The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) has announced a significant change to its assessment policy, implementing a new 10-tier grading system and increasing the passing score from 33% to 40%.

The 2026 yearly examinations will mark the beginning of the reforms.

Thousands of pupils enrolled in Pakistani schools who follow the FBISE curriculum in the United Arab Emirates and other countries are anticipated to be impacted by the updated system.

According to a Dubai-based school principal, "This is a good decision." "It will put more pressure on those who depend on the bare minimum to pass, but it might not have a big impact on high-achieving students," he said.

The passing level for particular subjects will increase to 40% starting next year, according to an FBISE official. A performance-based 10-grade scale that provides a more thorough assessment of student performance is also replacing the current five-grade system (A, B, C, D, and E).

New grading system under the revised scheme:

• A++ (Extraordinary): 96%—100%
• A+ (Exceptional): 91%—95%
• A (Outstanding): 86%—90
• B++ (Excellent): 81%—85%
• B+ (Very Good): 76%—80%
• B (Good): 71%—75%
• C+ (Fairly Good): 61%—70%
• C (Above Average): 51%—60%
• D (Emerging): 40%—50%
• U (Unsatisfactory): Below 40%

The action comes after the Inter-Board Coordination Commission (IBCC), which met last month in Islamabad, recently made a resolution. According to Dawn News, even though FBISE has officially notified the new framework, it is unclear if all provincial and regional boards will accept the modifications.

The formal announcement released on Tuesday states that the new grading scheme will be introduced in stages:

• From 2026: For SSC-I and HSSC-I (Part I) students
• From 2027: For SSC-II and HSSC-II (Part II) students

The reform, according to FBISE officials, is a component of a larger initiative to bring Pakistan's educational system into compliance with international norms and to motivate students to pursue greater academic success.