Ideally, Form Four candidates conscious of climes and times can audit themselves through in-depth introspection and soul-search. For the Athenian thinker Plato said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” Somehow, they can pause and pose self-assessment questions that can help them prepare to sit and write KCSE exams.
No wonder, I weave words about various quality questions Form Four candidates can ask themselves to gauge their levels of preparedness for KCSE exams. I can say in this essay; proper analysis of past KCSE papers depict that content tested is distributed across all forms (1-4).
Therefore, for the sake of content mastery, every Form Four candidate should interject questions related to 4Rs: reading, review, revision and repetition: Have I read Form 1-4 notes? Have I attempted more than 10 Paper 1-3 past papers? Have I also tried to go through KCSE past papers (2014-2024) to have an idea of how final exams look like? Have I corrected all the mistakes I made in the recent exams?
Then, for the sake of proficiency and profundity in languages — English and Kiswahili — a focused Form Four candidate should pause and ask: Have I read KCSE set books? Have I read the passages in approved books to help me hone my reading and comprehension skills? Those taking CRE and IRE, should also ask: Have I read portions of the sacred scriptures complementing content of those subjects? Again, on content mastery, every focused Form Four candidate must remain awake and aware by asking themselves these questions: Have I reviewed Form 1-4 files? Have I responded to end of topic questions in approved text books? Have I put affirmative action in subjects I am registering poor performance?
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Consequently, while preparing to sit and write KCSE, focused Form Fours candidates should perfect the art of exams. For the sake of self-assessment, every focused Form Four should pause and ask: Have I mastered the art of exams in Paper 1-3? Have I implemented the raft of recommendations raised by subject experts and examiners in KNEC reports? Have I mastered the Table of Specification (ToS) in every subject?
Actually, the art of exams encompasses: Exam terminologies, format, trends, skills, depth, test blueprint, presentation, integrity, et cetera. Moreover, while preparing for KCSE, a conscious candidate pauses to ask: Have I sealed cracks and crevices related to learning. The learning gaps, may include: Gaps on content mastery, gaps on correct interpretation of questions, gaps on trends in setting and marking of KCSE, gaps on exam presentation, gaps on mastery of Form 1 and 2 content, gaps on morale and motivation, et cetera.
Likewise, Form Four candidates assess their preparedness for KCSE when the abilities on the extreme ends pause and ask: Have I put in place serious strategies for top achievers? Have I put in place stupendous strategies a struggling student who looks low and slow? For top achievers to score more, they should focus on straight A’s, join academic villages, engage in peer teaching, try self-evaluation or individual exams, consult more, avoid stupid pride, dodge tenacious traps of comfort and complacency, work on Kaizen Principle of Continuous Improvement and fill learning gaps.
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By the same token, struggling students prop themselves up by pairing up with top achievers, re-visiting Form 1 and 2 work, identifying simple areas to score free marks, consulting more, taking extra lessons seriously and never choosing to give up. In fact, any focused Form Four can gauge preparedness for KCSE by asking the question: Have I expanded my learning time? This underscores the essence of paying the price and sacrifice. For no price, no prize. Moreover, it underpins the importance of going the extra mile. For Napoleon Hill writes: the pot of gold is always perched at the end of the rainbow.
Therefore, focused Form Four candidates expand learning time by sitting for long listening to useful talks delivered by keynoters like the welder of these words. Sometimes, they retire to bed late, but wake up early. They manage and mitigate tension that tightens in form of exam-related stress. They shorten breaks, lunches and supper time. They miss entertainment programmes. They arrest thieves of time such as laziness, lassitude, hebetude, procrastination, complacency and gossip. Finally, as part of self-audit, it is important for focused Form Four candidate to pause and ask: Is my discipline and character consistent. On discipline, we read in Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves discipline, loves knowledge…” Likewise, Jim Rohn put it aptly, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.”
By Victor Ochieng’
The writer visits schools to roll out Form Four Finishing Strong Talks. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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