Below is what transpired with regards to our students' performance in KCSE English Paper 2 2022 (101/2).
Take note that this paper has been poorly performed this year (2022) compared to the previous (2021) year.
So, what really happened in KCSE Paper 2 English 2022?
English Paper 2 Question One:
Below are sampled areas in question one:1(b): "What is the position of the speaker on terrorism?" 3mks.
Many learners (unfortunately) failed to address the demand in this question. They simply identified "the literal position" of the speaker as president, minister of the interior, etc.
The question is terrorism, and the speaker hates it with passion. At the same time, the speaker is defending the country against the damaging impacts of the menace.
Therefore, the learners should say that the speaker disapproves, dislikes, hurts, abhors, detests, etc., thereby giving further evidence or illustrations to support such stands.
1(d): "Identify and explain the use of two metaphors in the passage." 4mks.
....yet another area that our learners failed to score. Many students could only identify the literal aspects of the metaphors in the passage. For example, "foundations of our biggest buildings" instead of "foundations of our country." In this case, the explanation would be "what the country is anchored on, like beliefs and aspirations, and not the materials."
It's therefore important to remind our learners that imagery is based on the literary interpretation as opposed to the surface view.
1(e). What's the tone of this passage? Explain your answer (3 marks).
Here "tone" refers to the quality of voice used by the speaker to pass the message. Third-world schools confused this for intonation, while others completely avoided it. The learner should have their response done in adjectives, like "hateful" or "of hatred," and further illustrate.
1(g). "Meaning of words" (4 mks).
On this, most learners still struggle to describe these words. Some also begin with "is to..."
Our learners should consider the tense, number, word category (noun, verb, et cetera), plus correct spelling. Learners must also avoid stroking with words, as this is punishable. This is trainable.
On a sad note, the majority of our learners only managed nine to fourteen marks, out of twenty!
Question Two, English Paper 2: Excerpt
Encouragingly, most learners found relief in the question, their only savior this time around. Even the "weaker" cadre scooped up a good chunk here, managing between fourteen and twenty marks.
2(b). How would you describe the reception the family received at Simiren's home? (3mks)
Plainly speaking, this is a question on the mood, tested intelligently. The learner should describe the mood, say, as "happy," of happiness, "joyous," of joy, "jubilant," of jubilation, e.t.c., and further illustrate from the excerpt. A few learners were seen fumbling or simply lifting phrases from the excerpt.
2(d). What do we learn about this community from this excerpt? Illustrate your answers. (4mks)
It's important to note that some questions borrow from others. This question could be easily answered using Simiren's traits in 2(d).
In addition, the question tests on the social, economic, and political organization of these people "as largely represented by Uncle Simiren." For instance, they are "welcoming, united, loving, led by elders, practicing polygamy, etc."
2(f). Explain the imagery in, "They likened him to a mono-eyed giant who stood on straw legs." 3mks.
Most learners could not completely answer this.
The fact that Ole Kaelo is monogamous (against tradition) and has two daughters without a son
2(g). What is implied about girls in the last paragraph? 3 mks.
Our learners should henceforth know that certain questions are generally implied. It's a question about girls in Nasila, not Ole Kaelo's daughters. aspects of traditions attached to girls in this community.