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Kenya · CBC / CBE guide

School in Kenya (CBC/CBE): grades, ages and free worksheets

The 2-6-3-3 structure from PP1 to Grade 12, the KNEC assessments along the way, and free worksheets for every grade.

Free worksheetsClasses and ages

Kenya replaced the old 8-4-4 system with the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), launched in 2017 and now called Competency Based Education (CBE). It follows a 2-6-3-3-3 structure: two years of pre-primary (PP1 and PP2), six years of primary (Grade 1–6), three years of junior school (Grade 7–9), three years of senior school (Grade 10–12) and then three years of university.

Primary is split into lower primary (Grade 1–3) and upper primary (Grade 4–6). Junior school learners are usually 12 to 14, and senior school starts at about 15. The first CBC learners were due to move up to senior school (Grade 10) in January 2026. In senior school each learner follows one pathway: STEM, social sciences, or arts and sports science.

Learners are assessed against competencies, with grades such as Meeting Expectations or Approaching Expectations rather than only marks.

At a glance

Structure
2-6-3-3-3
Pre-primary to university
Pre-primary
PP1, PP2
Ages about 4 and 5
Junior school
Grade 7–9
Ages about 12–14
School year
Jan–Nov
Breaks in April, August and December

Kenya

Classes and ages

The typical age of a child at the start of each school year. Tap a class to open its free worksheets.

How old is your child?

Pick an age to highlight the matching class.

At 4, most children are in PP1. That is part of Pre-primary (PP1–PP2).

PP1 worksheets

At 5, most children are in PP2. That is part of Pre-primary (PP1–PP2).

PP2 worksheets

At 6, most children are in Grade 1. That is part of Lower primary (Grade 1–3).

Grade 1 worksheets

At 7, most children are in Grade 2. That is part of Lower primary (Grade 1–3).

Grade 2 worksheets

At 8, most children are in Grade 3. That is part of Lower primary (Grade 1–3).

Grade 3 worksheets

At 9, most children are in Grade 4. That is part of Upper primary (Grade 4–6).

Grade 4 worksheets

At 10, most children are in Grade 5. That is part of Upper primary (Grade 4–6).

Grade 5 worksheets

At 11, most children are in Grade 6. That is part of Upper primary (Grade 4–6).

Grade 6 worksheets

At 12, most children are in Grade 7. That is part of Junior school (Grade 7–9).

Grade 7 worksheets

At 13, most children are in Grade 8. That is part of Junior school (Grade 7–9).

Grade 8 worksheets

At 14, most children are in Grade 9. That is part of Junior school (Grade 7–9).

Grade 9 worksheets

At 15, most children are in Grade 10. That is part of Senior school (Grade 10–12).

Grade 10 worksheets

At 16, most children are in Grade 11. That is part of Senior school (Grade 10–12).

Grade 11 worksheets

At 17, most children are in Grade 12. That is part of Senior school (Grade 10–12).

Grade 12 worksheets
  1. Pre-primary (PP1–PP2)
    1. 4yrsPP1Pre-Primary 1
    2. 5yrsPP2Pre-Primary 2
  2. Lower primary (Grade 1–3)
    1. 6yrsGrade 1Grade 1 (Kenya, CBE)
    2. 7yrsGrade 2Grade 2 (Kenya, CBE)
    3. 8yrsGrade 3Grade 3 (Kenya, CBE)
  3. Upper primary (Grade 4–6)
    1. 9yrsGrade 4Grade 4 (Kenya, CBE)
    2. 10yrsGrade 5Grade 5 (Kenya, CBE)
    3. 11yrsGrade 6Grade 6 (Kenya, CBE)
  4. Junior school (Grade 7–9)
    1. 12yrsGrade 7Grade 7 (Kenya, CBE)
    2. 13yrsGrade 8Grade 8 (Kenya, CBE)
    3. 14yrsGrade 9Grade 9 (Kenya, CBE)
  5. Senior school (Grade 10–12)
    1. 15yrsGrade 10Grade 10 (Kenya, CBE)
    2. 16yrsGrade 11Grade 11 (Kenya, CBE)
    3. 17yrsGrade 12Grade 12 (Kenya, CBE)

National exams and assessments

The main exams children meet on the way through school.

Grade 3

Grade 3 school-based assessment

When
Grade 3
Run by
Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), in schools

An early check on literacy and numeracy that is not used to rank learners.

KPSEA

Kenya Primary School Education Assessment

When
End of Grade 6
Run by
KNEC

Taken at the end of primary school. It counts towards the final result at the end of junior school.

KJSEA

Kenya Junior School Education Assessment

When
End of Grade 9
Run by
KNEC

Combines projects and written papers. The final grade also uses earlier results: KPSEA and school-based assessments in Grades 7 and 8.

KCSE

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

When
End of Form 4 (8-4-4 system)
Run by
KNEC

The examination for students still finishing the older 8-4-4 system.

Kenya

Free worksheets for every class

Printable, playable on screen and marked instantly. Each class page has fresh sheets for every subject.

Pre-primary (PP1–PP2)

PP1

Pre-Primary 1

PP2

Pre-Primary 2

Lower primary (Grade 1–3)

Grade 1

Grade 1 (Kenya, CBE)

Grade 2

Grade 2 (Kenya, CBE)

Grade 3

Grade 3 (Kenya, CBE)

Upper primary (Grade 4–6)

Grade 4

Grade 4 (Kenya, CBE)

Grade 5

Grade 5 (Kenya, CBE)

Grade 6

Grade 6 (Kenya, CBE)

Junior school (Grade 7–9)

Grade 7

Grade 7 (Kenya, CBE)

Grade 8

Grade 8 (Kenya, CBE)

Grade 9

Grade 9 (Kenya, CBE)

Senior school (Grade 10–12)

Grade 10

Grade 10 (Kenya, CBE)

Grade 11

Grade 11 (Kenya, CBE)

Grade 12

Grade 12 (Kenya, CBE)

Curriculum

KICD curriculum designs

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) designs the CBC/CBE curriculum. Our sheets are organised by grade and age, and support the numeracy and literacy competencies children build in each grade.

Tips for this school system

  • CBC asks children to explain and apply what they learn. After a maths sheet, ask your child to tell you how they solved one question.
  • PP1 and PP2 are about talking, drawing, counting and early letters: a short colouring or tracing sheet is enough for one sitting.
  • In junior school, little and often beats long sessions: one fresh maths sheet a day keeps skills sharp without stress.

Keep learning

Programmes, phonics and short explainers that work with any school system.

Learning Wiki

Short, clear explainers of school topics, with practice to match.

Check-ups

Quick checks, marked instantly, to see what your child knows.

Lesson plans

Ready-to-teach plans that wrap fresh practice sheets.

Parents' area

Guides by age, weekly packs and your child's progress.

Questions parents ask

Is CBC now called CBE?

Yes. The government now calls the system Competency Based Education (CBE). The grade structure from PP1 to Grade 12 stays the same.

What age is PP1 in Kenya?

PP1 is usually for children aged about 4 and PP2 for children aged about 5, so most children start Grade 1 at 6.

What is the KJSEA?

The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment, run by KNEC at the end of Grade 9. It mixes projects with written papers, and the final grade also uses the KPSEA and school-based assessments from Grades 7 and 8.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Every class page has free sheets you can print, play on screen or write on with a finger or stylus. Some actions need a free account, and a few items marked Premium are part of a paid plan. There are no ads and no trackers.

Other countries

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Sources

We checked the facts on this page against these sources (last reviewed October 2026).

  1. Wikipedia: Education in Kenya (2-6-3-3-3, school year)
  2. Citizen Digital: government changes CBC to CBE
  3. Nation: how Grade 9 learners will be examined (KJSEA, KPSEA)
  4. Nation: Grade 3 assessment will not be ranked
  5. The Standard: CBC age structure (senior school at 15)
  6. People Daily: what awaits the first Grade 10 learners in 2026