UNEB Set to Introduce Revised Senior Six Grading System in 2028

The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is set to introduce changes to the way Senior Six candidates are assessed, as Uganda continues its transition towards competency-based education and assessment.

The revised approach is expected to place greater emphasis on what learners can understand, apply and demonstrate, rather than relying heavily on the traditional approach of testing memorisation.

The changes are part of the broader implementation of Uganda’s competency-based curriculum, which has already transformed assessment at lower secondary level.

Under the new approach, learners are expected to face more application-oriented and scenario-based questions. This means candidates may be required to analyse situations, solve problems and demonstrate practical understanding of concepts studied in class.

UNEB has indicated that the UACE assessment is being aligned with the revised curriculum, including changes to examination formats and the introduction of scenario-based tasks.

The transition is expected to have a significant impact on schools, teachers and students as they prepare for the new assessment system.

However, details on the exact grading scale to be used for the 2028 UACE candidates have not yet been fully published by UNEB. While discussions about a revised grading system have generated considerable interest, the existing official UNEB materials continue to use the familiar letter-grade system.

The changes therefore do not necessarily mean that the traditional A, B, C, D and E grades will immediately disappear. Instead, the major confirmed shift is towards competency-based assessment and evaluating learners on their ability to apply knowledge.

Teachers are expected to play an important role in preparing students for the transition, particularly by moving classroom teaching away from memorisation and towards critical thinking, problem-solving and practical application.

For Senior Six students preparing for the new system, the changes could mean that simply memorising notes may no longer be enough to achieve strong results.

UNEB is expected to provide further guidance as preparations for the new assessment framework progress.

The 2028 examination cycle will therefore be closely watched as Uganda moves further towards an education system focused not only on what students know, but also on what they can do with that knowledge.************