The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) has approved a new examination pattern for five core subjects at the SSC and HSSC levels. Under the revised system, question papers will carry an equal share of MCQs and descriptive questions. Students will face 50% multiple-choice questions and 50% descriptive questions in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science.
The FBISE Board of Governors approved the changes during its 124th meeting on July 28, 2026. The board will introduce the new system in phases under the Inclusive Scheme of Studies 2024, which carries 1,200 marks.
The first phase will begin with the Second Annual Examination 2026. It will cover SSC-I and HSSC-I students appearing for the first time under the new scheme. The second phase will start with the First Annual Examination 2027. It will cover SSC-II and HSSC-II students who took their SSC-I or HSSC-I exams under the new pattern.
The revised system will also apply to all SSC-I and HSSC-I students appearing in the First Annual Examination 2027 under the Inclusive Scheme of Studies 2024. The third phase will begin with the First Annual Examination 2028. At this stage, the pattern will extend to SSC-II and HSSC-II students who previously followed the same system in SSC-I or HSSC-I.
To support the changes, the FBISE has prepared new assessment frameworks and model question papers. It has also developed SLO alignment charts and tables of specifications for all five subjects.
The board has made these materials available on its official website. Students and teachers can use them to understand the revised paper structure before the new system takes full effect.
