Confusion still persists with regards to the process of equating marks obtained by O and A level students, particularly those with ‘A+’ grade, as the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) has yet to issue a clear decision.

Students following the Cambridge International Examination (CIE) system are still roaming from pillar to post to get their equivalence certificates from the IBCC. CIE had introduced ‘A+’ grade from this year, while earlier ‘A’ grade was the highest rating awarded to the students. Meanwhile, the chairmen are offering 90 marks to the students who had secured ‘A+’ grade in their respective exams while 85 marks are being offered against ‘A’ grade.

“During the last meeting of IBCC held at Abbottabad, it was expected that a formal decision would be taken on basis of the recommendations of the sub-committee formulated to scrutinise this matter. The sub committee held its meeting in Lahore in the month of August this year but the matter did not have a final outcome,” Chairman, Board of Intermediate Karachi (BIEK), Anwar Ahmed Zai told The News.

“The matter aggravated particularly when CIE, through the British Council, decided to award A+ grade to O-level students from the year 2010. Previously, this grade was not in the fold of the schedule of O level examination. The grades earlier were ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, and ‘E’,” he said. Continue reading