New Grading System Introduced for Exams in Pakistan, Passing Marks Increased

Pakistan’s Ministry of Education has introduced a new grading system for secondary and higher secondary school students, replacing the traditional method of marking with grades.

The new 10-point grading system will assign students A++, A+, A, B++, B+, B, C, D, E, and U grades, replacing the earlier 7-point system (A-1, A, B, C, D, E, F).

Grading Details:
– A++: Represents outstanding performance
– A and B: Indicate excellent and strong academic achievements

With this change, the traditional numerical marking system will be phased out, and students will now receive Grade Point Average (GPA) or Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). Additionally, the passing marks have been raised from 33% to 40%.

Implementation of the New System
According to the Ministry of Education, the new system will be implemented from the academic year 2024 and will initially apply to students of 9th and 11th grades.

University Admissions
Universities will have the option to use both the new and old grading systems for admissions during the 2024-2025 period. However, from 2025 onwards, all colleges and universities will exclusively use CGPA and grades.

Purpose and Benefits
The Ministry’s statement highlighted that the new grading system aims to:
– **Control grade inflation**
– **Reduce the emphasis on high marks**
– **Ensure a more accurate reflection of students’ academic achievements

This new system is an effort to provide a balanced and fair assessment of students’ academic capabilities, moving away from the race for high numerical scores and ensuring a more accurate representation of their performance.