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What percentage is 2nd division? Second Division is 45% to 59% marks. First Division is 60% and above, Third Division is 33% to 44%, and below 33% is a fail. Divisions are calculated on your overall aggregate marks, not per subject, and they still decide whether you can apply for CSS and most government jobs.
Boards now print letter grades on the result card, but the division system still appears on certificates and still matters on application forms. Here are the exact bands, the marks out of 1,100, what each division means for jobs, and the 2025 grading change you need to know about.
Divisions at a Glance#
| What | Answer |
|---|---|
| First Division | 60% and above |
| Second Division | 45% to 59% |
| Third Division | 33% to 44% |
| Fail | Below 33% |
| CSS minimum | Second Division in bachelor’s |
| Calculated on | Overall aggregate, not per subject |
The Division Bands and Marks Out of 1,100#
First Division is 60% and above. On the standard 1,100-mark Matric or Inter total, that means 660 marks or more. On a 550-mark single part, it means 330 marks or more.
Second Division is 45% to 59%. Out of 1,100, that is 495 to 659 marks. Out of 550, it is 248 to 329 marks.
Third Division is 33% to 44%. Out of 1,100, that is 363 to 494 marks. Out of 550, it is 182 to 247 marks.
Below 33% is a fail. Out of 1,100, that is below 363 marks. Every Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education in Pakistan uses the same thresholds, so a First Division from Karachi means exactly the same as a First Division from Rawalpindi.
The boundary marks decide everything. 660 out of 1,100 is exactly 60.0%: First Division. 659 is 59.9%: Second Division. 495 is exactly 45.0%: Second Division. 494 is 44.9%: Third Division. 363 is exactly 33.0%: Third Division. 362 is 32.9%: a fail. One mark can change your division.
Divisions and Letter Grades#
Boards print letter grades and divisions side by side. Punjab boards use A1 (80 – 100%), A (70 – 79%), B (60 – 69%), C (50 – 59%), D (40 – 49%), E (33 – 39%) and F (below 33%).
First Division covers grades A1, A and B. Second Division covers grade C and the top of grade D (45% and above). Third Division covers the bottom of grade D (below 45%) and grade E.
FBISE passes at 40%, not 33%. The Federal Board uses a slightly different grading scale: its minimum passing threshold is 40%. A score that passes on a provincial board may not pass on FBISE.
To find your division from your marks, use the percentage first. Percentage = obtained marks / total marks x 100. Our marks percentage guide explains the calculation step by step, including how to convert a CGPA to a percentage.
The 2025 Grading Change in Pakistan#
IBCC changed the system in 2025. The Inter-Boards Coordination Commission approved a new grading policy in November 2024, effective from the 2025 board examinations. It started at FBISE, Sindh, Balochistan and a handful of other boards, and the rest are following in phases.
The passing threshold moved from 33% to 40%. A score that would have passed in Third Division under the old system may not pass at all under the new one.
Divisions are being replaced by a 10-point letter grade. Instead of First, Second and Third Division, newer result cards show a grade on a ten-point scale (A++, A+, B++ and so on), with no mention of division.
Which system applies depends on your certificate. If your certificate shows a percentage and the words “First Division”, “Second Division” or “Third Division”, the traditional 60 / 45 / 33 cutoffs in this guide apply. If it shows only a letter grade with no division, you are on the new IBCC system and the passing threshold is 40%. Which system your board uses depends on your exam year and which board you sat your exams through.
Divisions still matter even where the new system applies. Government job advertisements, scholarship forms and many application portals still ask for a division. Keep your old certificate’s division on record, and check the advertisement’s own wording before you apply.
What Each Division Means for Government Jobs in Pakistan#
CSS needs a Second Division or above. FPSC requires CSS candidates to hold a bachelor’s degree in at least Second Division (45% marks or more) from an HEC-recognised university. First Division is not required for CSS eligibility.
A Third Division bachelor’s is not always the end. A candidate with a Third Division in the bachelor’s degree can still apply for CSS if they have secured a higher division in a Master’s degree. That is the compensation rule in the CSS rules: the higher degree covers the lower one.
FPSC General Recruitment asks for the same. A Bachelor’s degree in Second Division is the minimum for BS-16 and BS-17 posts. Lecturer posts need a Master’s in the relevant subject, and BS-18 and above need a Master’s, MPhil or PhD or a professional degree.
Most uniformed posts ask for Second Division too. In the 2026 NCCIA recruitment, most posts asked for at least a 2nd class or Grade C degree, and Third Division results were not accepted. Constable posts asked for Matric in Second Division. A Third Division degree does not meet a 2nd class requirement.
The 60% First Division line appears most often in eligibility criteria. Scholarships, lecturer posts and competitive exams commonly ask for First Division. If an advertisement says “First Division”, it means 60% or more: no exceptions, no rounding up from 59.9%.
Always read the advertisement’s own wording. The division requirement is set per post, per advertisement. Some posts accept any division, some ask for Second Division, some for First. Do not assume: the advertisement states its own minimum. Our documents guide lists everything you need to attach with your application.
CGPA and Divisions: Where the Two Methods Disagree#
A CGPA does not map to one division. The two conversion methods from our marks percentage guide can give different divisions for the same CGPA. A CGPA of 2.00 converts to 50% by the linear formula (CGPA x 25): Second Division. The same 2.00 converts to 61% by the HEC band table: First Division.
A CGPA of 1.80 shows the same gap. Linear: 45%, Second Division. HEC band: 61%, First Division. A CGPA of 2.50 is First Division under both methods: 62.5% linear, 68% band.
Do not trust a fixed CGPA-to-division table. One scale says a CGPA of 2.5 and above is First Division; another says 3.00 – 4.00 is First and 2.50 – 2.99 is Second. The division you can claim depends on which conversion the recruiting body uses. Use the percentage printed on your transcript, or get a formal equivalence certificate from your university.
Frequently Asked Questions#
What percentage is 2nd division?
Second Division is 45% to 59% marks. First Division is 60% and above, Third Division is 33% to 44%, and below 33% is a fail. Out of 1,100 marks, Second Division is 495 to 659 marks.
How many marks are needed for 1st division out of 1100?
660 marks or more out of 1,100. That is exactly 60%. 659 marks is 59.9%, which is Second Division. Out of 550 marks, First Division starts at 330 marks.
Can I apply for CSS with a 3rd division?
A Third Division in your bachelor’s degree does not by itself disqualify you if you have a higher division in a Master’s degree: the higher degree covers the lower one under the CSS rules. With only a Third Division bachelor’s and no higher degree, you do not meet the Second Division minimum.
What is the difference between division and grade?
A division is a broad band based on your overall aggregate percentage: First (60%+), Second (45-59%), Third (33-44%). A grade is a finer band: A1 (80-100%), A (70-79%), B (60-69%), C (50-59%), D (40-49%), E (33-39%), F (below 33%). Boards print both on the result card, but job advertisements usually ask for the division.
Do divisions still exist after the 2025 IBCC grading change?
On certificates issued under the traditional system, yes: the 60 / 45 / 33 cutoffs still apply. Boards that adopted the new IBCC grading policy from the 2025 exams report a 10-point letter grade with no division, and the passing threshold is 40%. Government job advertisements still ask for divisions, so keep your certificate’s division on record.
