Last reviewed: 30 October 2026
Quick answer: A learner moving from Grade 5 to Grade 6 needs about 30 to 45 minutes of revision a day in the long holiday, after a week of real rest. Focus on Grade 5 Mathematics, English and Kiswahili gaps first, because Grade 6 builds on them and KPSEA is sat at the end of Grade 6. Finish with the 10-day Ready for Grade 6 January catch-up from Tuesday 5 January 2027.
Updated 30 October 2026
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Why the Grade 5 to 6 holiday matters
The November to December break is the longest of the year. Children who stop reading and practising for eight weeks often spend the first weeks of Term 1 relearning. A short daily routine keeps skills warm without taking the holiday away. Grade 6 is the KPSEA year, so a confident start counts for more than usual. The plan below is for home use; it does not replace school or a teacher.
Week-by-week Grade 5 to 6 holiday revision plan
| Week | Focus | Daily time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (from 2 Nov) | Rest, reading for fun | Reading only |
| 2 | Mathematics: numbers and operations | 30 min |
| 3 | English: grammar and comprehension | 30 min |
| 4 | Mathematics: fractions, decimals, measurement | 30–40 min |
| 5 | Kiswahili: sarufi, insha | 30 min |
| 6 | Science and Social Studies basics | 30 min |
| 7 (December) | Mixed quizzes, weak topics, festive break | 20–30 min |
| 5 Jan 2027 | Ready for Grade 6 catch-up, 10 days | 20–30 min |
What to revise in each learning area
Mathematics
Place value to millions, the four operations, fractions and decimals, measurement of length, mass, capacity and time, and money problems. Use the Grade 5 Mathematics revision guide and then preview Grade 6 fractions.
English
Tenses, punctuation, comprehension and short compositions. See the Grade 5 English revision guide.
Kiswahili, Science and Social Studies
Sarufi and insha, plants, animals and the human body, and maps of the local area. In the last weeks, try a few Grade 6 revision papers to see the KPSEA format.
How to keep it light
- Same time each day, before screens.
- One topic per day; stop while your child still wants to go on.
- Mark together and talk through each wrong answer.
- Read for fun every day: newspapers, storybooks, Kiswahili hadithi.
- Keep a short list of topics that keep coming back wrong and revisit them each Friday.
The January catch-up course
The Ready for Grade 6 course runs for 10 days from Tuesday 5 January 2027: one short lesson and one marked quiz a day across Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Science and Social Studies, revising the Grade 5 topics Grade 6 builds on. It costs KSh 500 once by M-Pesa. Until then, use free quizzes and the daily CBC Challenge. See all January catch-up courses.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a Grade 5 learner revise in the holiday?
About 30 to 45 minutes a day, five days a week, after a first week of rest. Longer sessions tend to backfire at this age.
Should my Grade 5 child start KPSEA papers now?
Only a few, near the end of the holiday, to get used to the format. Most of the time is better spent closing Grade 5 gaps.
When is KPSEA 2027?
Not announced yet. It ran in late October in 2025 and 2026, so late October 2027 is expected.
Are holiday tuition classes allowed?
Rules on holiday tuition are set by the Ministry of Education. See our guide to holiday tuition rules. Home revision with a parent is not affected.
Want marked practice? Every paper and quiz on CBC Guide lets you try the first questions free. A Day Pass (KSh 20) or Weekly Pass unlocks full papers with worked answers, paid once by M-Pesa or card with no auto-renewal. See all passes.
Ten-minute check: try the free Grade 5 CBC Challenge. It has 10 questions, each marked on the spot with the working, and it shows which topics to practise next.
Want 10 more questions like this? Get the Monthly Pass + Holiday Packs for KSh 550.
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