Nepal grading system for Grade 10 and Grades XI and XII
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The Nepal grading system uses a national Grade 10 letter-grade scale that runs from D+ to -, with D+ the best grade and - the worst. D+ is the lowest passing grade; there is no percentage key.
The National Examinations Board sets the grading rules for the main school-leaving exam, the Certificate – Secondary Education Examination, Grade 10.
This page explains the scale and how school grading is administered in Nepal, then offers guidance for teachers working with students from Nepal. It also covers related grading systems and sources used to verify the information.
The Nepali grading scale: D+ to -
The lowest passing grade is D+. There is no percent key. For the Grade-10 Certificate – Secondary Education Examination, scores from 35 to 40 receive D+; below 35 receives no letter grade or grade point.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| D+ | Basic | Yes | 1.6 |
| - | No |
Below 35 has no letter grade or grade point.
For the Grade XI and XII Migration Certificate – School Leaving Certificate Examination, scores from 35 to 40 receive D, while below 35 is NG (Not Graded) (Nuffic).
Compared with related systems
Nepal
1 of 2 grades pass
China
4 of 5 grades pass
Japan
4 of 5 grades pass
Germany
4 of 6 grades pass
How Nepali school grading is run
Grading rules are set nationally by the National Examinations Board (NEB), which assesses lower and upper secondary education results (Nuffic).
Students conclude lower and upper secondary education with NEB exams for the Certificate – Secondary Education Examination, Grade 10, and the Migration Certificate – School Leaving Certificate Examination (Grade XI & XII), respectively (Nuffic).
NEB issues official secondary education documents, and the documents students receive vary by period (Nuffic).
Teaching students from Nepal
You can receive Nepali grades on students’ report cards, marking keys and transcripts. Check the document’s grading key and record the grades with that key in your gradebook.
Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
Sources and verification
- [1]giwmscdnone.gov.np. EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT. pdf. Accessed Oct 3, 2026. Official source
- [2]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Oct 3, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 14, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Nepal?
For the Grade-10 Certificate – Secondary Education Examination, D+ is the lowest passing grade. Scores from 35 to 40 receive D+, while below 35 receives no letter grade or grade point.
Do schools in Nepal use percentages for grades?
The Grade-10 scale has no percentage key. Scores from 35 to 40 receive D+, and below 35 receives no letter grade or grade point.
Is a - a good grade in Nepal?
No. In Nepal’s Grade-10 scale, D+ is the lowest passing grade and - is the worst grade.
