In a significant development for the education system, the traditional numbering system used in matriculation annual examinations across all education boards in Pakistan, including the Intermediate and Secondary Education Board of Rawalpindi, will be completely abolished, starting from March next year.
Students are elated with the news, as the forthcoming matriculation exam results will no longer be expressed in numerical scores but will be graded.
The Rawalpindi BISE has officially confirmed this transition, stating that the numbering system will be discontinued, making it applicable to the supplementary examinations as well.
This move marks the end of a 76-year tradition dating back to the founding of Pakistan in 1947.
This change will also extend to intermediate results in the second phase, and alongside the abandonment of the numerical system, the previous 33% passing mark requirement has been eliminated. According to the Inter-Boards Committee Coordination, the new grading formula will require a 40% passing score. Initially, this approach will be implemented in Class IX and intermediate Part I.
Result cards issued from the upcoming year onward will reflect candidates' Cumulative Grade Point Averages (CGPA) in addition to their grades.
To facilitate the implementation of this new grading system, the Punjab Board will provide training to education boards in Sindh. As per the new grading criteria, students who achieve marks in the range of 95-100% will receive an A++ grade, while those scoring between 90% and 94% will be awarded an A+ grade.
An excellent rating of A is reserved for scores between 85% and 89%, followed by a very good B++ grade for marks ranging from 80% to 84%. Students securing 75-79% of the marks will attain a good B+ grade, while a fairly good B grade will be granted for scores between 70% and 74%.
An above-average C grade will be awarded for marks in the 60-69% range, with a D grade for those achieving 50-59%. Students falling within the range of 40-49% will receive an E grade, signifying below-average performance.
Failing grades will be given to students scoring below 40%.
Preparations for the implementation of this new system are already underway, with education boards, teachers' organisations, education officers, and private educational institutions associations, being duly informed about the upcoming changes.
In August this year, a new grading system for matriculation and intermediate level, which was meant to do away with the traditional totals marks obtained system in favour of the world-renowned grade point average (GPA) and cumulative grade point average (CGPA) method of scoring, was halted for a year due to technical issues.
The implementation of a new 10-point grading system was stopped across the country and education boards across the country were asked to prepare the matriculation and intermediate-level results this year under the existing old system.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2023.
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