Since 2003, the Aga Khan University (AKU) Examination Board has played a unique and powerful role in improving teaching and learning at middle and secondary schools in Pakistan, through an innovative mix of standardised testing, teacher training and syllabi development.

Schools across Pakistan have adopted the AKU Examination Board’s testing and assessment systems, which experts, teachers, parents and students have applauded for their positive impact on learning. In 1995, 16 private schools in Pakistan wrote to AKU to express concern about the poor quality of secondary education in the country. Echoing a widespread complaint, they identified the country’s testing system as a major problem and asked the University to establish an independent examination board.

In Pakistan, graduation from secondary school and admission to university is contingent upon passing a test whose content is determined by one of a number of regional examination boards. At the time, these boards were all government entities.

The schools’ request launched a process that culminated in AKU establishing Pakistan’s first private Examination Board, in 2003. While existing examinations largely rewarded memorisation, thereby reinforcing the heavy reliance upon rote learning in Pakistan’s schools, the AKU Examination Board has taken a different approach, developing exams based on Pakistan’s national curriculum that reward critical thinking and problem solving. At the same time, the Board works closely with schools to provide training, learning materials and appropriate syllabi that help teachers to move away from rote instructional methods and develop students’ analytical skills. The result is graduates who are better prepared to succeed at university and in intellectually demanding occupations, and to make a positive contribution to society.

The Board uses a highly reliable, secure and transparent electronic marking system – the first of its kind in South Asia. Not only does this prevent cheating, it allows the Board to provide meaningful feedback on performance to schools, student by student and question by question.