KNEC Releases 2026 KCSE Examination Timetable; Tests to Run October 19 – November 20

Theory papers begin November 2, with English and Chemistry opening the five-week national examination season

By Our Education Correspondent | Published: March 5, 2026

NAIROBI — The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has officially released the timetable for the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, with the national tests scheduled to run from Monday, October 19 to Friday, November 20.

The examinations will open with French, German, Sign Language and Music on October 19, marking the start of a five-week assessment period that will affect hundreds of thousands of Form Four students across the country.

PRACTICALS PRECEDE THEORY PAPERS

Practical examinations in Home Science, Art and Design, Building Construction, Electricity and French will be administered between Wednesday, October 21 and Monday, October 26, ahead of the main written papers.

Theory examinations will commence on Monday, November 2, with English and Chemistry each running for two hours, separated by a three-and-a-half-hour break between the two papers.

WEEK ONE: CORE SUBJECTS TAKE CENTRE STAGE

On November 3, candidates will sit for Mathematics Paper 1 — a compulsory subject for all students — lasting two hours and 30 minutes, followed by the English Grammar paper in the afternoon beginning at 2:00 p.m.

November 4 will see students tackle Chemistry Paper 2 in the morning, followed by English Composition and Essay from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Kiswahili papers will be examined on November 5, starting with Lugha from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and concluding with Insha from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

WEEK TWO: SCIENCES, HUMANITIES AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

The second week begins on Monday, November 9, with Mathematics Paper 2 in the morning and Kiswahili Fasihi in the afternoon. Religious Education examinations follow on November 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with Biology Paper 1 scheduled for the afternoon session.

November 11 and 12 will cover Religious Education Paper 2, History and Government Papers 1 and 2, and Biology Paper 2. The second week concludes with Biology Practicals spanning the full day on November 13, with each student allocated one hour and 45 minutes for the practical component.

FINAL STRETCH: GEOGRAPHY, PHYSICS, BUSINESS AND AGRICULTURE

The final week opens on Monday, November 16, with Geography Paper 1 in the morning and Physics Paper 1 in the afternoon. Business Studies and Agriculture candidates will sit for their first papers on November 17, each lasting two hours.

Geography Paper 2 and Physics Paper 2 will be examined on November 18, followed by the second papers for Agriculture and Business Studies on November 19.

The 2026 KCSE examinations will formally conclude on Friday, November 20, with the Physics Practical examination. Each candidate will be allocated two hours and 30 minutes for the practical, bringing the national examination season to a close.