Last reviewed: 24 October 2026
Grade 6 learners sit the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in the same week as the Grade 9 KJSEA. KPSEA is shorter, with five papers over three days. Every learner moves on to Grade 7 whatever the result, but 20% of the KPSEA score is carried into the Grade 9 calculation used for senior school placement, so it is worth doing well. Here is the week day by day, based on the KNEC document 2026 KPSEA Timetable, Instructions and Guidelines.
On this page
Friday 23 October: Rehearsal
The rehearsal day is shared with KJSEA. Learners find out where they will sit and go over the rules. Use the weekend to rest and prepare kit rather than cram.
Day 1: Monday 26 October
- Mathematics: 8.30 to 9.50 am (1 hour 20 minutes).
- English: 10.50 to 11.50 am (1 hour).
Mathematics comes first, when learners are fresh. A ruler, pencils and an eraser are essential. English is a shorter paper and rewards careful reading.
Day 2: Tuesday 27 October
- Integrated Science: 8.30 to 10.10 am (1 hour 40 minutes).
- Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language: 11.10 am to 12.10 pm (1 hour).
Integrated Science is the longest paper of the week, so breakfast matters on Tuesday.
Day 3: Wednesday 28 October
- Creative Arts and Social Studies: 8.30 to 10.10 am (1 hour 40 minutes).
This combined paper closes KPSEA, and learners are done by mid-morning.
Large-print papers keep the same times. Braille and hearing-impaired versions take longer; for example, Braille Mathematics runs to 10.20 am and Braille Integrated Science to 10.40 am. Our KPSEA explained guide has the full list.
How KPSEA Is Answered
KNEC has used multiple-choice items in KPSEA, answered on a mark sheet. That means shading neatly and in the right row matters. Read our tips on shading KPSEA answer sheets correctly.
How KPSEA Is Weighted
KNEC chief executive Dr David Njeng’ere explained that KPSEA combines school-based assessment from Grades 4 to 6 (60%) with the national papers in Grade 6 (40%). KNEC issues descriptive reports rather than a mean grade or a rank. Then, at the end of Grade 9, 20% of the KPSEA result counts towards senior school placement, together with 20% from Grade 7 and 8 school-based assessment and 60% from KJSEA.
What Parents Can Do This Week
- Keep bedtime regular so your child is alert for 8.30 am starts.
- Check pencils, an eraser and a ruler every evening.
- Do one short practice set a day, not hours of new work.
- Ask how each day went, and praise effort rather than guessing at scores.
- If you also have a Grade 9 child, plan mornings carefully: KJSEA runs the same Monday to Wednesday and continues to Friday. See the KJSEA timetable.
After Wednesday
KPSEA does not decide which junior school your child joins. The next step is Grade 7, usually in the same school or a nearby junior school. Our Grade 6 guide covers the move.
Free and Paid Practice
The KPSEA countdown serves five free questions a day, and every KPSEA paper on our revision papers page lets learners try the first five questions free. Full timed papers with worked answers come with the Monthly Pass at KSh 500, paid by M-Pesa.
Ten-minute check: try the free Grade 6 CBC Challenge. It has 10 questions, each marked on the spot with the working, and it shows which topics to practise next.