The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is a body corporate mandated to conduct and manage examinations at the end of the educational cycle at both primary and secondary school levels. Established in 1983 by an act of Parliament, UNEB plays a crucial role in assessing students' knowledge and understanding of the curriculum.
UNEB Headquarters in Uganda
Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE)
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has released the results of the first cohort of students to sit for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination under the new competency-based curriculum. The 2024 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results were released on February 11, 2025, with the Minister of Education, Janet Museveni, announcing them at State House Nakasero. This year’s exams are particularly notable as they mark the first under the new Lower Secondary Curriculum, with 379,748 candidates, including 369,601 following the new curriculum and 10,147 taking the transitional version.
The results show that 350,146 candidates qualified for the UCE certificate, out of a total of 359,417 candidates who sat for the examination. Odong, attributed the high percentage of students who qualified for the certificate as a testament to the effectiveness of the new curriculum. “We are pleased to see that the competency-based curriculum has had a positive impact on student performance,” Odong said.
Key Features of the New Competency-Based Curriculum
The previous curriculum, which was in place for over two decades, focused primarily on knowledge acquisition and rote memorization. The new curriculum places a strong emphasis on developing skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration, which are essential for success in the modern workforce. The new curriculum also places a strong emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility, designed to cater to the diverse needs of students, including those with special needs.
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One of the most significant differences between the two curricula is the assessment methodology. Under the previous curriculum, students were assessed solely through end-of-year examinations, which often prioritized rote memorization over critical thinking and problem-solving. Under the new curriculum, students are assessed on their ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-life situations. According to UNEB Executive Director Dan Odong, the new assessment methodology is designed to provide a more comprehensive picture of a student’s abilities.
Odong explained improvement in student performance was due to the focus on competency-based learning, which emphasizes the acquisition of skills and knowledge that are relevant to the workforce. “The competency-based curriculum is designed to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century,” Odong said.
While it is still early days for the new curriculum, the initial results suggest that it has the potential to improve student outcomes and better prepare students for success in the 21st century.
Accessing UCE Results
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) provides a streamlined process for students to check their Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results. Parents, candidates and other interested parties may access results immediately after release through the Short Message Services (SMS) on their telephone handsets. The UNEB also provides the results in PDF format for download, offering a detailed breakdown of subject-wise marks, grades, and overall performance. The UNEB UCE Results PDF is confidential and should be treated as such.
Students who have appeared to this exam will able check their marks by name & Examination number. Transitional Curriculum Candidates: Index numbers end with “T” (e.g., U0000/001T).
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By following these steps, students can easily access and understand their UCE UNEB Results.
UCE Updates today | How To check Uneb Results Online | How To Check For UCE 2024 Results In Uganda
Primary Leaving Examination (PLE)
In Uganda, the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) is a critical exam that students take at the end of primary school, around the age of 12 or 13. It is administered by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and assesses students' knowledge and understanding of the primary school curriculum. The PLE is an important exam because it determines which students are eligible to continue their education in secondary school.
The PLE is similar to other national primary school leaving exams around the world, such as the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) in Singapore. The PLE consists of four subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Students who perform well on the PLE have a higher chance of gaining admission to good secondary schools, while those who score poorly may be limited in their options for further education.
If a student does not pass their PLE, they may be required to repeat primary school or attend vocational training instead.
PLE Grading System
The possible grades for the PLE range from Division 1 to Division 4, with Division 1 being the highest and Division 4 being the lowest. The grades are determined based on the total marks obtained by a student in the examination.
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Here is what each division means:
- Division 1: This is the highest grade and is awarded to students who score 90% or above. It indicates that the student has an excellent understanding of the primary school curriculum and is well-prepared for secondary school.
- Division 2: This is awarded to students who score between 75% and 89%. It indicates that the student has a good understanding of the primary school curriculum and is prepared for secondary school.
- Division 3: This is awarded to students who score between 60% and 74%. It indicates that the student has an average understanding of the primary school curriculum and may require some additional support to succeed in secondary school.
- Division 4: This is the lowest grade and is awarded to students who score below 60%. It indicates that the student has a poor understanding of the primary school curriculum and may require significant support to succeed in secondary school.
To progress to secondary school in Uganda, students are required to pass the PLE. Students who do not pass the exam may be required to repeat primary school or attend vocational training instead.
Exceptional Performance Highlight
All last year, our students in their fourth year of secondary school were preparing for their Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams. Students take 10 subject exams and can earn scores of 1-10. A “1” means the student scored a 90% or higher on an exam, with “2” meaning 80 - 89%. Then, their best eight exam scores are added to get their total aggregate score and respective division. The highest aggregate score a student can get is 8 (top scores of 1 in best 8 subjects), and the worst score is 80 (low scores of 10 in each subject). Scores between 8 and 32 receive a Division I ranking. Students who score an aggregate of 8 are rare.
Across Uganda only 7.5% of all students who sat for the UCE exams scored in Division 1, while 14.1% scored in Division 2. In contrast, an amazing 52% of former Arlington Junior School students scored in Division 1, and 25% scored in Division 2.
Kuloba Anthony remembers feeling nervous while heading to the exams despite a history of educational success. “It was quite tricky,” says Anthony. “You always have fear of those kind of exams. Throughout the year Anthony studied for two hours every day, which drastically increased to 5 hours, as he got closer to exams.
Godfrey Natseli has been Anthony’s desk mate since the 5th grade. The duo would study together and compared notes every day after class to make sure neither missed a thing during the school day. Anthony and Godfrey even want to continue in the same school taking the same subjects as they head to their 5th year in secondary school.
| Division | Score Range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Division 1 | 90% or above | Excellent understanding of the curriculum |
| Division 2 | 75% - 89% | Good understanding of the curriculum |
| Division 3 | 60% - 74% | Average understanding of the curriculum |
| Division 4 | Below 60% | Poor understanding of the curriculum |
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