Weekly / Monthly Test
Jaribio
Short formative check on the one or two topics just taught. Free-standing — it does not follow the national format.
Set by Subject teacher · Every 2-4 weeks · 15% syllabus coverage
How exams are structured
NECTA defines only five examinations — SFNA, PSLE, FTNA, CSEE and ACSEE. Everything a school writes in between borrows one of those formats. Terminal, annual, pre-mock, mock and pre-NECTA papers keep the full national question count; only tests and mid-terms genuinely set fewer questions.
20% of questions
Mid-Term Examination
Mtihani wa Katikati ya Muhula
Half-length paper on roughly half the term's syllabus, keeping the section pattern of the national format.
Set by School · Week 6-8 of the term · 50% syllabus coverage
Terminal Examination
Mtihani wa Muhula
End-of-term paper in the full national format, drawing only on the term's syllabus.
Set by School or ward cluster · End of Term I or Term II · 65% syllabus coverage
Annual Examination
Mtihani wa Mwaka
Full-year promotional paper in the complete national format.
Set by School or district · November / December · 100% syllabus coverage
Pre-Mock Examination
Mtihani wa Kabla ya Mock
First full-format rehearsal for candidate classes, usually set at district or regional level.
Set by District or region · March - May · 100% syllabus coverage · candidate classes only
Mock Examination
Mtihani wa Mock
Regional examination set to the exact national standard and marked to the NECTA marking scheme.
Set by Region or district · June - August · 100% syllabus coverage · candidate classes only
Pre-NECTA Examination
Mtihani wa Kabla ya NECTA
Final rehearsal weeks before the national examination, strictly national format and timing.
Set by Region, school consortium or commercial setter · Weeks before SFNA / PSLE / FTNA / CSEE / ACSEE · 100% syllabus coverage · candidate classes only
National checkpoints by level
Primary School
Elimu ya Msingi
Under the revised curriculum primary runs six years, Standard I–VI, with the Standard IV national assessment (SFNA) already on the new competence-based format. Standard VII and the PSLE continue for the cohorts still on the old curriculum.
- SFNA (Standard IV)
- PSLE (Standard VII)
Ordinary Level
Kidato cha 1 - 4
Four-year secondary cycle. The revised curriculum splits it into a General Education stream and a Vocational Education stream, assessed by FTNA in Form II from 2026. CSEE is still set on the old syllabi.
- FTNA (Form II)
- CSEE (Form IV)
Advanced Level
Kidato cha 5 - 6
Two-year specialised cycle built on subject combinations. ACSEE has not yet moved to the revised curriculum — the 2026 examination is still set on the old syllabi and still carries General Studies.
- ACSEE (Form VI)
Paper structure per subject
Question counts are written as set / answered where the paper offers a choice.
| Paper | Subject | Exam | Sections | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L01 | Kiswahili | sfna | A: 2 | B: 2 | C: 1 | 50 | 60 min |
| L02 | English Language | sfna | A: 3 | B: 2 | C: 1 | 50 | 60 min |
| M08E | Mathematics | sfna | A: 4 | B: 2 | 50 | 90 min |
| S09E | Science | sfna | A: 3 | B: 3 | 50 | 90 min |
| A06E | Geography and Environment: Arts and Sports | sfna | ENVIRONMENT: 4 | SPORTS: 4 | 50 | 90 min |
| A07 | Historia ya Tanzania na Maadili | sfna | A: 3 | B: 2 | C: 1 | 50 | 90 min |
| L03 | French Language | sfna | A: 2 | B: 3 | C: 1 | 50 | 60 min |
| L04 | Lugha ya Kiarabu | sfna | A: 2 | B: 3 | C: 1 | 50 | 60 min |
| L05 | Lugha ya Kichina | sfna | A: 2 | B: 3 | C: 1 | 50 | 60 min |
| 01 | Kiswahili | psle | A: 40 | B: 5 | 50 | 100 min |
| 02 | English Language | psle | A: 40 | B: 5 | 50 | 100 min |
| 03 | Maarifa ya Jamii na Stadi za Kazi | psle | A: 40 | B: 5 | 50 | 90 min |
| 04E | Hisabati | psle | A: 40 | B: 5 | 50 | 120 min |
| 05E | Sayansi na Teknolojia | psle | A: 40 | B: 5 | 50 | 90 min |
| 06E | Uraia na Maadili | psle | A: 40 | B: 5 | 50 | 90 min |
| 043 | Mathematics | ftna | All: 10 | 100 | 150 min |
| 060 | Historia ya Tanzania na Maadili | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 065 | Business Studies | ftna | A: 2 | B: 4 | C: 3 | 100 | 150 min |
| 020 | Sport Studies | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 2/1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 037 | Computer Science | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 012 | History | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 012 | History | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 013 | Geography | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 013 | Geography | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 014 | Bible Knowledge | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 014 | Bible Knowledge | csee | A: 2 | B: 8/5 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 015 | Elimu ya Dini ya Kiislamu | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 015 | Elimu ya Dini ya Kiislamu | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 016/1 | Fine Art | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 016/2 | Fine Art | ftna | All: 2 | 100 | 300 min |
| 016/1 | Fine Art | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 016/2 | Fine Art | csee | A: 2/1 | B: 2/1 | 100 | 300 min |
| 017 | Music | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 017/1 | Music | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 017/2 | Music | csee | All: 10 | 100 | 120 min |
| 019 | Theatre Arts | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 019 | Theatre Arts | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 021 | Kiswahili | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 021 | Kiswahili | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 022 | English Language | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 022 | English Language | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 023 | French Language | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 023 | French Language | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 024 | Literature in English | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 025 | Arabic Language | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 025 | Arabic Language | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 026 | Chinese Language | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 026 | Chinese Language | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 031 | Physics | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 031/1 | Physics | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 031/2 | Physics | csee | All: 2 | 50 | 150 min |
| 032 | Chemistry | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 032/1 | Chemistry | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 032/2 | Chemistry | csee | All: 2 | 50 | 150 min |
| 033 | Biology | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 033/1 | Biology | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 033/2 | Biology | csee | All: 2 | 50 | 150 min |
| 034 | Agriculture | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 034/1 | Agriculture | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 034/2 | Agriculture | csee | All: 2 | 50 | 150 min |
| 051 | Food and Human Nutrition | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 051/1 | Food and Human Nutrition | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 051/2 | Food and Human Nutrition | csee | All: 3/1 | 100 | 240 min |
| 052 | Textiles and Garment Construction | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 052/1 | Textiles and Garment Construction | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 052/2 | Textiles and Garment Construction | csee | All: 1 | 75 | 180 min |
| 062 | Book Keeping | ftna | A: 2 | B: 4 | C: 3 | 100 | 150 min |
| 062 | Book Keeping | csee | A: 2 | B: 4 | C: 3 | 100 | 180 min |
| 011 | Civics | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 011 | Civics | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 018 | Physical Education | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 035 | Engineering Science | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 035 | Engineering Science | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 036 | Information and Computer Studies | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 036/1 | Information and Computer Studies | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 036/2 | Information and Computer Studies | csee | All: 3/2 | 50 | 180 min |
| 041 | Basic Mathematics | ftna | All: 10 | 100 | 150 min |
| 041 | Basic Mathematics | csee | A: 10 | B: 4 | 100 | 180 min |
| 042 | Additional Mathematics | csee | A: 10 | B: 4 | 100 | 180 min |
| 061 | Commerce | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 061 | Commerce | csee | A: 2 | B: 6 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 201/1 | Handloom Weaving | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 201/2 | Handloom Weaving | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 204/1 | Design, Sewing and Cloth Technology | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 204/2 | Design, Sewing and Cloth Technology | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 205/1 | Leather Goods and Footwear | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 205/2 | Leather Goods and Footwear | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 241/1 | Football Performance | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 241/2 | Football Performance | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 242/1 | Netball Performance | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 242/2 | Netball Performance | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 243/1 | Track Events Performance | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 243/2 | Track Events Performance | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 396 | Life Skills | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 397/1 | Technical Drawing | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 397/2 | Technical Drawing | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 398/1 | Computer Application | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 398/2 | Computer Application | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 403/1 | Animal Health and Production | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 403/2 | Animal Health and Production | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 404/1 | Horticultural Production | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 404/2 | Horticultural Production | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 405/1 | Field Crop Production | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 405/2 | Field Crop Production | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 406/1 | Wood Processing | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 406/2 | Wood Processing | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 412 | Tourism | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 463/1 | Food Production | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 463/2 | Food Production | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 464/1 | Food and Beverage Services and Sales | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 464/2 | Food and Beverage Services and Sales | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 465/1 | Tour Guiding | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 465/2 | Tour Guiding | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 481/1 | Acting | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 481/2 | Acting | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 483/1 | Ngoma Performance | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 483/2 | Ngoma Performance | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 485/1 | Music Performance | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 485/2 | Music Performance | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 487/1 | Drawing and Painting | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 487/2 | Drawing and Painting | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 801/1 | Masonry and Bricklaying | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 801/2 | Masonry and Bricklaying | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 804/1 | Carpentry and Joinery with Metal Works | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 804/2 | Carpentry and Joinery with Metal Works | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 805/1 | Plumbing and Pipe Fitting | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 805/2 | Plumbing and Pipe Fitting | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 806/1 | Painting and Sign Writing | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 806/2 | Painting and Sign Writing | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 824/1 | Electrical Installation | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 824/2 | Electrical Installation | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 827/1 | Solar Power Installation | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 827/2 | Solar Power Installation | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 841/1 | Computer Programming | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 841/2 | Computer Programming | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 842/1 | Graphic Design | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 842/2 | Graphic Design | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 843/1 | Electronics | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 843/2 | Electronics | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 861/1 | Motor Vehicle Mechanics | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 861/2 | Motor Vehicle Mechanics | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 862/1 | Auto Electrics | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 862/2 | Auto Electrics | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 881/1 | Welding and Metal Fabrication | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 881/2 | Welding and Metal Fabrication | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 882/1 | Refrigeration and Air Conditioning | ftna | A: 2 | B: 7 | C: 1 | 100 | 150 min |
| 882/2 | Refrigeration and Air Conditioning | ftna | All: 1 | 100 | 180 min |
| 111 | General Studies | acsee | All: 7/5 | 100 | 180 min |
| 112/1 | History | acsee | All: 7/5 | 100 | 180 min |
| 112/2 | History | acsee | All: 7/5 | 100 | 180 min |
| 113/1 | Geography | acsee | A: 3/2 | B: 4/3 | 100 | 180 min |
| 113/2 | Geography | acsee | All: 7/5 | 100 | 180 min |
| 114/1 | Divinity | acsee | A: 6 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 114/2 | Divinity | acsee | A: 6 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 115/1 | Islamic Knowledge | acsee | A: 6 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 115/2 | Islamic Knowledge | acsee | A: 6 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 116/1 | Fine Art | acsee | A: 6 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 116/2 | Fine Art | acsee | All: 2 | 100 | 200 min |
| 118/1 | Physical Education | acsee | A: 6 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 118/2 | Physical Education | acsee | All: 2 | 50 | 200 min |
| 121/1 | Kiswahili | acsee | A: 4 | B: 4/3 | 100 | 180 min |
| 121/2 | Kiswahili | acsee | A: 4 | B: 4/3 | 100 | 180 min |
| 122/1 | English Language | acsee | A: 4 | B: 4/3 | 100 | 180 min |
| 122/2 | English Language | acsee | A: 4 | B: 4/3 | 100 | 180 min |
| 123/1 | French Language | acsee | All: 10 | 100 | 180 min |
| 123/2 | French Language | acsee | A: 2 | B: 5/4 | 100 | 180 min |
| 125/1 | Arabic Language | acsee | A: 5/4 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 125/2 | Arabic Language | acsee | A: 5/4 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 126/1 | Chinese Language | acsee | All: 10 | 100 | 180 min |
| 126/2 | Chinese Language | acsee | A: 2 | B: 5/4 | 100 | 180 min |
| 131/1 | Physics | acsee | A: 7 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 131/2 | Physics | acsee | All: 6/5 | 100 | 180 min |
| 131/3 | Physics | acsee | All: 3 | 50 | 200 min |
| 132/1 | Chemistry | acsee | A: 7 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 132/2 | Chemistry | acsee | All: 6/5 | 100 | 180 min |
| 132/3 | Chemistry | acsee | All: 3 | 50 | 200 min |
| 133/1 | Biology | acsee | A: 7 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 133/2 | Biology | acsee | All: 6/5 | 100 | 180 min |
| 133/3 | Biology | acsee | All: 3 | 50 | 200 min |
| 134/1 | Agriculture | acsee | All: 10 | 100 | 180 min |
| 134/2 | Agriculture | acsee | All: 10 | 100 | 180 min |
| 134/3 | Agriculture | acsee | All: 3 | 50 | 200 min |
| 136/1 | Computer Science | acsee | A: 7 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 136/2 | Computer Science | acsee | All: 3/2 | 50 | 180 min |
| 137 | Information and Computer Studies | acsee | A: 7 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 141 | Basic Applied Mathematics | acsee | All: 10 | 100 | 180 min |
| 142/1 | Advanced Mathematics | acsee | All: 10 | 100 | 180 min |
| 142/2 | Advanced Mathematics | acsee | A: 4 | B: 4/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 151/1 | Economics | acsee | A: 2 | B: 3/2 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 151/2 | Economics | acsee | A: 2 | B: 3/2 | C: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 152/1 | Commerce | acsee | All: 7/5 | 100 | 180 min |
| 152/2 | Commerce | acsee | All: 7/5 | 100 | 180 min |
| 153/1 | Accountancy | acsee | A: 4 | B: 4/3 | 100 | 180 min |
| 153/2 | Accountancy | acsee | A: 4 | B: 4/3 | 100 | 180 min |
| 155/1 | Food and Human Nutrition | acsee | A: 6 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 155/2 | Food and Human Nutrition | acsee | A: 6 | B: 3/2 | 100 | 180 min |
| 155/3 | Food and Human Nutrition | acsee | All: 3 | 50 | 200 min |
| 161 | Education | acsee | All: 7/5 | 100 | 180 min |