CBC Curriculum — Tiptons Analytics School Management System

2-6-3-3-3 Structure

Understanding the CBC Curriculum Structure

The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) was developed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to replace the 8-4-4 system. It follows a 2-6-3-3-3 progression: 2 years of Pre-Primary education, 6 years of Primary (split into Lower and Upper), 3 years of Junior Secondary, 3 years of Senior Secondary, and 3+ years of Tertiary education. This structure emphasizes competency development at every level rather than rote examination performance.

Progression

The five CBC levels

From Pre-Primary to Senior Secondary — a clear, sequential journey for every learner.

02

Pre-Primary

PP1 – PP2 · 2 years

03

Lower Primary

Grade 1–3 · 3 years

03

Upper Primary

Grade 4–6 · 3 years

03

Junior Secondary

Grade 7–9 · 3 years

03

Senior Secondary

Grade 10–12 · 3 years

Pre-Primary Subjects

Learning areas for PP1 & PP2

Learning areas prescribed by KICD for Pre-Primary level.

Language Activities
Mathematical Activities
Environmental Activities
Psychomotor & Creative Activities
Religious Education Activities

Lower Primary Subjects

Learning areas for Grade 1–3

Learning areas prescribed by KICD for Lower Primary level.

Literacy
Kiswahili Language Activities
English Language Activities
Indigenous Language Activities
Mathematical Activities
Environmental Activities
Hygiene & Nutrition Activities
Religious Education Activities
Movement & Creative Activities

Upper Primary Subjects

Learning areas for Grade 4–6

Learning areas prescribed by KICD for Upper Primary level.

English
Kiswahili
Mathematics
Science & Technology
Social Studies
Religious Education (CRE/IRE/HRE)
Creative Arts
Physical & Health Education
Agriculture & Nutrition
Home Science

Junior Secondary Subjects

Learning areas for Grade 7–9

Learning areas prescribed by KICD for Junior Secondary level.

English
Kiswahili
Mathematics
Integrated Science
Social Studies
Religious Education (CRE/IRE/HRE)
Creative Arts & Sports
Pre-Technical Studies
Agriculture & Nutrition

Core Competencies

The 7 Core Competencies of CBC

At the heart of the CBC framework are seven core competencies that every learner must develop across all levels of education. Unlike the 8-4-4 system which focused primarily on knowledge recall, these competencies ensure learners develop practical, applicable skills. Tiptons Analytics tracks and reports on each competency across all learning areas, giving teachers and parents a holistic view of learner development.

Communication & Collaboration — Share ideas, work in teams, listen actively, express clearly.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving — Analytical reasoning, logical evaluation, evidence-based solutions.
Creativity & Imagination — Original thinking, artistic expression, innovation.
Citizenship — National identity, social responsibility, respect for diversity.
Digital Literacy — Responsible technology use, access to digital resources, safe navigation.
Learning to Learn — Metacognitive skills, goal setting, self-directed lifelong learning.
Self-Efficacy — Confidence, resilience, intrinsic motivation, perseverance.

Assessment Framework

CBC Rubric-Based Grading System

The CBC replaces percentage-based marks with a rubric-based grading system using four broad descriptors: Exceeding Expectations (EE), Meeting Expectations (ME), Approaching Expectations (AE), and Below Expectations (BE). Each descriptor is subdivided into two levels, creating an 8-point scale. This approach evaluates not just what a learner knows, but what they can do with that knowledge in practical situations. Tiptons Analytics automatically applies these descriptors when teachers enter assessments, generating compliant report cards with proper competency language.

EE — Exceeding Expectations (Points 7-8) — Exceptional mastery; applies knowledge to new and unfamiliar situations independently.
ME — Meeting Expectations (Points 5-6) — Meets expected competency standards and demonstrates understanding with minimal guidance.
AE — Approaching Expectations (Points 3-4) — Making progress but still requires support and guided practice.
BE — Below Expectations (Points 1-2) — Has not yet demonstrated basic competency; requires significant intervention.

8-Point Scale

Complete CBC Grading Scale

The full rubric-based grading scale used in CBC assessments from Pre-Primary to Senior Secondary.

Level	Points	Descriptor	Meaning
EE1	8	Exceeding Expectations	Exceptional mastery, applies knowledge in new situations
EE2	7	Exceeding Expectations	Strong mastery with consistent high performance
ME1	6	Meeting Expectations	Meets expected competency level independently
ME2	5	Meeting Expectations	Demonstrates competency with minimal guidance
AE1	4	Approaching Expectations	Shows progress but needs some support
AE2	3	Approaching Expectations	Beginning to demonstrate basic understanding
BE1	2	Below Expectations	Requires significant support and intervention
BE2	1	Below Expectations	Has not yet demonstrated basic competency

Senior Secondary

Three Senior School Pathways

A major innovation of the CBC is the introduction of three distinct pathways at Senior Secondary level (Grades 10-12). Rather than all students following the same curriculum, learners choose a pathway aligned with their strengths, interests, and career aspirations. The first CBC cohort entered Senior Secondary in January 2026, and Tiptons Analytics was ready from day one with full pathway management, subject allocation, and pathway-specific report cards.

Pathway 1 — STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics · Tracks: Pure Sciences, Applied Sciences, Technical Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Pathway 2 — Social Sciences — Humanities, Business & Social Studies · Tracks: Languages & Literature, Business Studies, Humanities & Legal Studies
Pathway 3 — Arts & Sports Science — Creative Arts, Performing Arts & Sports · Tracks: Visual Arts & Design, Performing Arts, Sports Science & PE, Media & Film Studies

Schools may operate as triple-pathway, dual-pathway, or single-pathway institutions depending on their resources and KICD accreditation. Tiptons Analytics supports all configurations.

National Examinations

CBC National Assessments

Under the CBC framework, Kenya has introduced new national assessments to replace the KCPE and KCSE examinations. These assessments focus on evaluating competencies and practical skills rather than rote memorization. Tiptons Analytics helps schools prepare students for these assessments by tracking competency progress, generating mock assessment reports, and providing performance analytics aligned to the national assessment standards.

Grade 6 — KPSEA — Kenya Primary School Education Assessment
Grade 9 — KJSEA — Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment
Grade 12 — KCBE — Kenya Certificate of Basic Education

The KPSEA replaced KCPE starting with the pioneer CBC cohort. KJSEA is administered at Grade 9 to determine learner readiness for Senior Secondary pathways, while KCBE at Grade 12 certifies completion of basic education. Tiptons Analytics provides exam preparation tools, performance tracking, and competency-aligned mock assessments for all three national exams.

Platform Features

What Tiptons Analytics Offers for CBC Schools

Tiptons Analytics was built from the ground up with CBC compliance in mind. Every module, every report, and every assessment tool is designed to meet the requirements of Kenya's reformed curriculum, ensuring your school stays fully compliant with KICD standards.

PP1–PP2 Pre-Primary Assessment
Grade 1–6 Primary with Strand Tracking
Grade 7–9 Junior Secondary Management
Grade 10–12 Senior Secondary (3 Pathways: STEM, Social Sciences, Arts & Sports)
Rubric-Based Grading (EE, ME, AE, BE) — 8-Point Scale
CBC-Specific Report Cards with Competency Descriptors
KPSEA, KJSEA & KCBE Exam Support
Senior Secondary Ready — First Cohort 2026

Free Tool

Try a CBC report card right now

Pick a grade, enter strand marks, and see a fully-formatted CBC report card render live. Supports both KJSEA 8-point and 4-band rubric. No login required.

Preview a CBC Report Card

FAQ

Common Questions About CBC & Tiptons Analytics

Get answers to the most common questions about how Tiptons Analytics supports the CBC curriculum, grading systems, and school management in Kenya.

The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is Kenya's reformed education system developed by KICD to replace 8-4-4. It follows a 2-6-3-3-3 structure — 2 years Pre-Primary, 6 years Primary (Lower and Upper), 3 years Junior Secondary, 3 years Senior Secondary, and 3+ years Tertiary — focusing on competencies rather than rote exam performance.

CBC uses a rubric-based 8-point grading scale with four broad descriptors: Exceeding Expectations (EE), Meeting Expectations (ME), Approaching Expectations (AE) and Below Expectations (BE). Each descriptor is split into two levels — EE1/EE2, ME1/ME2, AE1/AE2, BE1/BE2 — giving a total 8-point scale.

Senior Secondary learners choose one of three pathways: (1) STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics; (2) Social Sciences — Humanities, Business & Social Studies; (3) Arts & Sports Science — Creative Arts, Performing Arts & Sports.

Yes. Tiptons Analytics is dual-curriculum ready. Each class can be assigned its own curriculum type — CBC classes use the 8-point rubric (EE, ME, AE, BE), while 8-4-4 classes use percentage marks with letter grades and class rankings. Both generate their own compliant report cards.

CBC has three national assessments: KPSEA at Grade 6 (Kenya Primary School Education Assessment), KJSEA at Grade 9 (Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment), and KCBE at Grade 12 (Kenya Certificate of Basic Education).

The 7 core competencies are: Communication & Collaboration, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Creativity & Imagination, Citizenship, Digital Literacy, Learning to Learn, and Self-Efficacy.

Yes. CBC report cards are generated as branded PDFs and can be shared with parents via SMS link, email, or downloaded from the parent portal — with competency descriptors, strand-level performance and teacher comments.

Tiptons Analytics integrates with Safaricom's Daraja API v3.0 for Lipa na M-Pesa Online (STK Push). Parents receive an M-Pesa prompt on their phone, confirm with their PIN, and the payment is instantly reconciled against the learner's fee balance — with an SMS receipt issued automatically.

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Fully Compatible with Kenya's CBC Curriculum

Understanding the CBC Curriculum Structure