with the assessment number and one registered name. Watch for the Ministry of Education announcement for this year’s details.

Source: KNEC 2026 KJSEA Timetable and Instructions.