Almost 1.2 million students taking HSC, equivalent exams across Bangladesh

The HSC and equivalent examinations for the current academic year started on Sunday with less aspirants than the year before.

A little over 1.183 million students, including around 500,000 girls, have registered for the examinations this year.

The number is nearly 35,000 less than the number of students registered for HSC and equivalent exams last year.

Inter-board coordination sub-committee President Mahbubur Rahman said the drop in pass rate of SSC exam in 2015 led to the drop in the numbers taking the HSC exams this year.

Those who passed the SSC exam in 2015 are taking the HSC tests this year from 864 institutions.

The theoretical examinations will conclude on May 15. The practical examinations will begin from May 16 and end on May 25.

Compared to last year, the total number of examination days has been reduced from 68 to 44.

The subjective questions will follow Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) in the tests.

Examinees will have a total of 30 minutes to answer the 30-mark MCQs while the time allotted to the 70-mark subjective or creative part is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Subjects that have a practical portion will carry 25 marks against 25 minutes of allotted time for MCQs while the time limit for subjective or creative portion in these subjects is 2 hours and 35 minutes.

Students can use ordinary scientific calculators, but not any programmable calculator during the examinations.