Pakistan Grading System: Understanding the scale and pass mark
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Pakistan’s grading system uses an official percentage key for the main school letter-grade scale, which applies before 2027. Regions set the rules, with national coordination by the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC).
This page explains the A1-to-F scale and how grading works, then covers points for teachers working with Pakistani students online or abroad. It also links related grading systems and describes its sources and verification.
The Pakistani grading scale: A1 to F
The pre-2027 school scale runs from A1, the best grade, to F, the worst; E is the lowest passing grade. Its percentages are an official key: for example, E covers 33 to 39%, while F covers 0 to 32%.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Exceptional: Exceptional | Yes | 80 to 100% |
| A | Excellent: Excellent | Yes | 70 to 79% |
| B | Very good: Very good | Yes | 60 to 69% |
| C | Good: Good | Yes | 50 to 59% |
| D | Very fair: Very fair | Yes | 40 to 49% |
| E | Fair: Fair | Yes | 33 to 39% |
| F | Fail: Fail | No | 0 to 32% |
Percent bands are set by the authority. Nuffic gives the percentage ranges for the grading system most boards used up to 2026.
Before 2027, 33% was the passing threshold.
For the old system, each subject received a score from 0 to 100, and the scores were added and divided by the highest possible total, usually 1,100, to calculate a percentage.
The percentage was stated as a letter grade on the diploma and/or transcript. (Nuffic; WENR)
Compared with related systems
Pakistan
6 of 7 grades pass
China
4 of 5 grades pass
Japan
4 of 5 grades pass
Germany
4 of 6 grades pass
How grading works in Pakistan
Regional authorities set grading rules, coordinated nationally by the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC).
Secondary education boards may differ in assessment practice, but in principle follow the IBCC system; the IBCC developed a new system in 2023, and boards will adopt it step by step (Nuffic).
Upper secondary results are assessed by the concerned Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education through written and practical examinations (Mail).
Students can prove completion with a Higher Secondary School Certificate or Intermediate School Certificate and a transcript showing Year 1 (Part I) and Year 2 (Part II) results; they usually receive both documents in English (Nuffic).
If you teach Pakistani students online or abroad
Check the grading scale on each document, ask the student or school about unclear grades, and record the original grades and scale 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]mail.fbise.edu.pk. Curriculum of Matric Tech Applied Electrician GRADE X .... pdf. Accessed Oct 4, 2026. Official source
- [2]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Oct 4, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [3]wenr.wes.org. Pakistan: Secondary Education - WENR. Accessed Oct 4, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 13, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Pakistan?
Before 2027, the passing threshold was 33%. The lowest passing grade was E, which covered 33–39%; F, from 0–32%, was failing.
Do schools in Pakistan use percentages for grades?
Yes. Before 2027, most boards used an official percentage key, with marks converted to a percentage and reported as a letter grade. From 2027, boards still convert scores into percentages, although the grading scale changes.
Is a C a good grade in Pakistan?
Before 2027, C meant “Good” and covered 50–59%.
