Self-Exploration and Career Development

19 Grade 9 Pre-Technical Studies questions on Self-Exploration and Career Development, with worked marking schemes. 19 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   Juma is very good at drawing, enjoys building models and prefers working with his hands rather than sitting for long. Which career cluster suits his abilities and interests best?

   A. Journalism and mass media

   B. Engineering and technology

   C. Law and legal services

   D. Accounting and finance

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

2. Question 2

   1 mark

   An entrepreneur, a plumber and a mechanic all earn income mainly by:

   A. Winning competitions each week

   B. Providing goods or services in exchange for payment

   C. Receiving a fixed government pension

   D. Inheriting money only

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

3. Question 3

   1 mark

   In the CBC pathways, a Grade 9 learner strong in mathematics, physics and workshop projects would most appropriately transition to which senior school pathway?

   A. Arts and Sports Science

   B. Social Sciences

   C. Languages

   D. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

4. Question 4

   1 mark

   A learner realises they often give up when a task becomes difficult. As part of career development, the BEST way to use this self-knowledge is to:

   A. Ignore it completely

   B. Choose only careers that never have challenges

   C. Blame teachers for the difficulty

   D. Identify it as a weakness and work on developing perseverance

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

5. Question 5

   1 mark

   A Grade 9 learner is unsure which career path to pursue and the teacher advises starting with self-exploration. What does self-exploration MAINLY involve?

   A. Copying the career chosen by a best friend

   B. Identifying one's own interests, abilities, values and strengths

   C. Choosing the highest-paying job regardless of ability

   D. Waiting until after school to think about careers

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

6. Question 6

   4 marks

   A career counsellor tells learners that both personal and external factors shape career choice. (a) Give two personal factors that influence career choice. (2 marks) (b) Give two external factors that influence career choice. (2 marks)

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) Personal factors (1 mark each, any two): abilities/aptitude; interests; values; personality; academic performance; health/physical ability. (b) External factors (1 mark each, any two): availability of jobs/labour market; family influence and expectations; cost of training/finances; societal or cultural expectations; role models/media; government policy or scholarships.

7. Question 7

   1 mark

   During a guidance lesson, Amina lists activities she enjoys, tasks she does well and subjects she scores highly in. This process of studying her own abilities, interests and values is best described as:

   A. Self-exploration

   B. Career appraisal

   C. Time management

   D. Job placement

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

8. Question 8

   5 marks

   Fatuma wants to become a nurse. (a) Outline three steps she should take to prepare for this career while still in junior school. (3 marks) (b) Explain one way a mentor could help her achieve this career goal. (2 marks)

   (5 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) Any three (1 mark each): work hard in relevant subjects (biology/sciences); research the entry requirements for nursing training; join the appropriate senior school pathway; seek exposure e.g. visiting a health facility; develop relevant skills such as caring/communication; maintain good conduct/discipline. (b) One way (2 marks): a mentor gives guidance/advice from experience, encourages and motivates her, models good practice, exposes her to the profession, or helps her set and monitor realistic goals.

9. Question 9

   1 mark

   Wanjiku identifies that she is weak in public speaking but wants to become a teacher. The BEST way for her to turn this weakness into a strength is to:

   A. Hide it from her teachers

   B. Ignore the weakness completely

   C. Practise and seek training in presentation skills

   D. Abandon the teaching career immediately

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

10. Question 10

    1 mark

    A career is best defined as the:

    A. Amount of money one earns in a single month

    B. Class one is placed in at school

    C. Company logo printed on a uniform

    D. Sequence of jobs and roles a person holds over their working life

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

11. Question 11

    6 marks

    Explain three reasons why it is important for a Grade 9 learner to set career goals early. (6 marks)

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any three, each explained (2 marks each: 1 for point, 1 for explanation): gives direction/focus so effort is purposeful; helps in choosing the right subjects/pathway aligned to the goal; motivates the learner to work hard and stay disciplined; enables proper planning of time and resources; allows early identification and correction of weaknesses; reduces chances of making a wrong career choice.

12. Question 12

    1 mark

    A Grade 9 learner enjoys repairing electronics, is patient, and pays close attention to detail. According to self-exploration, the learner should match these qualities to a career by first considering their:

    A. Friends' chosen careers

    B. Personal interests, abilities and talents

    C. The highest-paying job available

    D. The shortest training course

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

13. Question 13

    5 marks

    Otieno is a Grade 9 learner unsure about his future career. (a) Define the term self-exploration. (2 marks) (b) State three benefits of self-exploration in career development. (3 marks)

    (5 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Self-exploration is the process by which a person examines and understands their own abilities, interests, values, strengths and weaknesses (2 marks for a clear definition). (b) Any three (1 mark each): helps one choose a suitable career; builds self-awareness/self-confidence; helps set realistic goals; helps identify and improve on weaknesses; guides selection of the right subjects/pathway; reduces wrong career choices.

14. Question 14

    1 mark

    Which factor is a PERSONAL factor (rather than an external one) that influences a learner's choice of career?

    A. Availability of jobs in the county

    B. Government scholarship offers

    C. Individual aptitude and interest

    D. Advice given by the media

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

15. Question 15

    4 marks

    A Grade 9 learner is undecided about which career pathway to choose for senior school and decides to explore his own strengths and interests first.

    (a) Explain the meaning of self-exploration in career development. (2 marks)

    (b) Identify TWO personal factors the learner should consider when choosing a career. (2 marks)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Self-exploration in career development is the process by which a person examines and gets to know themselves — their interests, abilities, talents, values, strengths and weaknesses — in order to make informed decisions about a suitable career or pathway. (2 marks) (b) Any TWO of (1 mark each): personal interests/likes; abilities and talents/skills; academic performance or aptitude; personal values and attitudes; personality; health and physical ability; ambitions/goals. (2 marks)

16. Question 16

    1 mark

    A learner writes: 'I value honesty, I want to help sick people and I enjoy biology.' These statements mainly reveal the learner's:

    A. Family background

    B. Physical fitness level

    C. Financial status

    D. Personal values and interests

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

17. Question 17

    1 mark

    A learner who enjoys fixing machines and working with tools is exploring suitable careers. Using career development principles, which choice best matches these interests and aptitudes?

    A. A career as a fashion model

    B. A career as a news anchor

    C. A career in flower arrangement

    D. A career in mechanical or automotive engineering/technical trades

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

18. Question 18

    1 mark

    Which of the following is the MOST reliable source a Grade 9 learner should use to get accurate information about the qualifications needed for a career?

    A. A professional working in that career

    B. A social media meme

    C. A guess based on films

    D. A rumour from age-mates

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

19. Question 19

    1 mark

    Setting a goal such as 'I will complete my Grade 9 project by the end of term' is an example of a:

    A. Retirement plan

    B. Lifelong ambition

    C. Long-term goal

    D. Short-term goal

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

20. 14 more marking schemes are on this page. A free account opens all of them, and lets you build your own paper on the topics you have actually taught, laid out in KNEC format with its full marking scheme.

    Create a free account

More Grade 9 Pre-Technical Studies topics