Highlights of the 2023 KCSE results

Ngara Girls' KCSE candidates. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

A total of 899, 453 candidates sat the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, the Ministry of Education has said.

This was a two percent increase in candidature compared to 2022.

Below are the highlights of the just-released results.

Mean Grade

A total of 1,261 candidates scored a mean grade of A in the 2023 KCSE exams.

Speaking during the release of the results at Moi Girls High School in Eldoret on Monday, January 8, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said eight hundred and twenty-five (825) of those were male candidates while 391 were female candidates.

Another 7,254 candidates managed to A- while 18,078 students got B+ and some 36, 728 candidates got a B plain.

59,514 candidates scored B-, 78,343 others got C+, 92, 612 students have C plain, while 107,471 candidates scored C-

Some 125, 006 candidates also managed a D+, another 155, 276 scored a D plain, while 165, 861 got a D minus and some 28, 174 students scored an E in 2023 KCSE examination.

University Qualification

CS Machogu also stated that a total of 201,133 candidates who sat last year's national exams have qualified for THE University set points, representing 22.3 percent of the total students examined.

"The number of candidates who attained the minimum university entry qualification (Grade C+ and above) was 201,133 in the year 2023 KCSE Examination compared to 173,345 in 2022," the CS said.

At the same time, Machogu ordered a probe into the huge number of candidates who scored an E recorded at 48,174.

28, 214 male candidates scored an E, compared to 19,960 female candidates.

"I, therefore, direct the Directorate of Quality Assurance to investigate these E Grade cases in each county and submit a report to me within one month for further action."

Exam Irregularities

In the 2023 KCSE, there were a total of 4,113 candidates reported to have been involved in examination irregularities.

Of these, the Kenya National Examination (KNEC) has canceled the results of four cases over suspected impersonation.

"The results of the remaining 4,109 candidates who were suspected to have engaged in examination irregularities have been withheld pending the completion of investigations, within a period of 20 days," said Machogu.

He also expressed disappointment in the conduct of examiners that he claimed are still insistent on ruining the future of learners by subjecting them to examination malpractices.

120 of the contracted professionals were reported to have been involved in aiding malpractices.

"Firm disciplinary action will be taken against such teachers," he concluded.