The Punjab Education, Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority (PECTAA) has announced the Grade 8 Assessment 2026 results. The results show improved participation and better academic performance across Punjab. Officials also highlighted the competition for top positions among students this year.
Authorities said nearly 994,000 students were enrolled in the assessment. Around 894,000 students appeared in the exam. This reflects a participation rate of nearly 90 percent. Officials described the turnout as strong and encouraging for the education system.
Out of all assessed students, about 88 percent scored above the minimum passing marks of 33 percent. This indicates steady improvement in learning outcomes across schools. Education officials said the trend reflects better teaching standards and student preparation.
Girls performed better than boys in the assessment. Around 92 percent of female students qualified. In comparison, 83 percent of male students passed. This continues a pattern of stronger performance by girls in recent academic assessments.
The race for top positions remained highly competitive across the province. According to official results, all three top positions were secured by female students. This highlighted their strong academic performance and consistency.
Iqra Khan from Mianwali, a student of Danish School, secured first position. She achieved the highest marks in the province. Romaisa Iman from Attock obtained second position with 358.5 marks out of 400. Fatima Bibi from Bahawalpur secured third position with 353.5 marks.
Officials said the achievement in top positions reflects growing academic excellence among students, especially girls. They added that merit-based competition is improving at the school level across Punjab.
PECTAA conducted the assessment using a technology-based system. The system was designed to improve fairness and transparency in examination results. Several digital tools were introduced for better monitoring and evaluation.
These included QR-coded answer sheets to ensure anonymity during marking. Digital attendance systems were used to track participation. AI-assisted e-marking was applied for objective and subjective answers. A centralized dashboard helped monitor performance across all districts.
Officials said these reforms aim to standardize assessments across the province. They believe this system supports fair evaluation and strengthens merit. The focus remains on improving learning quality and ensuring equal opportunities for all students.
The announcement of results and top positions has been widely noted in the education sector. Authorities expect continued improvement in future assessments as reforms take effect.
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