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EQUIVALENCE AND CONVERSION FORMULA FOR FOREIGN

GRADES/MARKS INTO PAK EQUIVALENT MARKS

All the certificates and the grades awarded by the accredited Examination
Board/Authority/Syndicate and institutions recognized by the Education
Authority of the country of origin will be considered for equivalence. The
conversion of marks/grades will be as per approved procedure reproduced
below:-

1. General
1. The major principle for equivalence of qualification is to
identify the relevant stage in Pakistani System by considering the number of
schooling years and the subjects in foreign and local system.
2. The certificates and their marks/grades from
accredited/recognized
Examination Boards will be equated with Pak equivalent marks as per
approved formula.
3. The actual marks from a recognized Examination Board
Authority/Syndicate will not be considered as such, but will be equated to the
Pakistani equivalent marks as per approved formula.
4. The certificates/transcripts issued by the foreign institutions /
schools / colleges will be considered and their grades/marks shall be subjected
to a deduction to maintain uniformity and range of scores with Pakistani
system. As per conversion formula the marks/grades will be first equated with
Pak equivalent marks as given in the related context and then 10% marks will
be deducted from the total marks.
5. Subject group of candidate will be shown in the Equivalence
Certificate (i.e.Science Group or General Group), as the case may be.
6. In case exact marks of each subject are available, deduction
will be made as:
* 10% deduction will be made on given marks, in case
of external examination system.
* 20% deduction on given marks, in case of internal
examination system.
7. Only academic subjects will be considered for conversion
purposes.

2. British System and Equivalent

1. GCE O Level, GCSE, IGCSE and Equivalent:-

GCE O Level and 10 years schooling in any education system is considered

equivalent to Secondary School Certificate ( SSC ) subject to meeting the
requirements as under:
1. Pakistan Based Examination (local exam): Eight subjects
including English, Urdu, Islamiyal, Pakistan Studies, Mathematic and three
electives.
2. Overseas Based Examinations (overseas exam): Five subjects
including English, Mathematics and three electives ( other than Islamiyat,
Pakistan Studies, and Urdu ).

To qualify for Science Group it is necessary to pass Physics, Chemistry,

Biology or (* Computer studies / * Information Communication Technology / *
Information Technology / * Additional Mathematic / * Pure Mathematics). Rest
will be placed in General / Humanities Group.

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* The relaxation will not be allowed to the students who will pass 'O' level
examination in the academic year 2009 and onward with the condition that
such an equivalence of SSC (Science Group) will not be valid for HSSC (Pre-
Medical Group) even if Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects are passed at
'A' level or in any other system.
2. GCE A Level and Equivalent

GCE O & A Level and 12/13 years of schooling is considered equivalent to

Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC/Intermediate) subject to meeting
the specified requirements for various streams / groups as under:

1. Pre-Medical Group: Eight (local exam)/Five (overseas exam)

O Level subjects (including English, Urdu, Islamiyat, Pakistan Studies,
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology/Computer Studies/ICT/IT/Add
Mathematics/Pure Mathematics) and Three A Level (Physics, Chemistry and
Biology) with minimum 'E' Grade.
2. Pre-Engineering Group; Eight (local exam)/Five (overseas
exam)
O Level subjects ( including English, Urdu, Islamiyat, Pakistan Studies,
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology/Computer Studies/ICT/IT/Add
Mathematics/Pure Mathematics and three A Level subjects (Physics, Chemistry
and Mathematics) with minimum 'E' Grade.
3. General Science Group: Eight (local exam)/Five (overseas
exam)
O Level subjects (not eligible for admission into Engineering and
Medical Colleges) and three A Level subjects as per list at SUBJECTS
REQUIRED FOR EQUIVALENCE
4. Humanities Group: Eight (local exam)/Five (overseas exam) O Level
subjects including English with three A Level subjects ( not eligible for
admission into Engineering and Medical Colleges).

3. Conversion of Marks

A. Equivalence of O-level Grades

1. The equivalence of O-level and A-level qualifications is determined
through criteria as marks for each subject are taken to be 100.
2. For conversion of marks (before academic year 2006), five subjects
are taken at O level, Where in English as compulsory subject, three elective
subjects and one subject with best grade are taken. These 5 subjects carry
500 marks, which are equated to the marks of 8 subjects at Matric level,
carrying 850 marks. The total which is out of 500, is then used to calculate the
percentage (marks) as per given below example.
3. Suppose, a student has earned following grades in O-level.

Subject Grade Subject Grade Subject Grade Subject Grade

English A Physics B Chemistry C Mathematics C
Pak.Studies B Islamiat B Urdu D Biology C

4. Computing marks equivalent to Matriculation.

S.# Subject Grade Total Marks Remarks

Marks obtained
1. English A 100 85 -
2. Physics B 100 75 -
3. Chemistry C 100 65 -
4. Mathematics C 100 65 Better than Biology grade.

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5. Pak Studies B 100 75 Better of all excluding above

4 subjects.
Total: 500 365

5. The equivalent marks in Matriculation (out of 850) are then calculated

as,365500 x 850= 620.5 say 621/850 marks.

b. Equivalence of A-level Grades

The marks equivalent to A-level are computed using the above stated
total marks (out of 500) 'O' level. Add to these, the marks for the three
subjects of A-level (science group) using the above table. Thus the total
obtained against 800 is then used to work out percentage marks for
Intermediate as per given below example.

(i) Suppose grades of the above mentioned student in A-level are:

Subject Grade Subject Grade Subject Grade

Chemistry C Physics B Mathematics A

(ii) Computing marks of A level equivalent to Intermediate:

S.# Subject Grade Total-Marks Marks-obtained

O-level Marks -- 500 365
1. Chemistry C 100 65
2. Physics B 100 75
3. Mathematics A 100 85
Total: 800 590

(iii) The equivalent marks in Intermediate (out of 1100) are then

calculated as, 590800x1100=811/1100. Where as in case of Arts/Humanities
group 2 subject at 'A' level are taken for calculating against marks of 5
subjects of 'O' plus 2 subjects of 'A' levels into 1100 and divided by 700 OR
365+160= 525x1100 = 825/1100.

In case of Internal Examination System, e.g USA and Germany, there

will be a deduction of 20% marks from the total marks calculated as above at
SSC and HSSC levels.

C. Equivalence of Internal Examination System/ Institutional Grades of

American System

Grades Converted Marks Minus 10% Pak: Equivalent

Marks

A+ 85 -10 76.5

A 80 -10 72

A- 75 -10 67.5

B+ 70 -10 63

B 65 -10 58.5

B- 58 -10 52.2

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C+ 55 -10 49.5

C 50 -10 45

C- 45 -10 40.5

D+ 40 -10 36

D 35 -10 31.5 (33)

D- 33 -10 29.7 (33)

Note

1. Two Advanced Supplementary/Subsidiary in a subject say Biology (AS &

A2 in Biology) are considered equivalent to one A Level in a subject.
2. All Pakistani nationals appearing for examinations from Pakistan shall
have to pass Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies along with other required
subjects to qualify for equivalence. Even if a candidate passes O Level from
abroad and appears for A Level from Pakistan or vice versa, he/she shall have
to pass Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies.
3. Irrespective of the country of education, English language is compulsory
subject to pass.
4. Non-Muslims Pakistanis shall pass Ethics in lieu of Islamiyat.
5. No certificate either proper or provisional shall be issued to candidates
having incomplete number of required subjects.
6. Any action/admission on the basis of provisional certificate will be at the
risk and cost of the candidate.
7. IBCC reserves the right to withdraw and / or change /correct its
certificates.
8. Appeal against these regulation first lies before the Chairman, IBCC,
thereafter the second Appeal lies before the Secretary, Ministry of Education
being the Controlling Authorities of IBCC. After having availed of remedies in
the form of two Appeals, if anyone still feels aggrieved, he/she may seek
remedy, if any, through a Court of Law.

Attention

* Statement of Result of O & A Level will not be accepted after Six (6)
months of declaration of result. After six (6) months, original certificate and
attested copy thereof will have to be produced for issuance of Proper
Certificate.
* No individual/ organization/ institution is authorized to calculate marks on
behalf of IBCC.

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