Edition 01 · October 2026. The CBC Learning Pulse is a monthly readiness index for Grade 6 and Grade 9 learners in Mathematics, English and Integrated Science, built from CBC Guides platform data.
Executive summary
Learners are close to ready in English and Science. Mathematics is where the gap opens. In October 2026, Grade 6 learners on CBC Guides scored 75 on the readiness index and Grade 9 learners 73. In both grades Mathematics is the weakest subject, and a small set of topics, led by fractions and money, accounts for most of the misses.
- 75/100: Grade 6 overall readiness
- 73/100: Grade 9 overall readiness
- −13 points: Grade 6 Maths (69) vs English and Science (82)
- 57%: Grade 6 maths quizzes that missed a fractions question
Five findings
- Fractions are Grade 6’s biggest stumbling block. 57% of Grade 6 maths quizzes missed at least one fractions question, with percentages next at 49%.
- Maths trails English and Science in Grade 6. Grade 6 maths readiness is 69, 13 points below English and Science, which both score 82.
- Money is the hardest Grade 9 maths topic. Money and finance questions were missed in 46% of Grade 9 maths quizzes, more than any other topic.
- Nutrition is the weak spot in Grade 9 Integrated Science. Plant nutrition and animal nutrition were each missed in 48% of quizzes.
- Grade 9 English leads, but usage and vocabulary lag. English is the strongest Grade 9 subject at 76, yet usage (48%) and vocabulary (44%) are its most-missed areas.
The CBC Readiness Index
| Grade and subject | Index (0–100) | vs grade |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 overall | 75 | |
| English | 82 | +7 |
| Integrated Science | 82 | +7 |
| Mathematics | 69 | −6 |
| Grade 9 overall | 73 | |
| English | 76 | +3 |
| Integrated Science | 72 | −1 |
| Mathematics | 70 | −3 |
Grade 6 is ahead of Grade 9 in English (+6) and Integrated Science (+10). Mathematics is the exception: the two grades sit within a point of each other, at 69 and 70, and both are the lowest subject reading for their grade.
Grade 6: strong in language and science, held back by fractions
| Most-missed topic | % of quizzes |
|---|---|
| Maths: Fractions | 57% |
| Maths: Percentages | 49% |
| Maths: Area | 34% |
| Maths: Decimals | 31% |
| English: Subject–verb agreement | 40% |
| English: Spelling | 40% |
| English: Abstract nouns | 35% |
| English: Relative pronouns | 20% |
Grade 9: gaps in money, nutrition and usage
| Most-missed topic | % of quizzes |
|---|---|
| Maths: Money & finance | 46% |
| Maths: Linear inequalities | 33% |
| Maths: Bearings | 29% |
| Maths: Indices | 21% |
| Science: Nutrition in plants | 48% |
| Science: Nutrition in animals | 48% |
| Science: Structure of the atom | 30% |
| Science: Metals and alloys | 30% |
| English: Usage | 48% |
| English: Vocabulary | 44% |
| English: Active & passive voice | 41% |
| English: Reported speech | 33% |
What this means
- Parents: for Grade 6, start with fractions and percentages; for Grade 9, practise money questions with real examples such as budgets, change, interest and simple profit and loss. Try the CBC Challenge for short, timed topic quizzes.
- Schools and teachers: plan a dedicated revision block for Grade 6 fractions; revisit plant and animal nutrition together in Grade 9; teach English usage and vocabulary in context.
- Policymakers and partners: target support at a few high-miss topics, and pair Grade 9 money topics with financial-literacy programmes.
Methodology
Readiness index = 100 × average of (questions correct ÷ questions attempted) across quiz attempts in a grade and subject. Topic miss rate = share of quizzes in which at least one question on a topic was answered wrongly (rates do not add up to 100%). Attempts completed in under 60 seconds are excluded. Cuts with too little data are omitted; this month that excludes Grades 4, 5, 7 and 8. All data is anonymous and only percentages and index values are published. CBC Guides is an independent learning resource; the Learning Pulse is not an official assessment.
Suggested citation: CBC Guides (2026). CBC Learning Pulse, October 2026. cbcguide.co.ke. Figures may be reproduced with attribution to CBC Guides. Press and data enquiries: hello@cbcguide.co.ke. Sponsorship enquiries: cbcguide.co.ke/advertise.