Understanding the grading system in Pakistan is essential for students, parents, and international institutions evaluating Pakistani academic credentials. Pakistan’s education system includes several types of institutions—public and private schools, colleges, and universities—each of which may follow slightly different grading scales depending on the board or institution. However, some standardized practices are widely adopted, especially by national examination boards and universities, making it possible to understand the general structure of grading in Pakistan from school through higher education.
At the school level, students typically study under one of two major systems: the local matriculation/intermediate system governed by various Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), or the international system such as Cambridge O/A Levels. The local system is structured into 10 years of schooling (ending in Matric/SSC) followed by two years of college education (FA/FSc or HSSC). Grading in Matric and Intermediate exams is based on marks rather than letter grades. Until recently, the scores were reported as raw marks out of 1100 or 1200, depending on the board and year.
In the revised structure implemented by many boards in recent years, grades are assigned in terms of both marks and GPA (Grade Point Average) using a standardized scale. For instance:
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A+ (Outstanding): 90–100% marks
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A (Excellent): 80–89%
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B (Very Good): 70–79%
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C (Good): 60–69%
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D (Satisfactory): 50–59%
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E (Pass): 40–49%
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F (Fail): Below 40%
Though letter grades have begun appearing on official transcripts, most employers and universities in Pakistan still place strong emphasis on percentage scores. Students aiming for competitive universities must usually score above 80%, especially for engineering or medical colleges.
In the A-Level/O-Level system, offered by institutions affiliated with the University of Cambridge or Pearson Edexcel, the grading is based on international standards. Students receive grades from A* to E in each subject, with A* being the highest. O-Level and A-Level results are often converted to local percentage equivalents using standardized equivalency formulas issued by the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), which is required for students seeking admission to local universities.
At the university level, Pakistan has two common grading approaches: absolute percentage grading and Grade Point Average (GPA). Public universities such as Punjab University, Karachi University, and others may follow the percentage model, with class divisions such as:
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First Division: 60% and above
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Second Division: 45% to 59%
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Third Division: 33% to 44%
Many modern universities like LUMS, NUST, and IBA use the GPA system, similar to the U.S. model, on a 4.0 scale. This is typically mapped as follows:
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A (Excellent): 3.7–4.0
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B (Good): 3.0–3.6
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C (Satisfactory): 2.0–2.9
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D (Marginal Pass): 1.0–1.9
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F (Fail): 0.0–0.9
Each university may use its own GPA conversion scale. For example, some may assign 4.0 for 85% and above, while others reserve a 4.0 GPA for only 90%+. This variability sometimes complicates the evaluation of transcripts for foreign admissions or scholarships. Therefore, many universities also provide a transcript legend that explains the internal grading policy.
Students aiming for scholarships or graduate studies abroad often need to convert their GPA or percentages into foreign equivalents. Services like WES (World Education Services) or HEC’s attestation system are used to validate and translate Pakistani grades into formats acceptable for U.S., Canadian, or European institutions.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has tried to standardize the grading system by recommending the 4.0 GPA model and encouraging all universities to adopt semester systems rather than annual exam structures. This push toward uniformity is intended to make Pakistani degrees more internationally comparable and to promote merit-based academic culture.
It’s also important to understand how grading is perceived culturally in Pakistan. For example, a 70% score may be considered average or low by some international standards, but in Pakistan, particularly in science and technical subjects, this may reflect strong performance due to rigorous marking and difficulty levels in public exams.
In sum, the Pakistani grading system is evolving toward standardization but still includes several variants based on the type of institution and education board. Whether you are a student aiming for local admissions, an international evaluator reviewing a transcript, or a parent trying to assess your child’s academic performance, it’s important to interpret grades in context and consult official conversion tables when necessary.
