PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

118+ Free KASNEB CS25 Practice Questions

Pass your KASNEB Certified Secretaries (CS) — Corporate Governance and Ethics (CS25) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
Not published Pass Rate
118+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More KASNEB Certified Secretaries (CS)

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

KASNEB CS Intermediate — Meetings: Compliance and Administration (CS23)

Practice Questions

KASNEB CS Advanced — Governance and Compliance Audit (CS33)

Practice Questions

KASNEB CS Intermediate — Company Law (CS21)

Practice Questions

KASNEB CS Foundation — Introduction to Law and Governance (CS13)

Practice Questions
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: KASNEB CS25 Exam

CS25

Intermediate Paper Code

KASNEB CS Syllabus

3 hours

Official Paper Duration

KASNEB CS Examination Format

Ksh 3,500

Intermediate Paper Fee

KASNEB Qualifications Booklet 2026

Ksh 7,500

CS Registration Fee

KASNEB Qualifications Booklet 2026

17

King IV Governance Principles

IoDSA King IV Report

2015

Mwongozo and CMA Code Year

PSC/SCAC and CMA Kenya

KASNEB CS25 Corporate Governance and Ethics is a 3-hour Intermediate-level written paper costing Ksh 3,500 per sitting (plus Ksh 7,500 registration and Ksh 2,000 annual renewal). It tests governance theories, board duties, King IV, Mwongozo, CMA Code, risk, ESG, and ethics. Candidates need the KASNEB qualifying mark, commonly around 40%–50% per paper.

Sample KASNEB CS25 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your KASNEB CS25 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 118+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the PRIMARY purpose of corporate governance in an organisation?
A.To establish systems that direct and control the organisation for sustainable value creation and stakeholder accountability
B.To maximise short-term share price regardless of legal or ethical constraints
C.To eliminate all business risk through centralised decision-making by management alone
D.To replace statutory compliance with voluntary internal policies only
Explanation: Corporate governance is the system by which organisations are directed and controlled. Its primary purpose is to align leadership, accountability, and control so the entity creates sustainable value while meeting obligations to shareholders and other stakeholders.
2In the KASNEB CS25 context, ethics in corporate governance is BEST described as:
A.Standards of conduct that guide decision-making beyond minimum legal compliance
B.A set of tax rules governing corporate donations
C.Procedures for preparing annual financial statements only
D.Marketing guidelines for corporate social responsibility campaigns
Explanation: Ethics in governance concerns moral principles and professional standards that shape how leaders and employees behave. It extends beyond bare legal compliance to integrity, fairness, and responsible decision-making.
3Which statement BEST distinguishes governance from management?
A.Governance sets direction and oversight; management executes operations within that framework
B.Governance handles daily staffing schedules; management approves the annual budget only
C.Governance is optional for private companies; management is mandatory for all entities
D.Governance and management are identical functions performed by the same individuals
Explanation: The board (governance) approves strategy, monitors performance, and ensures accountability. Management runs day-to-day operations. Clear separation prevents conflicts and strengthens checks and balances.
4Good corporate governance is MOST likely to contribute to which organisational outcome?
A.Enhanced stakeholder trust and more sustainable long-term performance
B.Guaranteed elimination of all fraud and corruption
C.Complete avoidance of board–management disagreements
D.Exemption from regulatory inspections and audits
Explanation: Sound governance builds transparency, accountability, and ethical culture, which strengthens stakeholder confidence and supports durable performance. It reduces risk but cannot guarantee zero misconduct or conflict.
5Which element is NOT typically considered a pillar of an effective governance framework?
A.Deliberate concealment of material information from regulators
B.Clear allocation of authority between the board and management
C.Transparent reporting to stakeholders
D.Risk identification and oversight processes
Explanation: Effective governance rests on accountability, transparency, ethical leadership, and risk oversight. Concealing material information from regulators violates law and undermines governance.
6Disclosure-based governance codes (such as the CMA Code's "apply or explain" and King IV's "apply and explain") require organisations to:
A.Implement recommended practices or transparently explain how alternatives achieve governance outcomes
B.Ignore code provisions unless explicitly incorporated into statute
C.Obtain court approval before deviating from any code recommendation
D.Publish only financial statements without governance disclosures
Explanation: The CMA Code uses apply-or-explain; King IV uses apply-and-explain (a shift from King III). Both require entities to adopt recommended practices or explain how chosen arrangements achieve governance outcomes—not rigid tick-box compliance.
7Integrated reporting in governance is PRIMARILY intended to:
A.Show how strategy, governance, performance, and prospects connect across forms of capital
B.Replace the need for statutory annual returns to the Registrar of Companies
C.Focus exclusively on environmental metrics without financial data
D.Eliminate the role of the audit committee in financial oversight
Explanation: Integrated reporting (aligned with King IV outcomes) connects governance, strategy, risks, and performance across financial and non-financial capitals so stakeholders can assess value creation over time.
8Which Kenyan constitutional value is MOST directly reinforced by strong public-sector corporate governance?
A.Accountability and integrity in the use of public resources
B.The right to bear arms for all citizens
C.Exclusive presidential appointment of all private-sector directors
D.Abolition of devolved government structures
Explanation: Kenya's Constitution emphasises integrity, transparency, and accountable use of public resources. Public-sector governance codes such as Mwongozo operationalise these values in state corporations.
9A company secretary's governance role under the CS qualification is BEST characterised as:
A.Advising the board on governance, compliance, and proper meeting procedure
B.Replacing the board in all strategic investment decisions
C.Auditing financial statements as the external statutory auditor
D.Setting executive remuneration without board involvement
Explanation: Company secretaries support the board on governance, regulatory compliance, and meetings administration. They facilitate effective governance but do not supplant board authority or perform external audit.
10When a governance failure occurs despite formal policies, the MOST likely root cause examined in CS25 case studies is:
A.Weak ethical culture and ineffective oversight that allowed policies to be ignored
B.Excessive transparency in board papers
C.Too many independent directors on the audit committee
D.Mandatory rotation of the external auditor every year by law
Explanation: Case studies often show that written policies fail when tone at the top is weak, whistle-blowing is discouraged, or boards do not challenge management. Culture and oversight effectiveness are critical.

About the KASNEB CS25 Exam

CS25 Corporate Governance and Ethics is an Intermediate-level paper in the KASNEB Certified Secretaries (CS) programme. It equips candidates to practise good corporate governance and demonstrate ethical conduct in public and private organisations. The syllabus covers governance and ethics theories, board models and composition, roles of the board and committees, internal governance documents, risk governance, ESG frameworks, ethical behaviour, compliance with Kenyan law, and contemporary case studies. Kenyan codes including King IV (adapted), Mwongozo for state corporations, and the CMA Code of Corporate Governance are examined alongside the Companies Act 2015. This free practice bank reformats the syllabus into 100 multiple-choice items for efficient revision.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours (official written paper)

Passing Score

Qualifying mark set by KASNEB per paper (commonly around 40%–50%)

Exam Fee

Ksh 3,500 per Intermediate-level paper; Ksh 7,500 CS registration; Ksh 2,000 annual renewal (Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB))

KASNEB CS25 Exam Content Outline

~10%

Overview of Corporate Governance and Ethics

Governance vs management, ethics, apply-and-explain, integrated reporting, and the company secretary role

~10%

Theories of Governance and CSR

Agency, stakeholder, stewardship, Carroll's pyramid, triple bottom line, and legitimacy theory

~20%

Board Models and Composition

Unitary and two-tier boards, King IV chair–CEO separation, independence, duties, and CMA/Mwongozo composition

~16%

Roles, Committees, and Effectiveness

Audit and remuneration committees, King IV principles, board evaluation, charters, and delegation

~10%

Governance of Risk

ERM, three lines of defence, risk appetite, registers, cyber and fraud risk oversight

~8%

ESG and CSR

Environmental, social, and governance reporting, stakeholder engagement, and responsible citizenship

~8%

Ethical Behaviour

Ethical frameworks, IESBA principles, tone at the top, conflicts, and anti-bribery

~6%

Kenya Regulatory Framework

Mwongozo, CMA Code, King IV adoption, EACC, Leadership and Integrity Act, Companies Act 2015

~6%

Contemporary Issues

Digital governance, beneficial ownership, AI oversight, PPPs, and governance failure case studies

~6%

Compliance with Laws

Cross-cutting legal and regulatory compliance integrated across risk, ethics, and governance topics

How to Pass the KASNEB CS25 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Qualifying mark set by KASNEB per paper (commonly around 40%–50%)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours (official written paper)
  • Exam fee: Ksh 3,500 per Intermediate-level paper; Ksh 7,500 CS registration; Ksh 2,000 annual renewal

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

KASNEB CS25 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorise King IV's four outcomes and the first three principles on ethical leadership, governing ethics, and responsible citizenship.
2Distinguish King IV apply-and-explain from the CMA Code apply-or-explain — KASNEB tests both frameworks.
3Contrast agency theory, stakeholder theory, and stewardship theory — KASNEB frequently tests definitions and applications.
4Know Mwongozo issuance (PSC/SCAC, January 2015) and its focus on state corporation board effectiveness and accountability.
5Study CMA Code requirements for board balance, independence, board charter, and code of ethics for listed issuers.
6Drill director duties under the Companies Act 2015: good faith, care, skill, diligence, and conflict-of-interest rules.
7Understand ERM, the three lines of defence, and how the audit committee oversees internal and external audit.
8Link ESG reporting to King IV responsible citizenship and integrated reporting concepts.
9Practice scenario questions on ethics, bribery, whistle-blowing, and tone at the top from past CS25 case styles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is KASNEB CS25 Corporate Governance and Ethics?

CS25 is an Intermediate-level paper in the KASNEB Certified Secretaries programme. It tests corporate governance frameworks, board roles, ethics, risk governance, ESG, and Kenyan regulatory codes including King IV, Mwongozo, and the CMA Corporate Governance Code.

Who administers the CS25 examination?

The Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB) administers CS25 as a written paper at designated examination centres during the May and November sittings each year.

How much does the CS25 examination cost?

KASNEB charges Ksh 3,500 per Intermediate-level paper. New CS students also pay a Ksh 7,500 registration fee and Ksh 2,000 annual renewal. Fees are published in the official KASNEB Qualifications Booklet and fee-structure page.

What is the official exam format for CS25?

The official CS25 paper is a 3-hour written examination with structured questions drawn from the full syllabus. This free practice bank provides 100 multiple-choice items covering the same topics for self-testing and revision.

Which governance codes are examined in CS25?

The syllabus covers King IV principles (widely adopted in Kenya), Mwongozo for state corporations, the CMA Code of Corporate Governance Practices for public issuers, and relevant provisions of the Kenya Companies Act 2015.

What are the entry requirements for the CS programme?

Candidates need a KCSE mean grade of C+ (plus), a KASNEB diploma, or another recognised diploma. Foundation-level CS papers must be completed or exempted before sitting Intermediate papers such as CS25.

What happens if I fail CS25?

You re-book CS25 at the next KASNEB examination sitting and pay the per-paper fee again. You must achieve the qualifying mark set by KASNEB for that paper before progressing.

Are these practice questions multiple-choice?

Yes. The official KASNEB paper uses written structured questions, but this free practice bank provides 100 multiple-choice items with explanations so you can revise and self-test efficiently.