The Karachi Board has updated passing marks criteria for inter students. The passing score for Inter has been increased! In a substantial move to reform the education system in Sindh, the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) recently declared that the passing score for intermediate part 1 and part 2 students will be raised from 33 to 40 marks. This decision will come into effect in the upcoming academic year (2025). This significant measure is a part of the wider initiatives of the Karachi board to uplift the educational standards throughout the province.

IBCC Declares Educational Reforms

At a media briefing, Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, the Executive Director of IBCC, provided details about the latest decision by BISE Karachi regarding inter passing marks. He emphasized that this decision was the outcome of a sub-committee meeting at the Karachi Secondary Education Board, where multiple suggestions were deliberated. The meeting ended with a consensus that all educational boards in Sindh should now implement the new inter passing marks standards.

Introduction of Grace Marks 

Besides raising the passing scores for the Karachi Board intermediate level, Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah also declared the implementation of grace marks for students. This measure is a component of an educational reform strategy aimed at assisting students in their scholarly endeavors. He further clarified that the examination structure would transition from an open-choice to a closed-choice format, offering students complete exam options. It will make the evaluation procedure more uniform and equitable.

Execution Difficulties in Sindh

Despite the countrywide endorsement of a fresh grading scheme for matric and intermediate level classes, its execution in Sindh has been postponed due to disinterest from the concerned authorities. To tackle this problem, the Federal Ministry of Education dispatched an official letter to the Department of Universities and Boards of the Sindh Government on March 6, 2024. The letter stressed the significance of applying and synchronizing the new grading structure with the latest passing marks, set at 40 across all educational boards. The Sindh educational boards recently declared the new minimum inter passing marks.

Standardized Passing Marks Across Pakistan

Other regions in Pakistan have previously increased the minimum passing scores for board examinations for students in grades 9 to 12. With Sindh joining in, the rise in passing scores for intermediate levels will be put into effect from the forthcoming academic year (2025), guaranteeing consistency in educational standards nationwide. This step is anticipated to enhance the standard of education and equip students more effectively for advanced academic hurdles in the future.