In a significant development affecting learners across Kenya, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced a major change in the way candidates will respond to questions in the upcoming KPSEA and KJSEA assessments.
According to an official communication released on June 24, 2025, learners will no longer use the traditional method of drawing lines to indicate their answers. Instead, they will be required to shade circles, aligning with Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology.
This adjustment marks a shift toward more standardized and technologically driven assessments in line with global best practices. OMR technology allows machines to read shaded responses on special answer sheets, thereby reducing the possibility of human error during marking.
To facilitate a smooth transition, KNEC made sample examination materials available for download earlier this year. “The Council posted KJSEA sample papers on the KNEC portal in January 2025 for schools to download and familiarize their learners with the new formats,” read the statement from the council.
The use of OMR sheets is not entirely new in the Kenyan examination landscape but represents a first for assessments under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). It demonstrates KNEC’s commitment to modernizing its evaluation processes and improving efficiency and accuracy in scoring.
Teachers, learners, and examination administrators are encouraged to take advantage of the sample materials now accessible on the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portal.
The samples include not only practice tests but also guidelines and OMR sheets, enabling schools to conduct mock assessments and train candidates adequately before the official exams.
This change underscores the need for digital literacy and thorough preparation, especially among Grade 6 and Grade 9 learners who will be sitting the KPSEA and KJSEA, respectively.
Teachers must now incorporate the new answering technique into classroom practices and ensure every candidate understands how to use the OMR sheets.
KNEC also urges examination centers to keep their login credentials safe and always log out after accessing materials to prevent unauthorized use of confidential information.
With these updates, the upcoming exams will test not only academic content but also the learners’ ability to adapt to new systems.
