How candidates performed in 2023 KCPE exams

A total of 8, 523 candidates scored over 400 marks in the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCPE) exams representing 0.60 per cent of the total number of candidates who sat for the exams.

This is a decline from the 9,443 candidates who scored over 400 marks in 2022.

While announcing the results on Thursday at Mitihani House in Nairobi, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said a total of 1,406,557 candidates sat for the exams.

The CS announced that the top student scored 428 marks out of 500. This is a slight decline from last year where the top student scored 431 marks.

Results breakdown

According to the data released by the CS, 352,782 candidates scored between 300-399 marks representing 24.92 per cent of the total candidates.

The bulk of the candidates 658,278 (46.49 per cent) scored between 200-299 marks.

A further 383,025 candidates scored between 100-199 marks representing 27.05 per cent while 2,060 students scored between 001-099 representing 0.15 per cent.

A total of 3,456 with special needs also sat for the exams. Two of the candidates scored over 400 marks while 318 scored between 300-399 marks.

867 candidates scored between 200 – 299 marks, 1,417 scored between 100 – 199 marks and seven candidates got between 001 – 099 marks.

The CS also announced that 9,354 candidates who were unable to sit for the KCPE will be given special exams in January.

"The council shall organize for KCPE candidates who had registered but were unable to sit their exams, to do so after 30 days," he said.

The CS at the same time announced only two candidates were involved in exam malpractices during the exams.

Machogu said one of the candidates was found with unauthorised notes while the other one was found with a mobile phone.

This year's results will mark the last examinations under the 8-4-4 education system which has since been replaced with the Competency-Based Curriculum.