IBCC Equivalence Certificate for British System GCE O Level and A Level 2024

International students, Overseas Pakistanis, and local students who have studied British System / GCE O Level and A’Level are required to obtain an equivalence certificate from Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC). A large number of Overseas Pakistanis especially from the United Kingdom (UK), Europe, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and other countries study British system.

Most of the International students and overseas Pakistanis coming to Pakistan for Higher education have done O’Level and A’Level. Hence IBCC has devised a very transparent and well-defined conversion formula for equivalence of A-Level Students. It is pertinent to mention here that these students require two equivalence certificates, each for O’Level and A’Level. Although, in A’Level equivalence, grades and subjects studied at O’Level are also considered.

IBCC Equivalence Requirements for GCE ‘O’ Levels:

• GCSE/IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ Levels is considered equivalent to Secondary School Certificate (SSC) subject to meeting the requirement of the Scheme of Studies as under:
• i) Pakistan Based Examinations:
  • Students who have appeared in examination physically from within Pakistan are required to have appeared in the examination in a minimum of Eight subjects including the followings:
  • Compulsory English, Mathematics, Urdu, Islamiyat, Pakistan Studies, and three electives with a minimum E Grade.
• ii) Overseas Based Examinations:
  • Students who have appeared in examinations from outside Pakistan are considered in this category. These students can be overseas Pakistanis or International students.
  • Such students are required to produce copies of their Visas as proof of their stay in foreign countries, a copy of passports where exit/entry stamps are marked, Or their foreign Nationality proof.
  • Five subjects including English, Mathematics, and three electives with a minimum E Grade.
  • For the Equivalence of Science group, a student has to pass Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Computer Science. Students who want to pursue further education in Medical related fields i.e. MBBS, BDS, Pharmacy, etc… must pass Biology.
  • All other students will be awarded Arts Group. Please note that students will be awarded the equivalence of Arts group even if the student has missed one subject in the above-stated subjects group list.

IBCC Equivalence Requirements for GCE A-Levels:

• GCE ‘A’ level is considered equivalent to Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC/Intermediate) according to the Pakistani system. As the Intermediate level has different groups in Pakistan, therefore, for determining the equivalence of A’level, specific subjects are required for specific groups.

Subjects required for Equivalence of A ‘Level Pre-Medical Group:

• Pakistan Based exams: Students must have passed Eight subjects (Pakistan Based Examination) in O’level
• Overseas-based Examination: Five ‘O’ levels subjects (including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as Elective in addition to required compulsory subjects) and
• Three ‘A’ levels (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) with minimum E Grade.

Subjects required for Equivalence of A ‘Level Pre-Engineering Group:

• Pakistan Based exams: Students must have passed Eight subjects (Pakistan Based Examination) in O’level
• Overseas-based Examination: Five ‘O’ levels subjects (including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as Elective in addition to required compulsory subjects) and
• Three ‘A’ levels (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) with minimum E Grade.

Subjects required for Equivalence of A ‘Level General Science Group:

• Pakistan Based exams: Students must have passed Eight subjects (Pakistan Based Examination) in O’level
• Overseas-based Examination: Five ‘O’ levels subjects
• Three ‘A’ levels students with minimum E Grade.

There are the following five combinations of subjects in the HSSC General Science Group of Pakistan.

1. Physics, Mathematics, and Statistics
2. Mathematics, Statistics, and Economics
3. Economics, Mathematics and Computer Science
4. Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science
5. Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science

Subjects required for Equivalence of A ‘Level Humanities Group:

• Eight(Pakistan Based Examination)/Five(Overseas-based Examination) ‘O’ levels subjects including English and Mathematics with three ‘A’ levels subjects.

Requierment of Islamiyat, Urdu and Pak Studies for A‘Level equivalence

• 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.
• If a Pakistani national candidate studies and appears for both GCSE/IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ Levels & GCE ‘A’ Levels examination from abroad, Urdu, Islamiyat, and Pakistan Studies will be exempted and not be considered as a compulsory requirement.
• Exemption of Compulsory subjects namely Islamiyat, Urdu, and Pakistan Studies to Pakistani origin dual nationality holder students Passing GCE ‘O’ Levels or Equivalent Foreign qualification from Schools based in Pakistan.
• If a candidate passes GCE ‘O’ Levels or equivalent qualification from abroad and appears for GCE ‘A’ Levels or equivalent from Pakistan or vice versa, he/she has to pass Urdu, Islamiyat, and Pakistan Studies at SSC or GCE ‘O’ Levels for obtaining Equivalence Certificate.