Board of Secondary Education Karachi has introduced a revised grading system for matriculation examinations, marking a significant shift away from the traditional pass fail evaluation structure. The new system will be implemented from the current academic year and is aimed at making student assessment more transparent, structured, and aligned with national education standards. Officials at BSEK believe the updated framework will provide a clearer picture of student performance while reducing the pressure commonly associated with board examinations.
According to BSEK officials, the transition to the new grading system will be carried out in phases. Students enrolled in Class 9 will be assessed under the revised structure from 2026, while Class 10 students will move to the new system in 2027. Under the updated criteria, the minimum passing marks have been fixed at 40 percent, making it mandatory for students to achieve at least this score to be declared successful. This benchmark has been introduced to ensure a consistent and measurable standard of academic competency across subjects.
As part of the changes, the board has replaced the traditional fail status with a U grade. Students who score below the 40 percent threshold will be awarded this grade and will be required to appear in supplementary examinations to improve their results. At the other end of the spectrum, exceptional academic performance will now be formally recognized through the introduction of an A++ grade for students securing between 96 and 100 percent marks. BSEK officials say this distinction is intended to acknowledge high achievers and encourage academic excellence among students.
In addition to the grading structure, BSEK has announced the interim introduction of a Grade Point Average system that will operate alongside the new grades. Board representatives explained that this step is designed to gradually familiarize students with assessment models used by other education boards and higher education institutions across Pakistan. The parallel GPA system is expected to help create a smoother transition for students moving from secondary education to intermediate and university level studies, where GPA based evaluation is widely used.
A BSEK representative stated that the revised grading system is intended to promote conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization, while also ensuring fairer evaluation of student performance. The board believes that clearer grading distinctions will help students better understand their academic standing and identify areas requiring improvement. It is also expected to provide colleges with more detailed benchmarks during the admissions process, supporting merit based selection.
Education boards across Pakistan have increasingly moved toward grading and GPA based assessment models in recent years as part of broader education reforms. These changes are aimed at improving learning outcomes, standardizing evaluation methods, and reducing the high stakes nature of board examinations. Karachi Board’s decision follows similar initiatives introduced by other provincial boards, reflecting a wider shift in how student performance is measured.
BSEK officials are confident that the updated system will benefit both students and educational institutions by offering a more balanced and modern approach to assessment. The board maintains that, over time, the new grading and GPA framework will contribute to a healthier academic environment and better prepare students for future educational and professional challenges.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
