Sindh adopts GPA system for matric, inter exams

The Sindh government has notified a new grading policy based on Grade Point Average (GPA) for matriculation and intermediate examinations in an effort to "modernise the education system in the province."

The policy drops the competition for top positions, and instead of marks and rankings, students will now receive grades, making Sindh the first province in the country to approve a grading policy.

According to the notification issued by Boards and Universities Secretary Abbas Baloch, the new grading policy will be implemented from 2025, under which students' results will be based on Grade Point Average (GPA) instead of marks and positions. This means the first, second, and third positions will be eliminated.

As per the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), 95 or more marks will be graded as an A+ (Exceptional), 90 marks will receive an A (Outstanding), 85 marks will be given an A (Excellent), and 80 marks will be graded as a B+ (Very Good). Similarly, 75 marks will be awarded a B (Good), 70 marks a B- (Fairly Good), and 60 marks a C (Above Average).

While speaking to The Express Tribune, IBCC Executive Director Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah claimed that the new grading system would improve educational standards in the province. He added that Sindh, along with Balochistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, has adopted the new grading policy for matriculation and intermediate examinations, while Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are still in the approval process. It is expected that implementation orders will be issued soon.

Dr Mallah further stated that universities are working on this system, and to avoid issues in admissions, next year students will be given both marks and grades.

Starting next year, the passing marks for matric and inter will be increased from 33 to 40. Moreover, 50 marks will be classified as a D (Average), 40 to 49 marks will be considered an E (Below Average), and those scoring less than 40 will receive a U (Unsatisfactory).