KENYA JUNIOR SCHOOL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT
KEJSEA 2025
GRADE 9
901/1- ENGLISH LANGUAGE (GRAMMAR)
Name:
_____________________________________________________________________.
School:____________________________________________________________________
_.
Signature: ______________________________ Date:
_____________________________.
Duration: 2 HOURS
Total Marks: 50
FOR FACILITATORS USE ONLY
SCORE 40-50 30-39 16-29 0-15
RANGE
LEVEL EXCEEDING MEETING APPROACHING BELOW
EXPECTATION EXPECTATION EXPECTATION EXPECTATION
LEARNER’S
SCORE
TICK LEVEL
Instructions:
1. Answer all questions.
2. For Multiple Choice Questions , circle the letter of the correct answer.
3. For structured questions, write your answers in the spaces provided.
4. Use clear, legible handwriting.
TURN OVER
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)
1. Which of the following is an example of a metaphor?
A) He was as fast as a cheetah.
B) The room was a furnace.
C) She sang like an angel.
D) The wind howled through the trees.
2. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
A) She can sings well.
B) They has been waiting for an hour.
C) He works hard every day.
D) The children was excited.
3. What is the meaning of the word "ephemeral"?
A) Lasting forever
B) Lasting for a short time
C) Unpredictable
D) Obsolete
4. Which of the following is a synonym for the word "benevolent"?
A) Malicious
B) Kind-hearted
C) Angry
D) Vengeful
5. Identify the figure of speech in the sentence: "Time is a thief."
A) Simile
B) Personification
C) Hyperbole
D) Metaphor
6. Which one of the following sentences is in the passive voice?
A) The teacher explained the lesson.
B) The book was read by the learner.
C) She is reading the book.
D) They will finish the project tomorrow.
7. In the poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," what does the poet
compare himself to?
A) A star
B) A cloud
C) A river
D) A leaf
8. What is the tone of the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?
A) Humorous
B) Tragic
C) Ironical
D) Joyful
9. Which of the following is the correct plural form of the word "child"?
A) Childs
B) Children
C) Childes
D) Childrens
10. Choose the correct form of the verb: "I ___ going to the park later."
A) am
B) is
C) are
D) be
Section B: Comprehension (25 marks)
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Passage:
"The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the town. The streets were
quiet, and the soft rustling of leaves could be heard in the distance. A few people
walked leisurely along the sidewalk, enjoying the cool evening breeze. In the
distance, children were playing, their laughter filling the air as the sun dipped
below the horizon."
Questions:
1. What time of day is being described in the passage? (4 marks)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. Describe the mood created by the writer in the passage. (4 marks)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the effect of the golden glow described in the passage? (4
marks)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4. What figure of speech is used in the phrase "their laughter filling
the air"? (4 marks)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. How does the description of the children in the distance contribute
to the overall atmosphere of the passage? (4 marks)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Section C: Grammar and Vocabulary (10 marks)
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses: (5
marks)
a) She _____________________ (go) to the library every Saturday.
b) The teacher ___________ (teach) us English at the moment.
c) If he __________________ (study) harder, he would pass the exam.
d) By this time tomorrow, I ________________ (finish) my project.
e) They __________________ (not attend) the meeting last week.
2. Rewrite the following sentence in the passive voice: (4 marks)
"The chef prepared a delicious meal for the guests."
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence: (1 mark)
I will meet you __________________ the bus stop.
A) on
B) at
C) by
D) in
Section D: Composition (20 marks)
Write a composition of 200-250 words on one of the following areas:
1. The Importance of Reading in Our Daily Lives.
2. A Memorable Day in My Life.
3. The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers.
Make sure to organize your composition into clear paragraphs with an
introduction, body, and conclusion.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
THIS IS THE LAST PRINTED PAGE
MARKING SCHEME
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Which of the following is an example of a metaphor?
o B) The room was a furnace.
2. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
o C) He works hard every day.
3. What is the meaning of the word "ephemeral"?
o B) Lasting for a short time
4. Which of the following is a synonym for the word "benevolent"?
o B) Kind-hearted
5. Identify the figure of speech in the sentence: "Time is a thief."
o D) Metaphor
6. Which one of the following sentences is in the passive voice?
o B) The book was read by the learner.
7. In the poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," what does the poet
compare himself to?
o B) A cloud
8. What is the tone of the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?
o C) Ironical
9. Which of the following is the correct plural form of the word
"child"?
o B) Children
10. Choose the correct form of the verb: "I ___ going to the park
later."
A) am
Section B: Comprehension (15 marks)
Passage:
"The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the town. The streets were
quiet, and the soft rustling of leaves could be heard in the distance. A few people
walked leisurely along the sidewalk, enjoying the cool evening breeze. In the
distance, children were playing, their laughter filling the air as the sun dipped
below the horizon."
1. What time of day is being described in the passage? (2 marks)
Answer: The time of day described is sunset or evening, as indicated by
"The sun was setting."
2. Describe the mood created by the writer in the passage. (3 marks)
Answer: The mood is peaceful and serene. The quiet streets, the soft
rustling of leaves, and the laughter of children contribute to a calm and
relaxing atmosphere.
3. What is the effect of the golden glow described in the passage? (2
marks)
Answer: The golden glow creates a warm and tranquil feeling, adding to
the peaceful setting of the evening.
4. What figure of speech is used in the phrase "their laughter filling the
air"? (2 marks)
Answer: The figure of speech is personification, as laughter (an abstract
concept) is described as "filling the air," giving it human-like qualities.
5. How does the description of the children in the distance contribute to
the overall atmosphere of the passage? (3 marks)
Answer: The description of the children playing adds a joyful and lively
element to the otherwise calm and peaceful scene, suggesting that even in
a tranquil moment, life continues with happiness and energy.
Section C: Grammar and Vocabulary (10 marks)
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses:
a) She goes (go) to the library every Saturday.
b) The teacher is teaching (teach) us English at the moment.
c) If he studied (study) harder, he would pass the exam.
d) By this time tomorrow, I will have finished (finish) my project.
e) They did not attend (not attend) the meeting last week.
2. Rewrite the following sentence in the passive voice:
Answer: "A delicious meal was prepared by the chef for the guests."
3. Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence:
I will meet you at the bus stop.
o Answer: B) at
Section D: Composition (15 marks)
Since composition is subjective, I'll provide a brief outline for
Topic 1: "The Importance of Reading in Our Daily Lives":
Introduction:
Briefly introduce the importance of reading in life.
State the benefits of reading, such as knowledge and personal growth.
Body Paragraphs:
First paragraph: Discuss how reading enhances knowledge and helps
learners improve academically.
Second paragraph: Explain how reading fosters creativity and
imagination.
Third paragraph: Highlight the role of reading in improving language
skills, including vocabulary and grammar.
Conclusion:
Summarize the key points and stress the importance of making reading a
habit.
End with a call to action: encourage others to read more regularly.
RUBRICS
1. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) (10 marks)
Criteria Level 1 (0-3) Level 2 (4-6) Level 3 (7-8) Level 4 (9-10)
Correctne 0-3 correct 4-6 correct 7-8 correct 9-10 correct
ss answers answers answers answers
Marks 0–3 marks 4–6 marks 7–8 marks 9–10 marks
Comments: The MCQs test knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, and literary
devices. Full marks are awarded for all correct answers.
2. Comprehension (20 marks)
Level 3 (11-
Criteria Level 1 (0-5) Level 2 (6-10) Level 4 (14-15)
13)
Good Full
Limited or Partial
Understandi understanding comprehension,
incorrect understanding
ng of the with most points clear and
understanding with some
Passage correctly thorough
of the passage. correct points.
identified. understanding.
Clear and
Detailed and
Basic relevant
Weak analysis, insightful analysis,
Explanation explanation explanation,
no clear excellently
and Analysis but lacks mostly
explanation. supported by text
depth. supported by
evidence.
the text.
Marks 0–5 marks 6–10 marks 11–13 marks 14–15 marks
Comments: Evaluate how well the learner understands the passage, analyzes
the content, and provides detailed explanations.
3. Grammar and Vocabulary (10 marks)
Criteria Level 1 (0-3) Level 2 (4-6) Level 3 (7-8) Level 4 (9-10)
Several errors in Few errors, Virtually no
Some errors but
Grammar grammar and mostly correct grammatical
mostly correct
Usage sentence usage of errors, excellent
grammar.
structure. grammar. structure.
Adequate Good Rich and varied
Limited
Vocabular vocabulary but vocabulary with vocabulary,
vocabulary,
y Usage with some only minor appropriate for the
many errors.
mistakes. errors. context.
Criteria Level 1 (0-3) Level 2 (4-6) Level 3 (7-8) Level 4 (9-10)
Marks 0–3 marks 4–6 marks 7–8 marks 9–10 marks
Comments: Focus on sentence structure, correct use of verb forms, prepositions,
and overall vocabulary.
4. Composition (20 marks)
Level 4 (14-
Criteria Level 1 (0-5) Level 2 (6-10) Level 3 (11-13)
15)
Limited Highly
Basic content, Well-developed
development, developed, well-
Content some ideas lack ideas, most
unclear ideas, supported, and
and Ideas development or points clear and
irrelevant relevant ideas
relevance. relevant.
content. throughout.
Disorganized, Clear and logical Perfectly
Basic
Organizatio difficult to follow, structure with an organized with
organization but
n and lacks clear introduction, clear structure
may lack clarity
Structure introduction and body, and and smooth
in some parts.
conclusion. conclusion. transitions.
Excellent
Poor language, Basic language,
Language Clear and language,
unclear mostly clear
and concise language engaging and
expression, many expression with
Expression with few errors. clear expression
errors. some errors.
with no errors.
Highly creative,
Creativity Lacks creativity, Some creativity, Creative and original, and
and does not fully but lacks depth relevant, with insightful, fully
Relevance address the topic. or originality. interesting ideas. addressing the
topic.
Marks 0–5 marks 6–10 marks 11–13 marks 14–15 marks
Comments: Evaluate how well the learner develops ideas, organizes their
composition, uses language appropriately, and maintains creativity and
relevance.
Total Marks Breakdown:
Section Marks
Multiple Choice 10
Questions marks
15
Comprehension
marks
Grammar and 10
Section Marks
Vocabulary marks
15
Composition
marks
50
Total
marks
This rubric allows for a comprehensive assessment of the learner's performance
in all areas tested in the assessment: knowledge, understanding, writing
skills, attitude, and language use. Each section is graded with a clear
breakdown of how the learner is performing in relation to the criteria, which
ensures that all aspects of the curriculum are covered.
THIS IS THE LAST PRINTED PAGE
