- GCSE/IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ Levels is considered equivalent to the Secondary School Certificate (SSC), provided that the following requirements of the scheme of studies are met:
- Indigenous examinations: Eight subjects are required including compulsory subjects of English, Mathematics, Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies and three elective academic subjects with a minimum passing grade of E.
- Non-Indigenous examinations: Five subjects are required including English, Mathematics and three elective academic subjects with a minimum passing grade of E.
- To qualify for the science Group it is compulsory to pass Physics, Chemistry, and Biology / Computer Science / Information Technology (IT) / Information & Communications Technology (ICT). For students; pursuing further education in Medicine, the subject of Biology is mandatory. Students who do not meet these requirements will be placed in Arts Group. IBCC only issues equivalence certificate of science and arts group at SSC level.
GCE ‘A’ levels is considered equivalent to the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC), subject to the completion of SSC level qualifications and meeting the specified requirements for various groups:
- Pre-Medical Group: For Indigenous examination: Eight subjects are required at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ levels including five compulsory subjects (English, Mathematics, Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies) and three electives (Physics, Chemistry & Biology) at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ level or For Non-Indigenous examination: Five subjects are required including two compulsory subjects(English & Mathematics) and three electives (Physics, Chemistry & Biology) at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ levels and GCE ‘A’ levels in three elective subjects (Physics, Chemistry & Biology) with a minimum grade of E.
- Pre-Engineering Group: For Indigenous examination: Eight subjects are required at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ levels including five compulsory subjects (English, Mathematics, Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies) and three electives (Physics, Chemistry & Biology/Computer Science) at ‘O’ levels or For Non-Indigenous examination: Five subjects are required including two compulsory subjects (English & Mathematics) and three electives (Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Computer Science) at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ levels and GCE ‘A’ levels in three elective subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) with a minimum grade of E.
- Computer Science Group: For Indigenous examination: Eight subjects are required at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ levels including five compulsory subjects (English, Mathematics, Urdu, Islamiyat & Pakistan Studies) and three electives (Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Computer Science) at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ levels or For Non-Indigenous examination: Five subjects are required including two compulsory subjects (English & Mathematics) and three electives (Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Computer Science) at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ levels and GCE ‘A’ levels in three elective subjects (Physics, Computer Science and Mathematics) with a minimum grade of E.
- Humanities Group: For Indigenous examination: Eight subjects are required at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ levels including five compulsory subjects (English, Mathematics, Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies) and three elective academic subjects at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ levels or For Non-Indigenous examination: Five subjects are required including two compulsory subjects (English and Mathematics) and three elective academic subjects at IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ levels and GCE ‘A’ levels in any three elective academic subjects with a minimum grade of E.
- All Pakistani nationals appearing at O levels examination from Pakistan must pass Urdu, Islamiyat, and Pakistan Studies along with other required subjects to qualify for equivalence.
- Pakistani national candidates studying and appearing for both GCSE/IGCSE/GCE ‘O’ Levels and GCE ‘A’ Levels examinations abroad are exempted to pass Urdu, Islamiyat, and Pakistan Studies.
- Pakistani origin dual national students passing GCE ‘O’ Levels or equivalent foreign qualifications from schools based in Pakistan are exempted to pass Islamiyat, Urdu, and Pakistan Studies.
- Candidates passing GCE ‘O’ Levels or equivalent qualifications from abroad and appearing for GCE ‘A’ Levels or equivalent foreign qualification from Pakistan, or vice versa, must pass Urdu, Islamiyat, and Pakistan Studies at SSC or GCE ‘O’ Levels to obtain an Equivalence Certificate.