Bangladesh grading system for secondary education
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The Bangladesh grading system used in secondary education runs from A+ to F, with A+ the highest grade and F the lowest. D is the minimum grade required to pass.
This page explains how teachers can read and report Bangladeshi grades, compare them with other systems, and support students from Bangladesh. It also covers the HSC school-leaving exam and related grading systems.
Reading the Bangladeshi scale
The Bangladeshi secondary letter-grade and grade-point scale runs from A+ to F, with A+ the best grade and F the worst. D is the lowest passing grade, and F means Fail. The percentages are an official key.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | Excellent: Outstanding | Yes | 80 to 100% |
| A | Very good | Yes | 70 to 79% |
| A- | Good | Yes | 60 to 69% |
| B | Satisfactory | Yes | 50 to 59% |
| C | Satisfactory: Average, Passing | Yes | 40 to 49% |
| D | Sufficient: Below Average, Passing | Yes | 33 to 39% |
| F | Fail | No | 0 to 32% |
Percent bands are set by the authority. The evidence presents these percentage bands as the national HSC grading scale followed by general, Madrasah (Alim), and Technical boards; Nuffic also reports the bands for secondary education.
F is Fail. HSC subjects generally require at least 33% in theory; where separate practical or MCQ components apply, students usually must pass each component separately.
For HSC, GPA is on a 5.00 scale and the final GPA is capped at 5.00. (teachers.gov.bd; Nuffic)
Compared with related systems
Bangladesh
6 of 7 grades pass
China
4 of 5 grades pass
Japan
4 of 5 grades pass
Australia
No pass mark
Who sets Bangladeshi grades and how they are reported
Bangladesh’s grading rules are set nationally by the Boards, which assess secondary education study results. The SSC and HSC exam results are reported on a 5.00 scale.
The Madrasah (Alim) board uses the same grade-to-GPA conversion table as the general boards, while Technical and vocational HSC streams use a similar overall scale but may weight practical subjects differently. (Nuffic; teachers.gov.bd)
How Bangladeshi grades compare with other systems
For division or class equivalence, GPA 3.50–5.00 is generally treated as First Division/Class equivalent, while GPA 2.50–3.49 is generally treated as Second Division equivalent. The exact cutoff can vary by institution (teachers.gov.bd).
Teaching students from Bangladesh
Ask students to bring report cards, marking keys and transcripts. Check how each labels grades, and ask the student or school to clarify unclear entries. Record original grades and meanings before entering them in your gradebook.
Set up the scale once in a gradebook so all report cards and transcripts use the same key.
Related grading systems
- China5-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade D (Pass)
- Japan5-step numeric scale, 5 is best; passing grade 2 (Poor)
- Australia4-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Canada11-step letter-grade scale, A+ is best; passing grade D (Marginal)
- Germany6-step numeric scale, 1 is best; passing grade 4 (Ausreichend)
- Ireland8-step numeric scale, 1 is best; passing grade 7
Sources and verification
- [1]teachers.gov.bd. শিক্ষক বাতায়ন. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [2]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 15, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Bangladesh?
In secondary education, D is the lowest passing grade, at 33–39%. For HSC subjects, students generally need at least 33% in theory and may also need to pass separate practical or MCQ components.
Do schools in Bangladesh use percentages for grades?
Yes. The secondary grading scale uses percentage bands as an official key: A+ is 80–100%, A is 70–79%, A- is 60–69%, B is 50–59%, C is 40–49%, D is 33–39%, and F is 0–32%.
Is a B a good grade in Bangladesh?
B corresponds to 50–59% and is described as Satisfactory.
