Mock exams are preliminary exams taken before the national exams, designed to be more challenging to gauge students’ preparedness for the final assessments.
Many students experience tension and anxiety when facing mock exams, which has led to extreme reactions, such as incidents of schools being set on fire to avoid taking the exams.
These mock exams place significant academic pressure on students, often compelling them to study extensively, even sacrificing sleep and rest. Consequently, they might feel fatigued and drained during the actual exam sitting.
The belief that failure in the mock exam would result in failure in the national exams, such as the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) or Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), further adds to the students’ stress.
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The difficulty level of the mock exams tends to increase each year, contributing to students’ growing aversion towards them. Complaints about the exam’s toughness are common, and some teachers struggle to find suitable ways to prepare their students adequately.
Interestingly, despite teachers providing potential exam questions, the actual mock exams often include very few, if any, of those questions, adding an element of unpredictability.
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However, there is positive news for this year’s candidates, as the Ministry of Education, through Principal Secretary Bello Kipsang, has taken a significant step to address the mounting cases of school unrest.
The ministry has decided to ban all mock and joint examinations for all schools. This move aims to reduce the academic burden on students and create a more positive and conducive learning environment.
As of July 6, a statement was issued regarding this decision, and on July 14, a ministry representative provided further clarification on the purpose of this measure, underlining its focus on mitigating school unrest.
This ban brings a sense of relief and joy to the current batch of candidates, signalling a change in the examination system and the potential for a more balanced and less stressful academic atmosphere.
