Grade Conversion of Foreign Degree

[neuschwanstein]

Dear members,
I have got equivalence of my foreign degree from HEC , Islamabad, Paksitan but equivalence certificate does not state which grade/Division I have earned.
Now the problem is that in German Education System grading criteria is totally different than in Pakistan. How the FPSC will determine that my grades are equivalent to A/B/C or Ist/2nd Division? I have asked HEC Islamabad but HEC does not convert foreign Grades into Pakistani Grades/Division.
German Education System has following Grading Criteria
1 -->>very good :starts almost at 90% marks
2 -->> good
3 --> Satisfactory
4 --> Fair/adequate : starts almost at 50% marks
5 --> not adequate/ Fail

My question is whether FPSC will convert/decide itself that my grades are equivalent to which pakistani grade or will they demand any conversion from any authority ?
Any member experienced such situation ? I am sure there will be many poeple applying on bases of Foreign degree(s)

[alirsahto]

I had this problem throughout when I was appearing for CE 2011. I still dont have an answer to this, I even asked a HEC official via email and he replied that we do not do grade conversions/equivalence anymore. So based on a simple formula you can do it yourself.

First division means 60% or above and second division is 50% (i think, I am not sure about it)

So if your score is in percentage then simply see where you stand, if your score is in CGPA format then refer to this chart (from HEC website)
Note - chart is on the last page of this link

http://www.hec.gov.pk/InsideHEC/Divi...%20Formula.pdf

But again some private institutes' requirements varies at different times. For eg some Banks advertise for a position requiring bachelors with FIRST DIVISION or at least 3.00 CGPA. Sometimes its even Higher First division (which is a vague term as no one can interpret HIGHER precisely) or CGPA 3.5 so private institutes will have different requirements in most cases but as far as Public sector is concerned then this chart should help you out.

But again I dont have any proof that I am correct, my best shot was inquiring from HEC and they simply said they dont know via email :S If someone can correct me with some proof then please go ahead

I hope this is of some help to you

[neuschwanstein]

Thanks a lot alirsahto,

But this file contains CGPA/Division conversion system for local pakistani degree holder or for those who have same grading criteria. My case is bit different as I dont have CGPA system neither Grades like A,B,C nor Divison like 1st/2nd.
Just one more question, Do you hold degree from Pakistan or from any EU country ?
what did you write then in FPSC CSS form 2011 ? Did they make any objection?

[alirsahto]

My High School is from USA. For that I got equivalence from Inter board Islamabad. My bachelors is from a private Pakistani University (IoBM) and there we have CGPA system so when applying for public sector I convert using that formula to see if I am eligible or not.

So your HEC eqv certificate does not say anything regarding marks obtained or percentage? That is strange as my Inter eqv certificate awards me certain marks out of certain total. I think it was somewhere around 70%

There must be some quantitative criteria used in your foreign transcript or HEC eqv? Is there?

[neuschwanstein]

Thanks, Yes in my transcript there is quantitative garde but HEC has issued me equivalence certificate without this grade, HEC equivalence simply says
""
With reference to your application XX dated XX on the subject, it is informed that the XX is a chartered university of Germany. The Higher Education Commission recognizes B.E Degree held by you from XX University, Germany as equivalent to corresponding BS degree involving 16-year schooling in the relevant field from Pakistan.""

I asked HEC to convert my grade into A/B/C system or CGPA or in Division but HEC doesnt do it in general and asked me to submit my transcript to FPSC for CSS exams. Now I dont know whether it will be acceptbale for FPSC or not becasue my grades are like this " very good " " good " "satisfactory" and "adequate".

[alirsahto]

What is your overall quantitative grade on transcript (from German university)?

[neuschwanstein]

It is "good" in overall assesment means final grade but in detailed transcript I have in some subjects " very good " and in some " adequate " also. but I think they will be concerned will overall grade and not with grade of each subject.

Overall assesment is like this
1.0---1.2 = Excellent
1.3---1.5 = very good
1.6 -- 2.5 = good
2.6 -- 3.5 = Satisfactory
3.6 -- 4.0 = Passed

[alirsahto]

Not sure about this system. I guess FPSC will calculate themselves but very good is 3 levels above PASSED so there is a very high probability that this will make you eligible for CSS as a first division candidate.

[neuschwanstein]

Originally Posted by alirsahto

Not sure about this system. I guess FPSC will calculate themselves but very good is 3 levels above PASSED so there is a very high probability that this will make you eligible for CSS as a first division candidate.

I hope so brother but there is no definite information available for me on this subject as FPSc didnt respond my query. Latest I ll come to know when FPSC will scrtunize applications for CSS 2013 eligibilty.

[Muhammad T S Awan]

The formula for conversion of CGPA to Marks at HEC website was formulated by the HEC only for the local universities/institutions but that lead to controversies so they left it. However, this formula was not for foreign universities.

neuschwanstein is right, HEC only issues an equivalence letter stating that so and so degree held by so and so country is equivalent to so and so number of years. They dont touch grading things, nor FPSC touch the grading things. They just take a simple thing that the degree held by foreign university is roughly equal to second division held by some Pakistani universities (which are following the division system instead of CGPA system). Further, FPSC does not take grades of each subject/module rather they take the overall performance in that degree programme.

So far as degrees held by Pakistani private universities (e.g. IoBM Karachi) are concerned, the FPSC asks the candidate to attach an accreditation letter by HEC stating that so and so university/institute is accredited/recognized by the HEC and its degrees are acceptable.

Regards