KCSE 2026 Timetable: Paper-by-Paper Guide for Candidates

Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

The 2026 KCSE written papers start on Monday 2 November and end on Friday 20 November, but the examination itself began weeks earlier with projects, orals and the first practicals. If you are a candidate, or a parent trying to plan meals, transport and sleep around the papers, this guide lays out every core paper day by day, with times and durations taken from the KNEC 2026 KCSE Examination Timetable, Instructions and Guidelines (reference KNEC/TD/SE/KCSE/TT/26/005). Times shown are for standard papers; large-print and Braille versions of some papers run longer, and those candidates should follow the times their centre gives them.

On this page

What Has Already Happened
Week of 26 October: Languages and Technical Subjects
Week 1 of Core Papers: 2 to 6 November
Week 2: 9 to 13 November
Week 3: 16 to 20 November
Timing Rules on the Timetable
How to Use the Timetable for Revision

What Has Already Happened

Project subjects (Art and Design, Agriculture, Woodwork, Metalwork, Building Construction and Computer Studies) ran from January to July 2026. The rehearsal day was Friday 16 October. Orals for French, German and Kenyan Sign Language, and the Music practical, ran from 19 to 23 October, with Arabic orals continuing to Monday 26 October. Home Science (Foods and Nutrition) practicals run from Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 October.

Week of 26 October: Languages and Technical Subjects

Wednesday 28 October: French, German, Arabic, Kenyan Sign Language and Music written papers in the morning and afternoon.
Thursday 29 October: Home Science 441/1, Art and Design 442/1, Woodwork, Metalwork, Building Construction, Electricity and Aviation Technology Paper 1 from 8.00 am; Power Mechanics, Drawing and Design and Computer Studies 451/1 from 2.00 pm (2 hours 30 minutes each).
Friday 30 October: technical practicals, including Clothing Construction, Art and Design (4 hours), Electricity, Power Mechanics and Computer Studies 451/2.

Week 1 of Core Papers: 2 to 6 November

Monday 2 November: English 101/1 (Functional Skills), 8.00 to 10.00 am. Chemistry 233/1, 2.00 to 4.00 pm.
Tuesday 3 November: Mathematics 121/1 (Alt. A) and 122/1 (Alt. B), 8.00 to 10.30 am. English 101/2 (Comprehension, Literary Appreciation and Grammar), 2.00 to 4.30 pm.
Wednesday 4 November: Chemistry 233/2, 8.00 to 10.00 am, and General Science 237/1, 8.00 to 10.30 am. English 101/3 (Creative Composition and Essays Based on Set Texts), 2.00 to 4.30 pm.
Thursday 5 November: Kiswahili 102/2 (Lugha), 8.00 to 10.30 am. Kiswahili 102/1 (Insha), 2.00 to 3.45 pm.
Friday 6 November: Chemistry 233/3 (Practical), 8.00 to 10.15 am.

Tuesday and Wednesday are the heaviest days: two long papers each, with English in the afternoon after a morning of Mathematics or Chemistry. Candidates should eat properly at lunch and avoid revising through the break.

Week 2: 9 to 13 November

Monday 9 November: Mathematics 121/2 and 122/2, 8.00 to 10.30 am. Kiswahili 102/3 (Fasihi), 2.00 to 4.30 pm.
Tuesday 10 November: CRE 313/1, IRE 314/1 and HRE 315/1, 8.00 to 10.30 am. Biology 231/1, 2.00 to 4.00 pm.
Wednesday 11 November: CRE, IRE and HRE Paper 2, 8.00 to 10.30 am. History and Government 311/1, 2.00 to 4.30 pm.
Thursday 12 November: Biology 231/2, 8.00 to 10.00 am. History and Government 311/2, 2.00 to 4.30 pm.
Friday 13 November: Biology 231/3 (Practical), 8.00 to 9.45 am.

Week 3: 16 to 20 November

Monday 16 November: Geography 312/1, 8.00 to 10.45 am. Physics 232/1, 2.00 to 4.00 pm, and General Science 237/2, 2.00 to 4.30 pm.
Tuesday 17 November: Business Studies 565/1, 8.00 to 10.00 am. Agriculture 443/1, 2.00 to 4.00 pm.
Wednesday 18 November: Geography 312/2, 8.00 to 10.45 am. Physics 232/2, 2.00 to 4.00 pm.
Thursday 19 November: Business Studies 565/2, 8.00 to 10.30 am. Agriculture 443/2, 2.00 to 4.00 pm.
Friday 20 November: Physics 232/3 (Practical), 8.00 to 10.30 am. This is the last paper.

Timing Rules on the Timetable

The KNEC instructions say first-session papers start at 8.00 am and second-session papers at 2.00 pm, and candidates must be available for searching and seated 15 minutes before the start. No extra time is allowed, and reading time is part of the stated time unless a paper says otherwise. A candidate more than half an hour late will be given the paper only in exceptional circumstances, so plan transport for day scholars with a margin. If a practical runs in shifts, every candidate must report for confinement; failing to do so counts as an irregularity.

Calculators (non-programmable, without a cover) are allowed in Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Agriculture, the technical subjects, Computer Studies and Business Studies, along with KNEC mathematical tables that carry no added notes.

How to Use the Timetable for Revision

Revise in paper order. In the days before 2 November, put English and Chemistry Paper 1 first, then Mathematics. Leave Physics and Agriculture for the gap after 13 November.
Use the gaps. Weekends of 7–8 and 14–15 November are the main revision windows for Mathematics Paper 2, Biology and Geography.
Practise at exam time. Sit at least one full paper starting at 8.00 am and one at 2.00 pm so the body is used to those hours.
Check the official copy. If KNEC changes anything, the version on its timetables page and your school’s notice board take priority over any summary, including this one.

For paper-specific advice, read our guides to KCSE Mathematics Papers 1 and 2, the Chemistry practical and exam rules and irregularities. After the last paper, our guide on when KCSE results come out explains what happens next.

Practise each paper before its date. Free KCSE practice sets are on our KCSE past papers page. Full papers with worked answers for every subject are in the Monthly Pass (KSh 500 by M-Pesa).