The credential
The GED diploma: what you earn, and how
Pass the GED and you receive a diploma plus a transcript. Here's exactly what those are, how you earn them, the move to electronic documents in 2026, and how the diploma feeds into IBCC equivalence.
What the GED diploma is
When you pass the GED, the credential you earn is commonly called the GED diploma — evidence that you've met high-school-equivalency standards. It comes alongside a transcript that shows your scores in each of the four subjects.
Diploma vs transcript
They're two parts of the same result. The diploma is the headline credential; the transcript is the detailed record of your subject scores. For university applications and IBCC equivalence, you typically need both.
How you earn it
You earn the diploma by passing all four subjects — a score of at least 145 on each. There's no attendance requirement; it's the exam results that count. See GED test scores explained for how the bands work.
The electronic e-Diploma (2026 update)
As of 1 July 2026, the IBCC can authenticate the electronic e-Diploma and e-Transcript directly, removing the old requirement to submit printed copies — a real reduction in paperwork.
Source: GED Testing Service, official Pakistan policy page — https://ged.com/en/policies/pakistan.html. More on this in our July 2026 e-transcript update.
Using your diploma for IBCC equivalence
For local university admission, your GED diploma and transcript are submitted — with your verified SSC/equivalent — to the IBCC for an HSSC (Humanities) equivalence certificate. That equivalence, not the diploma alone, is what Pakistani universities assess against. The full process and rules are on the IBCC equivalence guide, and the terminology around a GED "certificate" is worth reading too.
Frequently asked questions
The credential you earn is commonly called the GED diploma, issued with a transcript of your scores. In Pakistan, a separate IBCC HSSC equivalence certificate is what universities assess against — the two are different documents.
