Federal Board introduces new grading system for SSC, HSSC
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) has officially announced a new grading formula for students of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examinations, marking one of the most significant changes in Pakistan’s academic evaluation system in years.
According to the notification issued by the FBISE, the new grading system will come into effect from 2026 for SSC (Matric) exams and from 2027 for FA and FSc (Intermediate) examinations. The revised grading structure aims to bring greater transparency, fairness, and motivation for academic excellence among students.
Under the updated framework, students securing between 96% and 100% will receive the top “A++” grade, a newly introduced category designed to recognize exceptional academic performance. Those achieving 91% to 95% will be awarded “A+”, while 86% to 90% marks will correspond to an “A” grade.
Students scoring 81% to 85% will get a “B++” grade, and those achieving 76% to 80% will receive “B+”. Similarly, marks between 71% and 75% will be graded as “B”, 61% to 70% as “C+”, and 51% to 60% as “C”. Students securing 40% to 50% will receive a “D (Emerging)” grade, while those scoring below 40% will be classified as “Ungraded”.
FBISE officials clarified that “Ungraded” candidates will still be allowed to reappear in examinations to improve their results, provided they meet the board’s prescribed conditions.
An official of the Federal Board stated that during a recent meeting of the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), all examination boards across Pakistan had agreed in principle to adopt the revised grading and passing marks formula. However, it remains to be seen how quickly each provincial board will implement the new structure.
Education experts have welcomed the move, noting that the introduction of new grades like A++ and B++ brings the Pakistani evaluation system closer to international academic standards, such as those followed by Cambridge and IB systems. The reform is expected to reduce exam-related stress and encourage students to focus on conceptual understanding rather than rote learning.
With the implementation of this modernized grading formula, the FBISE hopes to promote academic excellence and align Pakistan’s assessment system with global education benchmarks.
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