Updated November 2026. These KCSE 2026 English Paper 1 (101/1) predicted questions are built from past-paper trends: we ranked the topics that past KCSE English Paper 1 papers test most often, then wrote original practice questions on them. They are not leaked, official or guaranteed questions, and this site is not linked to KNEC or KICD. Use them to practise the areas most likely to appear, alongside your full syllabus revision.
KCSE English 101/1 prediction: most commonly tested topics
The ranking below comes from the topic coverage of past KCSE papers, as summarised in our paper guides. It is a ranking, not an exact count: exam papers change every year.
| Rank | Topic | How it is usually tested |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Functional writing | Formal letter, report, memo, minutes, speech, email or CV |
| 2 | Cloze test | Filling blanks in a passage with one suitable word |
| 3 | Oral skills: poems and oral literature | Rhythm, rhyme, stress, intonation and how you would perform a piece |
| 4 | Oral skills: pronunciation | Silent letters, homophones, minimal pairs and word stress |
| 5 | Oral skills: conversation and etiquette | Turn-taking, politeness, telephone and interview skills |
| 6 | Vocabulary in context | Meaning of words as used in a passage |
Free sample: 3 KCSE 2026 English Paper 1 predicted questions
Q1. Functional writing: You are the secretary of your school’s Environment Club. Write the minutes of a meeting held to plan a tree-planting day.
Marking scheme
Award marks for format (heading with venue, date and time; members present, absent with apology, in attendance), numbered minutes (MIN 01/11/2026 style) covering preliminaries, confirmation of previous minutes, the agenda item with decisions and who will act, AOB, adjournment, and the secretary’s and chair’s names and signatures. Use the past tense and reported speech.
Q2. Pronunciation: identify the silent letter in each word: debt, knee, island, psalm, castle.
Marking scheme
debt (b), knee (k), island (s), psalm (p, and the l in many accents), castle (t).
Q3. Oral literature: you are to perform a lullaby. State two things you would do to make your performance effective.
Marking scheme
Any two: use a soft, soothing tone; rock or sway gently to the rhythm; repeat the refrain; slow the tempo; keep eye contact or a gentle facial expression with the baby.
Full set: 15 more predicted questions with marking scheme
15 more predicted questions with full marking schemes are locked. They cover every topic in the table above.
Unlock all for KSh 20 today or KSh 500 for the month
Pay by M-Pesa. One Day Pass unlocks every predicted-questions page, plus past papers and challenges, for 24 hours. No auto-renewal. Already paid? Log in.
Frequently asked questions
Are these the real KCSE 2026 English Paper 1 questions?
No. Nobody outside KNEC knows the real questions, and any site claiming a leak is lying or breaking the law. These are original practice questions written by the CBC Guide team, predicted from the topics past KCSE papers test most often.
Which topics come up most in KCSE English Paper 1 (101/1)?
The most commonly tested areas in past papers are Functional writing, Cloze test, Oral skills: poems and oral literature, Oral skills: pronunciation. The full ranked list is in the table above.
How do I get the full set of predicted questions?
The first 3 questions are free. The remaining 15, each with a marking scheme, unlock with the KSh 20 Day Pass or the KSh 500 Monthly Pass, paid by M-Pesa. The passes do not auto-renew.
How should I use predicted questions in the last days before the exam?
Answer each question under time, mark it with the scheme, then go back to your notes for any topic you got wrong. Do not skip topics that are not on this list, because KNEC can test any part of the syllabus.
Keep revising English Paper 1
KCSE English Paper 1 revision challenge · KCSE English Paper 1 revision guide · All KCSE 2026 predicted questions · KCSE hub