KATHMANDU: The National Examination Board (NEB) is gearing up to release the results of the Secondary Education Examination (SEE 2080) by the last week of June. This year, a new grading system introduced in 2078 will be applied to the results, differentiating between theoretical and internal assessments.

Under the new guidelines, students must attain a minimum of 35 percent marks in each subject in theory, equivalent to at least 26.25 marks out of 75. Additionally, they need to secure a minimum of 40 percent or 10 marks in the internal assessment out of 25 marks. These marks will then be converted into letter grades.

For students who fail to achieve the minimum requirement of 35 percent in theoretical exams, they will receive an ‘NG’ (Non Graded) designation on their certificate and will need to pass a grade enhancement test to proceed to Class 11. Similarly, those who do not meet the 10 marks requirement in the internal assessment or the 26.25 marks in theory will not receive their original certificates but can attempt grade enhancement exams in up to two subjects. However, candidates failing to secure the minimum 35 percent marks in more than two subjects, even after grade enhancement, will be required to reappear for all subjects next year. 

This new system replaces the previous grading system, where grades were determined based on the combined marks from theoretical and practical exams up to ‘E’. In response to concerns about declining learning quality, the government formed a working group to review school education grading, resulting in the implementation of the new guidelines, which mandate a minimum of 35 percent marks per subject for passing at the school level.