KCPE PAST PAPERS: 2012 SOCIAL STUDIES REPORT

K.C.P.E PAST PAPERS: 2012 SOCIAL STUDIES REPORT

​The number of candidates that sat for the 2012 KCPE social studies increased from 766,355 in 2011 to 811,688 in 2012

Candidates General Performance

candidates ‘performance for the last four years

YEAR	CANDIDATURE	MAXIMUM MARK	MEAN	STANDARD DEVIATION
2012	811,688	60/60	37.32/60	10.13
2011	766,355	59/60	33.13/60	9.12
2010	724,388	60/60	38.88/60	9.74
2009	719,712	59/60	37.46/60	9.80

The following observations are made from the table above:

• There was a 5% increase in candidature in 2012.
• The standard deviation increased from 9.12 in 2011 to 10.13 in 2012, meaning there was a larger spread of scores (performance).
• The mean has increased from 33.13 in 2011 to 37.32 in 2012, an indication of a better performance.

Syllabus coverage

KCPE Social Studies Syllabus Coverage in 2012

SN.	CONTENT AREA	NO OF ITEMS	PERCENTAGE
1.0	PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT	11	18%
2.0	PEOPLE & POPULATION	6	10%
3.0	SOCIAL RELATIONS & CULTURAL ACTIVITIES	4	7%
4.0	RESOURCES AND ECONOMICAL ACTIVITIES	19	32%
5.0	POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND SYSTEMS	8	13%
6.0	CITIZENSHIP	2	3%
7.0	DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS	2	3%
9.0	LAW, PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOULUTION	4	7%
10.0	THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA	4	7%
	TOTAL	60	100%

​The above table shows that the distribution of items according to the weighting of each topic in the syllabus was good. The three main topics covering a significant proportion in the syllabus were well represented: Resources and Economical activities (32%), Physical Environment (18%) and Political developments and systems 13%. Topics that are short and less emphasized in the syllabus have been given low representation: Citizenship (2%) and Democracy and Human rights (2%).

Distribution of Cognitive Skills

Distribution of cognitive Skills in The 2012 KCPE Social Studies

SKILLS TESTED	NO OF ITEMS	PERCENTAGE
KNOWLEDGE	6	10%
COMPREHENSHION	12	20%
APPLICATION	14	23%
ANALYSIS	16	27%
SYNTHESIS	6	10%
EVALUATION	6	10%
TOTAL	60	100%

As shown in the table above, all levels of cognitive domain were tested. The distribution of the cognitive skills was even, based on the levels. The middle level skills had more questions; Comprehension 20%, Application 23% and Analysis 27%. The low level and high level skill had fewer questions, 10% of the total syllabus coverage.

Analysis of Performance per Item

KCPE 2012 performance per Item

From the above graph, the general performance per item was good. Only three items had a facility index of below 35%. Any item where the candidate scoring was below 35% was perceived as poor performance. These items are: 18(19.78%), 19(31.80%), 47(21.88%).

Questions with a facility index of 35 % and below

The items that performed poorly as per the facility index are discussed below. The discussion will focus on ideas, skills and thinking processes that the candidate might have gone through to come up with the answer. The asterisks * denotes the correct response.

Question 18:
Who among the following members of a school management committee ensures that money is used properly?

• A. The chairperson.
• B. The sponsor.
• C. The head teacher.
• D. The treasurer.

This was an analysis question that tested understanding of the various function of the school committee. The candidates confused the role of usage of the school finances with that of the treasurer as the custodian of money. Majority of the candidate chose the treasurer, while the correct answer was C (The Head teacher). Most probably the teachers have not concentrated on the depth of this topic hence most of the candidates might have guessed the answer.

Question 19:
Which one of the fol1owin statements is true about the policy of assimilation used by the French in Senegal?

• A. Africans became citizens of France.
• B. The French were made to learn African languages.
• C. The French appointed Africans to rule Senegal.
• D. Africans were refused to vote in general elections.

Response Pattern

OPTION	A*	B	C	D
% CHOOSING PATTERN	31.80	20.23	24.69	22.01
MEAN MARK	43.72	32.35	34.83	35.72

The question was an analysis and it required the candidate to have knowledge on the French policy of assimilation in Senegal in order to pick the correct answer. This topic is taught in class 7. Though the bright candidates were able to give the correct answer A (Africans become citizens of French), the other candidates were unable to distinguish assimilation policy from other systems of colonial administration. Teachers must have concentrated in various types of colonial administration and not the in-depth description of the various systems.

Question 47
The main reason why petroleum products are transported using a pipeline is that it

• A. reduces the number of heavy vehicles on roads
• B. costs less than using other forms of transport
• C. protects the petrol from being stolen
• D. ensures that petrol is safe from fire.

Response Pattern

OPTION	A	B*	C	D
% CHOOSING PATTERN	19.35	21.88	10.89	46.57
MEAN MARK	40.39	38.84	35.46	35.90

This was an evaluation question, which required candidates’ to make judgment on the most correct answer. Most students chose D, (Ensures that petrol is safe from fire). This may have been attributed to the frequent cases of fire outbreak caused by tankers. However even the brighter candidates still went for A (reduces the number of heavy vehicles on roads), while the correct answer was B (Costs less than using other forms of transport). Teachers should put more emphasis on Pipeline as a mode of transport.

​General comments

• The general performance of the paper was good, most items behaved well in performance. Only five items were scored above 85% and five items were scored below 40%.
• There was an improvement in performance (mean 37.32) as compared to 2011 (mean 33.13) despite the increase in candidature.
• Teachers should keep up the good work and encourage the candidates to read questions carefully to avoid getting mixed up.
• Teachers should discourage rote learning, only questions that required a higher level of cognitive skills were performed poorly.

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