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What’s Inside Each Paper?

📘 Paper 1 – Functional Writing, Cloze Test & Oral Skills (60 Marks)

Functional Writing (20 marks):

• Write a letter of inquiry to the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Education:

  • Express interest in attending a student leadership meeting

  • Quote the reference number of the advertisement

  • Inquire about programme, venue, and accommodation arrangements

  • Inquire about allowances

  • Proper formal letter format required

Cloze Test (10 marks):

• Complete a passage on Kidney Health, featuring:

  • Kidneys as vital organs

  • Impaired kidneys affecting quality of life

  • Removal of toxic waste products

  • Regulating fluid in the body

  • Surviving with one healthy kidney

  • Healthy lifestyle and eating habits

Oral Skills (30 marks):

• Oral Narrative Analysis – Read the story of “Hare, Elephant and Hippo”

  • How to prepare the audience to listen effectively

  • How to say “Am I not great?” (verbal and non-verbal cues)

  • How to ensure you enjoy the story as an audience member

• Homophones – Provide words with similar pronunciation (betel/beetle, board/bored, what/watt, gneiss/nice, arms/alms)

• Giving Directions – Three things you may have done that led to your friend losing his way

• Active Listening – Advice to friends on becoming better listeners

• Telephone Etiquette – Complete a dialogue with a school secretary

• Word Stress – Underline the stressed part in words (pro.duce, re.ject, re.cord, sur.vey)

• Group Discussion Skills – Four things you did right as chairperson of a discussion

📗 Paper 2 – Comprehension, Literary Appreciation & Grammar (80 Marks)

Comprehension (20 marks):

• Read and answer questions on a passage about Kleptomania

• Topics covered:

  • Discovery of kleptomania in 1816 (mental disorder, impulsive, compulsive stealing)

  • Differences between kleptomaniacs and other thieves (underlying disorders, excitement/guilt, discarding items, stealing frequency)

  • Characteristics of kleptomaniacs (strong urge, impulsive, stealing easily obtainable items)

  • Why kleptomaniacs fail to seek treatment (shame)

  • Stylistic devices (rhetorical questions)

  • Management strategies (therapy, medication, talking to parents, identifying triggers, healthy coping)

  • Vocabulary: criminal, discard, innovate

Literary Appreciation – Excerpt (25 marks):

• Analyze an excerpt from Paul B. Vitta’s Fathers of Nations (Engineer Tahir and Ms. Mahmoud)

• Key focus areas:

  • Immediate context (Engineer Tahir invited Ms. Mahmoud for soup; she declined)

  • Dramatic irony (reader knows she intended to accept)

  • Why Engineer Tahir slapped Ms. Mahmoud (revenge for rejecting advances)

  • Manner of retaliation (hit back with letter opener, slit his eye)

  • Court verdict (Hammurabi verdict – an eye for an eye)

  • Vocabulary: coyness, rebuff, vengeful

Poetry (20 marks):

• Analyze the poem “No Easy Task Son” by Langston Hughes

• Key focus areas:

  • Persona identification (parent/father/mother/elder)

  • Meaning of lines (“walk through that fog of reality”)

  • Figures of speech (simile – bubbles in a stormy sea)

  • Meaning of “ditches” (traps/dangers/obstacles)

  • Character traits of speaker (wise/experienced, caring/concerned, cautious/encouraging, realistic/practical/honest)

  • Paraphrase of poem (determination, avoid dependence, fight own battles, pleasure is short-lived)

Grammar (15 marks):

• Sentence transformation (Not only…, Under…, Should…)

• Word forms (sue → suit, comprehend → comprehension, liable → liability)

• Phrasal verbs (pull out, put out, takes after, look up)

• Prepositions (in, to, for)

• Word choice (crises, incidents)

📙 Paper 3 – Imaginative Composition & Set Text Essays (60 Marks)

Imaginative Composition (20 marks):

• Option A: Write a story which ends with the words: “This was not what I was expecting.”

• Option B: Write a composition defending a national charity that you work for against criticisms of favoritism on social media.

Compulsory Set Text – The Samaritan by John Lara (20 marks):

• Essay topic: “Hope is the one thing that promises sure success.”

• Key points:

  • Nicole – Faces opposition from Mayor; refuses to give up; students support her; arrested but freed; corrupt leaders arrested

  • Principal Narine – Faces pressure from municipality; holds on; succeeds in the end

  • Montano and Alvita – Present vision of a future full of hope (robots, technology, justice, life expectancy, regeneration)

  • National Anti-Corruption Bureau – Investigates and arrests corrupt officials

Optional Set Texts (20 marks) – Choose ONE:

Option A: The Truly Married Woman by Abioseh Nicoles

• Essay topic: “Marriage is a very important institution.”

• Key points:

  • Ayo’s hope – Yearns to get married in church; despite living with Ajayi for 12 years with children

  • Priest’s teachings – Speaks violently against unmarried couples living together

  • Parents’ yearning – Ayo’s father wants to see her wedded in church

  • Elaborate organization – Marriage rites involving negotiations, gifts, dancing, celebrating

Option B: Parliament of Owls by Adipo Sidang

• Essay topic: “The parliament can easily be manipulated by the leaders to serve selfish interests.”

• Key points:

  • Money Bags as Speaker – Assumes role when critical bills are tabled

  • Role switching – Switches roles at his whim

  • Mover of motions – Takes responsibility as mover and sergeant-at-arms

  • Stifling dissent – Kicks opponents of Moonlight Bill out of parliament

Option C: An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro

• Essay topic: “Sometimes people have great ambitions in life. Even when they fail, they still take pride in their efforts.”

• Key points:

  • Ono – Ambition to create politically influential paintings; fails but proud of Shigeta Foundation Award

  • Akira Sugimura – Ambition for Kawabe Park; fails but dies respected

  • Mori-san – Ambition to modernize Utamaro tradition; fails but satisfied with effort

  • Chishu Matsuda – Ambition to restore Japan; fails but proud of determined attempt

Who Should Use This Bundle?

What Makes This Bundle Special?

✅ Authentic Prediction I Material

These are actual Prediction I Examination papers prepared by experienced educators, known for producing high-quality KCSE preparation materials.

✅ Up-to-Date Content

All questions, passages, and topics are current and aligned with the latest KCSE syllabus for 2026.

✅ Student-Centered Design

Clear instructions, ample writing space, and a self-evaluation section encourage independent learning and self-improvement.

✅ Teacher-Approved

Used and trusted by teachers across Kenya as a reliable benchmark for student performance.

✅ Comprehensive Coverage

All three papers cover the entire KCSE English syllabus with detailed marking schemes.