Qualifying Test (QT)

Introduction

The Qualifying Test examination is administered to private candidates intending to sit for the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE).

The Qualifying Test comprises questions from Civics, Cross Cutting issues, English Language, Kiswahili, Kiswahili, History, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

Qualifying Test draws as much as possible from the form I and II national syllabus but focuses more on testing knowledge and skills equivalent to National Form II Examination.

General Objectives

The main objective of the Qualifying Test is to determine whether the prospective candidates have attained secondary education equivalent to form two level and thus are in a position to sit for the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE).

General Competences

The examination specifically tests candidate's ability to:

  • Interpret basic knowledge, facts, principles, concepts, and figures in the stated subjects.
  • State, define and name basic knowledge, facts, principles, and concepts in the relevant subjects.
  • Write correct language using proper grammar, structure and vocabulary in the subject tested
  • Write a clear summary, answer comprehension questions and write a composition on a given passage, topic or subject.
  • Demonstrate and interpret mathematical knowledge within a given context and manipulate set theory and application, and carry out simple differentiation and integration.
  • Demonstrate use of knowledge and skills in Physics, Chemistry and Biology to solve problems which may involve unfamiliar situations.
  • Use knowledge, concepts, laws, theories and principles of the Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects in daily life.

Examination Rubric

There is one paper of three hours (3) duration. The paper consists of 20 questions in sections A and B. Section A comprises of two parts. Part I focuses on Civics and current affairs and Part II is about English and Kiswahili languages. Candidates are required to answer all questions in section A.

section B consists of three parts. Part I is about History and Geography, part II on Physics and Mathematics and part III on Biology and Chemistry. Candidates are required to confine themselves to one part only.

SECTION A: CIVICS, CURRENT AFFAIRS AND LANGUAGE

This section comprises twelve (12) questions, and weighs 60 marks.

PART I: CIVICS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

In this part, question numbers one to three are about Civics content based on forms one and two syllabuses and question number four on Current Affairs.

PART II: KISWAHILI AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Consists of eight (8) questions, four (4) from Kiswahili syllabus and four (4) from English language syllabus for forms one and two.

English Language:

The English language component comprises four (4) questions. One question will be on composition and another one on comprehension.The third one will be a multiple choice question consisting of five items on English patters. The fourth one will be of the fill-in-the-blanks type, dealing with tenses, and will have five items. Each question will carry 5 marks.

Kiswahili:

Kutakuwa na maswali manne (4) yatakayotoka katika mada za Kiswahili za kidato cha kwanza na kidato cha pili ambazo ni ufahamu, utungaji, sarufi na uundaji wa maneno. Kila swali litakuwa na alama tano (5).

SECTION B: GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, PHYSICS, MATHEMATICS, BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY

Section B will comprise three (3) parts; each part will have four (4) questions and will weigh 40 marks. candidates will be required to confine themselves to only one part.

PART I: GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

Will comprise four (4) questions, two (2) questions will be on Geography and two (2) questions on History. candidates will be required to answer all the questions in this part.

PART II: PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS

Will comprise four (4) questions, two (2) questions will be on Physics and two (2) questions on Mathematics.

PART III : BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY

Will comprise four (4) questions, two (2) questions will be on Biology and two (2) questions on Chemistry.

Examination Content

Civics

  • Promotion of life skills and family life
  • Human rights and responsible citizenship
  • Government of Tanzania and Democracy
  • Proper behavior and responsible decision making

English

  • Comprehension and summary
  • Structure
  • Tenses
  • Utungaji

History

  • Evolution of man, technology and environment
  • Development of social, political system and economic activities in pre-colonial Africa and their impact.
  • Social and economic development in production in pre-colonial Africa
  • Africa and the external world
  • transition to indusrtial capitalism

Biology

  • Safety in our environment
  • Health and prevention of diseases
  • Cell structure and organisation
  • Classification of living things
  • Nutrition
  • Balance of nature
  • Transport of materials in living things
  • Gaseous exchange and respiration

Kiswahili

  • Ufahamu na ufupisho
  • Sarufi
  • Fasihi
  • Utungaji

Geography

  • The solor system
  • weather and climate
  • Map work
  • Human activities

Chemistry

  • Laboratory techiques and safety
  • Scientific procedures
  • Matter
  • Air combustion, rusting and fir fighting

Physics

  • Laboratory
  • Structure
  • Work, energy, power, light and static electricity
  • Current electricity and magnetism

Mathematics

  • Number, fractions, decimal and percentages
  • Units, approximation and geometry
  • Ratio, profit and loss
  • Coordinates geometry, perimetrs and areas.