Passing Marks for Grades 9 and 11 Revised in Sindh, New Grading Policy Notified
Karachi: Sindh has implemented a new grading policy under which the passing marks for annual examinations of Grades 9 and 11 will be increased to 40 percent from 2026, according to an official notification.
Details reveal that the new grading system has been introduced at the matriculation and intermediate levels across Sindh and will apply to the 2026 annual examinations. The policy will be effective for Grade 9 and Grade 11 results from 2026, while it will be implemented for Grades 10 and 12 starting in 2027.
The notification, issued by the Department of Universities and Boards with the approval of the relevant minister and on the recommendation of the Inter Board Coordination Commission (IBCC), states that passing marks have been raised from 33 to 40. Candidates scoring below 40 marks in any subject will be declared “ungraded.” Examination results will be issued on a subject-wise grading basis, similar to the Cambridge Board system. However, the Grade Point Average (GPA) system has been deferred for the time being and may be introduced in the future.
Under the revised policy, GPA and CGPA have been removed from the grading framework for now, as many universities are not yet prepared to grant admissions based on GPA. Educational boards also agreed with this approach, resulting in the implementation of the grading policy without GPA from 2026.
Students scoring below 40 marks in any paper will be awarded a “U” grade and termed ungraded. Previously, the “U” grade was described as an “unsatisfactory grade.”
According to the new grading structure, marks ranging from 81 to 100 will be divided into four distinct grades. Scores between 96 and 100 will receive an “Extraordinary” grade (A++), 91 to 95 an “Exceptional” grade (A+), 86 to 90 an “Outstanding” grade (A), and 81 to 85 an “Excellent” grade (B++).
Additional grades will include B+, B, C+, C, D, and U, categorized respectively as Very Good, Good, Fair Good, Above Average, Emerging, and Ungraded.
