The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 2024 results have been released, showing a notable increase in top grades, particularly the coveted A plain. A total of 1,693 candidates achieved a straight A, marking a significant rise from 1,216 candidates in 2023. This represents a 0.18% increase in the number of students who attained the highest grade in the examination.
The results also indicate a steady rise in both male and female candidates scoring A plain. In 2024, the distribution showed 1,375 A plain grades coming from national schools, accounting for 81.22% of the total A plain scores. Extra-county schools followed with 163 candidates scoring A plain, which is 9.63% of the total. County schools contributed four A plain grades, while private schools registered 142 candidates with the top grade.
Notably, national schools have continued to dominate the highest academic achievements, reflecting their status as some of the country’s leading educational institutions. The trend in top grades is a positive development, pointing to enhanced academic standards in Kenya’s education system.
In addition to the A plain results, the overall performance in the 2024 KCSE exam has shown improvements. A total of 7,743 candidates scored an A minus, an increase of 0.8% from the 7,254 candidates in 2023. The gender distribution of A minus grades also showed a slight advantage for boys, with 4,903 male students compared to 2,840 female students.
The KCSE 2024 saw an overall increase in the number of candidates, with 962,512 sitting the exam, up from 899,453 in 2023. The gender split was nearly equal, with 480,310 male candidates and 482,202 female candidates.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba expressed confidence that all candidates were well-prepared to join higher learning institutions, with 246,391 students meeting the minimum university entry requirement of a C+ or higher. The results are now available online through the official KNEC portal, where students can access their performance by entering their index number and name.
As Kenya celebrates the success of its candidates, the increased number of A plain grades and overall improved performance highlight the continued growth of the country’s education system.
