Before you start
- This is a free set of KJSEA 2026 Social Studies sample questions in the style of KNEC paper 907 Social Studies: 10 multiple-choice and 5 structured questions, 40 marks, 50 minutes.
- It covers all four strands of the Grade 7 to 9 design: Natural and Historical Built Environments, People and Population, Resources and Economic Activities, and Political Developments and Governance.
- The real paper is on Thursday 29 October 2026, 11.10 a.m. to 12.40 p.m., the middle paper of the heaviest KJSEA day.
- Answers, the mark for each step and an answer table are below. A ruler and a pencil help with Question 11.
Social Studies 907 looks easy to revise because so much of it is facts, and that is exactly why candidates lose marks in it. The structured half of the paper rewards working that is shown (map scale, bearings, rates and balances) and answers that match the command word. A candidate who writes "4.2" with no unit, or one point where "explain" needed a point and a reason, gives marks away. This page gives an original timed set with every calculation worked and every mark shown, so a parent can mark it fairly.
These are original practice questions written by CBC Edu Kenya, not a KNEC paper and not a leaked paper. Every calculation has been checked twice, and the methods follow our KJSEA Social Studies notes.
How this set compares with the real paper
| This sample | The real 907 Social Studies paper |
|---|---|
| Section A: 10 multiple-choice items, 10 marks | Multiple-choice section; the published sample papers follow a 30 plus 40 pattern |
| Section B: 5 structured questions, 30 marks | Structured questions marked for each valid point and each step of working |
| 50 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes, Thursday 29 October 2026, 11.10 a.m. |
KJSEA 2026 Social Studies sample questions
CBC EDU KENYA: KJSEA 2026 SOCIAL STUDIES SAMPLE QUESTIONS (907 STYLE)
Grade 9 · Time: 50 minutes · 40 marks · Answer ALL questions. Show all working in Section B.
SECTION A (10 marks). Choose the best answer, A, B, C or D.
1. Which line of latitude is marked 0°?
A. The Prime Meridian B. The Equator C. The Tropic of Cancer D. The International Date Line
2. On a map with a scale of 1:50,000, the distance between two schools is 6 cm. What is the actual distance on the ground?
A. 30 km B. 0.3 km C. 3 km D. 300 km
3. Which direction is exactly opposite north-east?
A. South-east B. North-west C. South-west D. South
4. When it is 12 noon at Greenwich (0°), what is the local time at a place on longitude 30°E?
A. 10.00 a.m. B. 2.00 p.m. C. 12.30 p.m. D. 4.00 p.m.
5. Which of these is an example of fold mountains in Africa?
A. The Atlas Mountains B. Mount Kilimanjaro C. The Ruwenzori Mountains D. Mount Kenya
6. The ruins of a Swahili town with a great mosque, a palace and pillar tombs, found in Kilifi County, are known as
A. Thimlich Ohinga B. Gedi C. Fort Jesus D. Great Zimbabwe
7. A county has an area of 2,500 km2 and a population of 1,000,000 people. What is its population density?
A. 400 people per km2 B. 2,500 people per km2 C. 40 people per km2 D. 4,000 people per km2
8. Which arm of the Government of Kenya interprets the law and settles disputes?
A. The Legislature B. The Executive C. The Judiciary D. The County Assembly
9. Which body is responsible for conducting elections in Kenya?
A. The IEBC B. The EACC C. KNEC D. The Judiciary
10. Which regional organisation, of which Kenya is a member, has its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania?
A. The African Union B. ECOWAS C. COMESA D. The East African Community
SECTION B (30 marks). Answer all the questions in the spaces provided.
11. (a) On a map with a scale of 1:50,000, a murram road measures 8.4 cm. Calculate its actual length in kilometres. (2 marks)
(b) A school lies on a bearing of 045° from a trading centre. What is the bearing of the trading centre from the school? (2 marks)
(c) A borehole lies 5 tenths of a square east of easting 34 and 2 tenths of a square north of northing 71. Give its six-figure grid reference. (2 marks)
12. The table shows the climate of a weather station in Kenya.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Rain (mm) | 25 | 30 | 110 | 250 | 200 | 60 | 40 | 35 | 45 | 90 | 150 | 60 |
(a) Calculate the annual range of temperature. (2 marks)
(b) Calculate the total annual rainfall. (2 marks)
(c) Name the two rainy seasons shown and the wettest month of each. (2 marks)
13. In a county, the birth rate is 30 per 1,000 people and the death rate is 8 per 1,000 people each year.
(a) Calculate the rate of natural increase as a percentage. (2 marks)
(b) State two causes of rural-urban migration in Kenya. (2 marks)
(c) State two problems that rapid rural-urban migration causes in towns. (2 marks)
14. (a) Name the three arms of the national government of Kenya and state the main function of each. (3 marks)
(b) State three ways in which a citizen can take part in governance. (3 marks)
15. In one year, Country X exported goods worth KSH 850 billion and imported goods worth KSH 1,300 billion.
(a) Calculate Country X's balance of trade and state whether it is favourable or unfavourable. (2 marks)
(b) State two ways Country X could reduce the gap. (2 marks)
(c) State two benefits Kenya gets from membership of the East African Community. (2 marks)
Original practice items prepared by CBC Edu Kenya. Not an official KNEC paper and not a leaked paper. cbcedukenya.com
Stop here until the 50 minutes are up. The answers start below.
Section A answers with explanations
One mark per item, for the correct letter only.
1. B, the Equator. The Equator is latitude 0°. The Prime Meridian is longitude 0°, which is the trap. (The Earth and the solar system)
2. C, 3 km. 1 cm on the map = 50,000 cm on the ground. 6 × 50,000 = 300,000 cm; 300,000 ÷ 100,000 = 3 km (there are 100,000 cm in 1 km). A and D slip a place in the conversion. (Map reading: scale)
3. C, south-west. Opposite directions are 180° apart: north-east is 045° and 045° + 180° = 225°, which is south-west. (Direction and bearing)
4. B, 2.00 p.m. The Earth turns 15° in an hour, so 1° takes 4 minutes. 30° × 4 = 120 minutes = 2 hours. Places east are ahead, so 12 noon + 2 hours = 2.00 p.m. A subtracts instead of adding. (Longitude and time)
5. A, the Atlas Mountains. The Atlas were formed by folding. Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya are volcanic mountains, and the Ruwenzori are block mountains formed by faulting. (Folding and faulting)
6. B, Gedi. Gedi is a ruined Swahili town near Watamu in Kilifi County. Fort Jesus in Mombasa was built by the Portuguese, Thimlich Ohinga is a dry-stone settlement in Migori County, and Great Zimbabwe is in Zimbabwe. (Historical built environments)
7. A, 400 people per km2. Density = population ÷ area = 1,000,000 ÷ 2,500 = 400. (Population density)
8. C, the Judiciary. The Legislature makes laws, the Executive implements them, and the Judiciary interprets them and settles disputes. The County Assembly is a county legislature. (Arms of government)
9. A, the IEBC. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission conducts elections and referendums. The EACC deals with ethics and corruption; KNEC runs national examinations. (Democracy and elections)
10. D, the East African Community. The EAC's headquarters is in Arusha. The African Union is headquartered in Addis Ababa, and ECOWAS is a West African bloc that Kenya does not belong to. (Regional cooperation)
Section B worked answers and marking guide
This is our marking guide for home practice, following the usual pattern for structured questions: a mark for each correct step or each valid point. M is a method mark and A an accuracy mark that follows correct method.
Question 11: map work (6 marks)
(a) 8.4 cm × 50,000 = 420,000 cm (M1); 420,000 ÷ 100,000 = 4.2 km (A1). The unit is part of the answer: "4.2" alone loses the A mark.
(b) A back bearing is found by adding 180°: 045° + 180° = 225° (M1). The trading centre is on a bearing of 225° from the school (A1). Bearings are written with three figures.
(c) Eastings first: 34 and 5 tenths gives 345 (1). Northings second: 71 and 2 tenths gives 712 (1). Grid reference 345712. Writing 712345 reverses the order and scores nothing.
Question 12: climate data (6 marks)
(a) Highest temperature 28°C (February and March), lowest 24°C (July and August) (M1). Range = 28 − 24 = 4°C (A1).
(b) 25 + 30 + 110 + 250 + 200 + 60 + 40 + 35 + 45 + 90 + 150 + 60 (M1) = 1,095 mm (A1).
(c) The long rains, March to May, wettest in April with 250 mm (1); the short rains, October to December, wettest in November with 150 mm (1). The small temperature range shows a place near the coast or at low altitude, where the sea keeps temperatures even.
Question 13: population (6 marks)
(a) Natural increase = birth rate − death rate = 30 − 8 = 22 per 1,000 (M1). As a percentage, 22 ÷ 1,000 × 100 = 2.2% (A1).
(b) Any two, 1 mark each: the search for jobs in towns; shortage of land in rural areas; better schools, hospitals and other services in towns; the hope of higher wages; joining relatives already in town.
(c) Any two, 1 mark each: growth of informal settlements; unemployment; pressure on water, sewerage and housing; traffic congestion; a rise in crime.
Question 14: governance (6 marks)
(a) 1 mark for each arm correctly matched with its function: the Legislature (Parliament: the National Assembly and the Senate) makes laws; the Executive (the President, Deputy President and Cabinet) implements laws and policies; the Judiciary (the courts) interprets laws and settles disputes.
(b) Any three, 1 mark each: voting in elections; taking part in public participation forums on county budgets and bills; contesting for an elective seat; presenting views or petitions to Parliament or the county assembly; serving on school or community committees; reporting corruption to the relevant authorities.
Question 15: trade and regional cooperation (6 marks)
(a) Balance of trade = exports − imports = 850 − 1,300 (M1) = −KSH 450 billion, an unfavourable balance (a trade deficit) (A1).
(b) Any two, 1 mark each: adding value to exports by processing them before sale; promoting local industries so fewer goods are imported; finding new export markets; producing more of the goods currently imported.
(c) Any two, 1 mark each: a wider market for Kenyan goods; easier movement of people, goods and services across borders; a common external tariff; joint projects in roads, railways and energy; cooperation in security and peacekeeping.
Answer table
| Q | Answer | Strand | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 | 1 B, 2 C, 3 C, 4 B, 5 A | Natural and Historical Built Environments | 5 |
| 6 to 10 | 6 B, 7 A, 8 C, 9 A, 10 D | Mixed: built environments, population, governance | 5 |
| 11 | (a) 4.2 km (b) 225° (c) 345712 | Map reading | 6 |
| 12 | (a) 4°C (b) 1,095 mm (c) long rains, April; short rains, November | Weather and climate | 6 |
| 13 | (a) 2.2% (b) two causes (c) two problems | People and Population | 6 |
| 14 | (a) three arms and functions (b) three ways | Political Developments and Governance | 6 |
| 15 | (a) −KSH 450 billion, unfavourable (b) two ways (c) two benefits | Resources and Economic Activities | 6 |
| Total | 40 | ||
What the score tells you
Above 32 out of 40 is a strong result: move on to full 90-minute papers. If most lost marks are in Questions 11 and 12, the problem is method, not memory, and our guide to KJSEA Social Studies map work fixes it in a few evenings. If the losses are in 13(b) to 15(c), the candidate knows the ideas but writes too few points: in a 2-mark "state two" question, two separate, clear points earn both marks. The 907 revision guide sets out what to revise first.
Want full KJSEA Social Studies papers with answers?
The KJSEA Complete Course includes full-length 907 predictive papers in the KNEC time of 1 hour 30 minutes, each with a separate answer booklet showing the mark for every step, plus full Grade 7 to 9 Social Studies notes across all four strands. It covers all 9 KJSEA learning areas.
It is KSH 400 for all nine learning areas, instant download after M-Pesa payment. Original practice material, not KNEC papers and not leaked papers, and we never promise a grade.
Get the KJSEA Complete Course: notes, predictive papers and answer booklets for all 9 learning areas, KSH 400.
Frequently asked questions
When is the KJSEA 2026 Social Studies paper?
Paper 907 Social Studies is on Thursday 29 October 2026, 11.10 a.m. to 12.40 p.m., between Integrated Science 905/1 and Creative Arts and Sports 911/2. See the official KJSEA and KPSEA 2026 calendar.
What should a candidate carry for Social Studies?
A ruler and a sharp pencil for map work, blue or black pens, and an eraser. Thursday runs to 3.40 p.m., so pack lunch and water too.
How are the structured questions marked?
One mark for each correct step or each valid point. Show the working in every calculation and write the unit, because a correct number with no working or no unit can lose marks.
Are these the questions that will come in KJSEA 2026?
No one can honestly promise that. These are original questions on the sub-strands the Grade 7 to 9 design emphasises. Use them to find gaps, not to guess the paper.
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