The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) has unveiled a revised grading formula for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examinations, raising the minimum passing percentage from 33 to 40%.
In a notification issued on Tuesday, the FBISE said the revised grading formula was in accordance with the decision of the Inter-Board Coordination Commission from Aug. 7-8. It said the new scheme would go into effect from the First Annual Examinations 2026 for the SSC-I/HSSC-I level and the the First Annual Examinations 2027 for the SSC-II/HSSC-II level.
Under the revised formula, students securing between 96% and 100% would receive an A++ grade (described as “extraordinary”), followed by A+ (“exceptional”) for 91% to 95%, and A (outstanding) for 86% to 90%.
Students scoring 81% to 85% will receive a B++ grade (“excellent”), followed by B+ (“very good”) at 76% to 80% and B (“good”) for 71% to 75%.
Those who achieve 61% to 70% will receive a C+ grade (“fairly good”), followed by a C grade (“above average”) for 51% to 60%. Those who obtain 40% to 50% will receive a D grade (“emerging”), while those with a score below 40% will be marked “ungraded.”
According to the notification, students who secure less than 40%, if otherwise eligible, would re-appear in examinations.