Kenya University Grading Scale
Kenyan universities accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) use an 8-band grading system on a 4.0 GPA scale. The pass mark differs by programme type: 40% for standard degree programmes, and 50% for health sciences and postgraduate programmes. OpenEduCat ships three pre-configured Kenyan scales that handle these variations automatically.
KE_STANDARD, 8-Band Grading Scale
CUE standard scale for regular degree programmes. Pass mark: 40%. Assessment template: CAT 30% + Exam 70%.
| Grade | % Range | GPA Points | Description | Credits Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 70–100 | 4.0 | Distinction / Excellent | Yes |
| B+ | 65–69 | 3.5 | Very Good | Yes |
| B | 60–64 | 3.0 | Good | Yes |
| C+ | 55–59 | 2.5 | Fairly Good | Yes |
| C | 50–54 | 2.0 | Satisfactory | Yes |
| D+ | 45–49 | 1.5 | Pass | Yes |
| D | 40–44 | 1.0 | Marginal Pass | Yes |
| E | <40 | 0.0 | Fail | No, supplementary required |
Three Kenyan Grading Scales
CUE requires different pass marks for different programme types. All three scales ship with the Kenya module.
KE_STANDARDStandard Degree Programmes
All 8 grade bands active. Grade E (below 40%) triggers a supplementary exam.
KE_HEALTHHealth Sciences
Higher pass mark required by Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council. Grade D and D+ (40–49%) count as fail.
KE_POSTGRADPostgraduate Programmes
CUE requires a minimum 50% pass mark for all postgraduate courses. Grade D and D+ do not earn credits.
Standard Assessment Template
The KE_STANDARD template applies the standard Kenyan weighting to every course.
KE_STANDARDStandard Kenya Template| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Continuous Assessment Tests (CAT) | 30% |
| Final Examination | 70% |
Faculty record CAT marks and exam marks separately in the gradebook. The system applies the 30/70 weighting automatically to produce the final course grade.
Honours Classification
Degree classification in Kenya is based directly on the cumulative GPA on the 4.0 scale, no percentage conversion applied.
| Classification | CGPA Range (of 4.0) |
|---|---|
| First Class Honours | 3.6–4.0 |
| Second Class Honours Upper Division | 3.0–3.59 |
| Second Class Honours Lower Division | 2.0–2.99 |
| Pass | 1.0–1.99 |
How OpenEduCat Implements the Kenya Scale
The Kenya module pre-configures all three scales, the assessment template, and honours classification. No manual setup required.
Three pre-configured scales ship with the Kenya module
KE_STANDARD (40% pass), KE_HEALTH (50% pass), and KE_POSTGRAD (50% pass) are installed as data records when the Kenya module is activated. Course administrators assign the relevant scale to each programme, no code changes required.
CAT 30% + Exam 70% template pre-loaded
The KE_STANDARD assessment template applies the standard Kenyan weighting automatically. Faculty record CAT marks and examination marks separately; the engine computes the 30/70 weighted total.
CGPA compared directly on 4.0 scale
Honours classification uses the cumulative GPA on the 4.0 scale directly, no percentage conversion. A student with CGPA 3.6 qualifies for First Class Honours. The threshold comparison is exact, preventing rounding errors that affect borderline students.
Programme-level scale configuration
Each degree programme (op.course) stores its default grading scale. A university running both health and standard programmes configures KE_HEALTH for its medical school and KE_STANDARD for business, independently, on the same instance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Kenya university grading scale and CUE standards.
Configure CUE-compliant grading for your institution
Three Kenyan scales, the standard assessment template, and honours classification ship pre-configured. Start grading on day one.