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.

   *   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.
     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,365÷500 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, 590÷800x1100=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
   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.