Matric Grading System in Pakistan — A1, A, B, C, D, E, F Explained in Detail

Quick Answer: Pakistan's matric grading system uses 7 grades: A1 (80-100%, Outstanding), A (70-79%, Excellent), B (60-69%, Good), C (50-59%, Satisfactory), D (40-49%, Average), E (33-39%, Minimum Pass), and F (below 33%, Fail). GPA points range from 5 for A1 to 0 for E.

Understanding your grade is not just about knowing a letter — it affects college admission, scholarship eligibility, and often, your own sense of achievement. This guide breaks down Pakistan's matric grading system completely, explaining what each grade means and how it is calculated.

Grades According to Percentage in Pakistan (Quick Reference)

| Percentage Range | Grade | Division | Classification | |-----------------|-------|----------|----------------| | 80% – 100% | A1 | First Division | Outstanding | | 70% – 79% | A | First Division | Excellent | | 60% – 69% | B | First Division | Good | | 50% – 59% | C | Second Division | Satisfactory | | 45% – 49% | D | Second Division | Average | | 40% – 44% | D | Third Division | Average | | 33% – 39% | E | Third Division | Minimum Pass | | Below 33% | F | Fail | Fail |

A1 grade percentage: 80% or above. First Division requires 60% or above. Second Division is 45%–59%. Third Division is 33%–44%.

The Official Pakistan Matric Grading Scale

All provincial BISE boards in Punjab follow this uniform grading scale (FBISE has minor variations):

| Grade | Percentage Range | Grade Points (GPA) | Classification | |-------|-----------------|-------------------|----------------| | A1 | 80% – 100% | 5.00 | Outstanding | | A | 70% – 79% | 4.00 | Excellent | | B | 60% – 69% | 3.00 | Good | | C | 50% – 59% | 2.00 | Satisfactory | | D | 40% – 49% | 1.00 | Average | | E | 33% – 39% | 0.00 | Minimum Pass | | F | Below 33% | — | Fail |

Note: Grade E is a passing grade. A student with E grades in all subjects has passed, even though the GPA points show 0. GPA of 0 for E simply means it is at the minimum level, not that you have failed.

What Each Grade Means in Practice

A1 — Outstanding (80-100%)

An A1 grade means you have demonstrated mastery of the subject. In competition for college admission, particularly for FSc Pre-Medical (for MBBS), A1 grades are expected for most subjects. Board position holders typically have near-perfect A1 grades across all subjects.

What it takes: Deep understanding, consistent practice, past paper mastery, and ideally above-average performance in practical exams.

A — Excellent (70-79%)

Grade A reflects a strong grasp of the subject. Students with A grades are generally well-prepared and comfortable with the material. An A-heavy result will make you competitive for most intermediate programs.

B — Good (60-69%)

Grade B students have a solid understanding of core concepts but may have gaps in some areas or lost marks in specific topics. B grades are perfectly respectable and provide a good foundation for intermediate studies.

C — Satisfactory (50-59%)

Grade C indicates the student has met the basic learning requirements. Students with C grades should strengthen their foundation before intermediate, particularly if they want to pursue science subjects.

D — Average (40-49%)

Grade D means the student passed but with a relatively thin margin above the minimum. Intermediate science subjects will be challenging without improving the underlying conceptual understanding.

E — Minimum Pass (33-39%)

Grade E is the minimum passing grade. Students with E grades have technically passed but need significant improvement for intermediate success. In many colleges, E grades bring your aggregate below admission cutoffs.

F — Fail (Below 33%)

An F grade means the student did not reach the minimum passing threshold in that subject. The student must appear in the supplementary examination for that subject.

How is Your Individual Subject Grade Calculated?

For each subject:

1. Add your objective (MCQ) marks + subjective (theory) marks + practical marks (if applicable)
2. Divide by total maximum marks for that subject
3. Multiply by 100 to get percentage
4. Map to grade according to the table above

Example:

• Physics: Objective 15/17, Theory 55/68, Practical 15/15
• Total = 15 + 55 + 15 = 85 marks
• Maximum = 17 + 68 + 15 = 100 marks
• Percentage = 85/100 × 100 = 85% = Grade A1

How is the Overall Grade (Aggregate) Calculated?

The overall grade on your DMC is based on your aggregate percentage — total marks in all subjects divided by total maximum marks.

Example (Science group with 7 subjects, total 1100 marks):

• Marks obtained: 880
• Aggregate = 880/1100 × 100 = 80% = Grade A1 overall

Colleges use this aggregate percentage for admission ranking. The grade shown may be A1 overall even if individual subjects have lower grades, as long as the total crosses 80%.

Matric Division System — First, Second, Third Division

Pakistan's matric boards use both a grade system and a division system on DMCs.

| Division | Percentage Required | Equivalent Grades | |----------|--------------------|--------------------| | First Division | 60% or above | A1, A, B | | Second Division | 45% – 59% | C, D (45%+) | | Third Division | 33% – 44% | D (below 45%), E | | Fail | Below 33% | F |

Second division percentage in matric: 45% to 59%. If your aggregate is 45% or above but below 60%, you receive a Second Division certificate. Note: 2nd division is calculated on your overall aggregate, not per subject.

First division: 60%+ aggregate → Grades A1, A, or B overall.
Second division: 45%–59% aggregate → Grade C or low D overall.
Third division: 33%–44% aggregate → Grade E or minimum-pass D.

FBISE Grading — Key Difference

The Federal Board (FBISE) uses a slightly different grading scale:

| Grade | Marks | FBISE Classification | |-------|-------|---------------------| | A+ | 90–100% | Exceptional | | A | 80–89% | Outstanding | | B | 70–79% | Excellent | | C | 60–69% | Good | | D | 50–59% | Satisfactory | | E | 40–49% | Adequate Pass | | F | Below 40% | Fail |

Note: FBISE uses 40% as the minimum passing threshold, not 33%. This means FBISE Grade E students have achieved more marks than provincial board Grade E students in absolute percentage terms.

How Grades Affect College Admission

FSc Pre-Medical (for aspiring doctors): Most top government medical colleges require students with 85%+ aggregate (A1 in most subjects) for MDCAT preparation and merit lists.

FSc Pre-Engineering (for aspiring engineers): Top engineering universities (NUST, UET, etc.) look for 80%+ aggregate (A1 level).

ICS, ICom, FA: These programs are more accessible with lower aggregates; B-level results typically qualify.

Private colleges: Generally more flexible with admission cutoffs.

How Grades Affect Scholarships

| Scholarship Level | Typical Minimum Grade | |------------------|-----------------------| | HEC Need-Based Scholarships | 60% (Grade B) | | HEC Merit Scholarships | 80%+ (Grade A1) | | Provincial government scholarships | 70%+ (Grade A) | | NGO scholarships | 50-70% (Grade B-C) |

Can You Improve Your Grade?

Yes. Options include:

1. Improvement examination — Some boards allow students to re-appear to improve marks
2. Rechecking/Re-evaluation — If you think your marks are lower than they should be
3. Supply exam — For failed subjects

For details, see our improvement exam guide and rechecking vs re-evaluation guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Grade E a pass in Pakistan's matric system? A: Yes. Grade E (33-39%) is the minimum passing grade. You have passed the subject with an E grade.

Q: What is A1 grade percentage in matric? A: A1 grade requires 80% or above.

Q: My overall grade is B but I got A1 in some subjects — what does that mean? A: The overall grade is based on aggregate percentage. You may have scored 80%+ in some subjects but lower in others, bringing your aggregate into the B range (60-69%).

Q: Does CGPA (Cumulative GPA) matter in matric? A: Intermediate colleges and universities primarily look at aggregate percentage rather than GPA points. GPA points on the DMC are informational.

Q: Is there a Grade A+ in the Punjab matric system? A: No. Punjab boards only go up to A1 as the highest grade. FBISE uses A+ for 90-100%.

Q: My result says "COMPARTMENT" — what does that mean? A: Compartment means you failed one or two subjects. You passed the others and only need to re-appear for the compartment subjects in the supplementary exam.

Q: Can I get admission to a good college with C grades? A: It depends on the college and program. C grades (50-59%) may qualify for arts/humanities programs but will make science and commerce programs at top colleges competitive.

---

Use our result checker to view your grades when the 2026 result is announced. Also read our matric percentage calculator guide.