Last reviewed: 24 October 2026
Junior school (Grades 7, 8 and 9) brings more subjects and more demanding projects. School-based assessments in Grades 7 and 8 count for 20% of the combined score used for senior school placement, alongside KJSEA (60%) and KPSEA (20%). Projects are therefore not just homework; they feed directly into Grade 10 placement. This guide explains what to expect and how to support your teenager.
On this page
Subjects with project work
Junior school learners take subjects including English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Pre-Technical Studies, Agriculture and Nutrition, Social Studies, Creative Arts and Sports, and Religious Education. Projects are common in Integrated Science, Pre-Technical Studies, Agriculture and Nutrition, and Creative Arts, and community service learning is part of Social Studies.
Typical projects
- Integrated Science: investigating factors that affect plant growth, making a simple electric circuit, testing water quality.
- Pre-Technical Studies: designing and making a useful item from wood, metal or recycled materials, with drawings and a safety plan.
- Agriculture and Nutrition: raising vegetables, planning and cooking a balanced meal, preserving food.
- Creative Arts and Sports: composing music, choreography, painting, or organising a sports event.
- Social Studies: researching a local issue and presenting solutions.
What assessors look for
Rubrics usually reward planning, correct use of concepts, safe practice, creativity, teamwork, quality of the product and the learner’s ability to explain and reflect. A neat product with no evidence of process often scores lower than a modest product with a clear record of how it was made.
A project portfolio
Encourage your child to keep a portfolio for each project:
- The task sheet and rubric.
- A plan with materials, steps and dates.
- Sketches, drafts and photos of progress.
- Results or observations.
- A short reflection: what worked, what went wrong, what they learned.
Group work
Many junior school projects are done in groups. Help your child agree roles early and keep notes of their own contribution. If a group member is not participating, they should tell the teacher promptly rather than doing all the work.
Safety in practical work
Pre-Technical Studies and Integrated Science projects may involve tools, heat or chemicals. Make sure your child works under supervision and follows the safety steps in the plan.
Time management
Teenagers juggle several projects at once. A simple wall calendar with all deadlines, reviewed weekly, prevents last-minute panic. Big projects should be broken into weekly steps.
Linking projects to pathways
Projects reveal interests. A learner who loves Pre-Technical Studies projects may be suited to the STEM pathway; one who shines in Creative Arts may consider Arts and Sports Science. Read CBC pathways, try the placement predictor, and consider the CBC Pathway Report for a structured view.
Integrity and costs
Do not do the project for your child, and do not buy one. Use local and recycled materials, and speak to the teacher if requirements are costly.
See also community service learning and the projects and assessment hub.
Sources
- KNEC, KJSEA framework and school-based assessment guidelines
- KICD, junior school curriculum designs
- Kenyans.co.ke on the 60/20/20 combined score (December 2025)
CBC Guides is independent and is not approved by KICD or KNEC.
Ten-minute check: try the free Grade 7 CBC Challenge. It has 10 questions, each marked on the spot with the working, and it shows which topics to practise next.