How the SEE is actually graded.
The Secondary Education Examination uses a 4.0-point relative grading scale, combining theory papers with school-based internal assessment. This guide decodes the official bands.
Letter grade and GPA bands
Every subject is converted from raw marks into a letter grade and GPA using the published bands below. Your final SEE transcript reports this letter grade, not the raw percentage.
| Grade | Marks Range | GPA | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 90 – 100 | 4.0 | Outstanding Excellence |
| A | 80 – 89 | 3.6 | Excellent |
| B+ | 70 – 79 | 3.2 | Very Good |
| B | 60 – 69 | 2.8 | Good |
| C+ | 50 – 59 | 2.4 | Satisfactory |
| C | 40 – 49 | 2.0 | Acceptable |
| D+ | 30 – 39 | 1.6 | Partially Acceptable |
| D | 20 – 29 | 1.2 | Insufficient |
| NG | 0 – 19 | 0.0 | Not Graded |
Minimum passing requirement
A student is considered to have passed the SEE when they secure the required minimum marks (roughly “35 percent” overall) in each graded subject, counting theory and internal assessment together. Falling below the threshold in any subject returns a grade of NG for that subject and may require a supplementary examination.
Because thresholds are occasionally revised by the National Examination Board (NEB), always confirm the current passing rule from your school or the NEB notice board before assuming your result.
Mark distribution at a glance
Most compulsory subjects are examined out of 100 total marks: a written theory paper plus an internal/practical component evaluated by the school. For example, Science carries 75 theory marks and 25 internal marks, split across Class Participation, Practical Activities, and Project/Terminal work — a breakdown covered in detail on the Science subject page.
What this means for your strategy
- Targeting A+ means scoring 90+ raw — the extra 10% beyond “excellent” is where presentation matters.
- Internal 25 marks are awarded before you enter the hall; attendance, lab books, and projects genuinely move your grade.
- A strong answer earns the marks it deserves; a neat, well-labelled answer earns them reliably.