The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will begin across Bangladesh on Sunday with holding Bangla First Paper examination.
According to officials, the total number of candidates under 11 education boards — nine general education boards, one madrasa and one technical board — is 12,03,407 this year.
Of them, 6,22,796 are male examinees and 5,80,611 are female students. The examinations will take place at 2,649 centres while the exams will end on December 13.
The number of examinees was 13,99,690 last year while the figure declined by 1,96,283 this year compared to that of last year.
Earlier on October 19, in a press conference, Education Minister Dipu Moni said, "We think that the total number of examinees has decreased mainly due to the decrease of irregular examinees as the number of irregular examinees in 2020 was 2,66,501.
“Last year, the irregular candidates were more than 1,14,000. But this year that number is over 53,000."
Various steps have been taken to hold the examinations this year in a fair manner, she said, adding that all coaching centres across the country will remain closed for 42 days from November 3 to December 14.
Candidates should enter the examination hall at least 30 minutes before the beginning of the examination, the minister said.
In case of late entry due to unavoidable reasons, the candidate's roll number, time of entry, the reason for delay etc, should be written in a register and reported to the education board concerned on the same day, she said, adding that which set of question papers will be distributed will be informed 25 minutes before the start of the examination.
Only the officer-in-charge (secretary) of the centre will be allowed to enter the centre with a mobile phone or electronic devices and such mobile phone must be a normal one that cannot take photographs, Dipu Moni said.
She said marks and duration of the examinations have been reduced this year.
Candidates of the science department have to answer 15 out of 25 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in 20 minutes. Three out of eight questions must be answered in the written or theory part of the test in 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Candidates of humanities and business education will have to answer 15 out of 30 MCQs in 20 minutes. Four out of 11 questions must be answered in the theory part of the examination in 1 hour and 40 minutes.
The education minister said that despite the revised syllabus, there will be full-time examinations in all subjects next year.
