Term 1 2027 opener practice packs: Grades 4–9

Free sample

Entering Grade 7: A container holds 24 litres. A family uses one quarter. How much remains? One quarter of 24 is 6; 24 − 6 = 18 litres.

Entering Grade 9: Solve 3x + 5 = 26. Subtract 5: 3x = 21. Divide by 3: x = 7. Show both steps.

Free starter sets with marking

Original CBC Guide practice, not official papers. Each starter checks the previous year’s foundations.

Entering Grade 9: Mathematics starter — 10 marks, suggested 15 minutes

1. Solve 4x − 7 = 21. Show working. (3)
2. A tank contains 240 litres. Three eighths is used. How many litres remain? Show working. (3)
3. A rectangle has length 12 cm and width 7 cm. Find its area and perimeter, with units. (4)

Marking

1. 4x = 28 (1), x = 7 (1), valid shown operation/method (1). Do not award the method mark twice for the same unshown step.
2. Used = 240 × 3/8 = 90 litres (1 method, 1 result); remaining 150 litres (1). Equivalent remaining-fraction method: 5/8 × 240 (1), correct arithmetic (1), 150 litres (1).
3. Area = 12 × 7 (1), 84 cm² (1); perimeter = 2(12 + 7) (1), 38 cm (1).

Entering Grade 9: English starter — 10 marks, suggested 20 minutes

Read this original passage:

“Before the reading club opened, Amina counted twelve books on a shelf. She noticed that several had torn covers. Instead of throwing them away, the club made protective paper covers and wrote a borrowing list. A month later, every book was still available. The club decided to repair the remaining shelves before asking for more books.”

1. Give two actions the club took to protect or track its books. (2)
2. Why might repairing shelves be sensible before collecting more books? Support your answer with a reason. (2)
3. Write a 50–70 word notice inviting learners to a book-care session. Include a heading, fictional date/time/place, the purpose and what to bring. Do not include real contact details. (6)

Marking

1. Protective paper covers (1); borrowing list (1).
2. Accept a relevant inference (1) with explanation (1), e.g. repaired shelves provide safer storage and reduce further damage. Do not require a single wording or claim the passage proves all damage came from shelves.
3. Heading/purpose (1); date, time and place all present (1); suitable item to bring (1); clear organised message (1); grammar/sentence control (1); spelling/punctuation (1). Word range is guidance; no extra penalty beyond relevance/clarity rubric.

Entering Grade 9: Integrated Science starter — 10 marks, suggested 15 minutes

1. Name a suitable method for separating sand from water, and state what happens to the sand. (2)
2. A learner records a plant’s height as 8 cm on day 1, 11 cm on day 4 and 14 cm on day 7. Find the total height increase and give one reason to use the same measuring method each time. (4)
3. Explain the difference between an observation and an inference using the plant record. (4)

Marking

1. Filtration (1); sand remains as residue on filter (1). Accept settling and careful decanting only if method and explanation are both valid for the question’s ordinary sand/water mixture.
2. 14 − 8 (1), 6 cm (1); consistent method improves comparability (1), e.g. measuring from same reference point reduces measurement variation (1).
3. Observation: directly recorded height, e.g. 14 cm on day 7 (2: meaning/example). Inference: reasoned interpretation, e.g. the plant grew over the recorded period (2: meaning/example). Do not accept “fertiliser caused growth” as established without evidence.

Grade 7: Mathematics starter — 10 marks, suggested 15 minutes

1. Work out 3/4 of 28. Show working. (3)
2. A notebook costs KSh 45. Find the cost of four and the change from KSh 200. (3)
3. Find the area of a rectangle 9 cm long and 6 cm wide, then explain the difference between area and perimeter. (4)

Marking

1. 28 ÷ 4 (1), × 3 (1), 21 (1).
2. 4 × 45 = KSh 180 (1 method, 1 result); KSh 20 change (1).
3. 9 × 6 (1), 54 cm² (1); area is space/surface enclosed (1), perimeter is distance around boundary (1).

Grade 7: English starter — 10 marks, suggested 20 minutes

Read this original passage:

“On Friday, Musa packed a pencil, a ruler and an exercise book. He checked the next day’s club programme before going to bed. In the morning it rained, so he put the books in a reusable waterproof bag. He reached the club with dry books and helped a friend organise a desk.”

1. Name two things Musa packed. (2)
2. Why did he use a waterproof bag? Give the reason from the passage. (2)
3. Write five complete sentences explaining how you prepare for a school or club day. Use fictional details only. (6)

Marking

1. Any two of pencil/ruler/exercise book, 1 each.
2. It was raining (1); to keep books dry (1).
3. Relevant preparation actions (2); clear sequence (1); complete sentences/grammar (1); spelling (1); punctuation (1). Several valid responses; five sentences is guidance for scope, not a second deduction for the same grammar error.

Grade 7: Science foundations starter — 10 marks, suggested 15 minutes

This checks primary science foundations, not untaught Grade 7 content.

1. State two ways of reducing the spread of germs when coughing or sneezing. (2)
2. Give one example each of a solid, a liquid and a gas in everyday surroundings. (3)
3. Two similar potted plants receive the same water. One is placed in daylight and the other in a dark cupboard. State the factor being compared, two conditions that should be kept the same and one reason results from a single pair should be interpreted cautiously. Do not carry out this activity as a requirement. (5)

Marking

1. Any two appropriate distinct actions, e.g. cover with tissue/elbow, dispose of tissue safely, clean hands (1 each). No medical diagnosis is claimed.
2. Solid e.g. stone; liquid e.g. water; gas e.g. air/oxygen (1 each). Do not accept visible steam as the only unqualified gas example if the response actually describes condensed droplets.
3. Light availability (1); any two relevant controlled conditions such as plant type/starting size, soil/pot size and temperature (2); limited sample/other differences may affect results (1) with reasonable explanation (1). Water is already stated equal; accept it as a valid controlled factor but not as two answers.

Use the score to plan revision

1. Let the learner attempt without notes in a quiet session.
2. Mark after the attempt, using worked solutions and accepting other valid answers where allowed.
3. Record errors by topic, not just a total mark.
4. Revise two gaps, then attempt similar questions independently.
5. Share persistent difficulties with the teacher. A practice score is not an official assessment or placement decision.

Full packs

These complete CBC Guide practice papers are listed here only when they are ready. They unlock with the KSh 20 Day Pass or a Monthly Pass. A Free Trial or Teacher Pass also includes them. They are not official school openers, leaked papers, KICD or KNEC materials, or predictions of any school’s paper.

• Entering Grade 9: Mathematics opener practice paper (50 marks, about 60 minutes), with a marking guide
• Entering Grade 7: Mathematics opener practice paper (50 marks, about 60 minutes), with a marking guide

More Grade 9 and Grade 7 learning areas will follow, then Grades 4–6 and Grade 8. Our editorial target is to have the set ready by about 20 December 2026. That date is our preparation target, not an official school reopening date. Check an official dated Ministry notice for term dates rather than inferring a date from a practice pack title.

Use existing revision papers for other learning areas while you wait, under their stated access terms.