For days, a single question circulated among students who took the HSC exam and their families: Who would be eligible to take the makeup exam on July 13? Conflicting reports suggested different answers. On Thursday, July 23, the Minister of Education clarified the situation, and the answer is more precise than some had anticipated.
In a press conference at noon on Thursday, the Minister of Primary and Mass Education, Dr. A. N. M. Ehsanul Haque Milon, made the eligibility criteria clear: only students who were absent from the July 13 exam will be able to retake it. Those who did attend the exam that day will not have a second opportunity, and the July 13 exam will not be canceled.
The Rule, Stated Plainly
Here is exactly who does and does not qualify, according to the minister’s clarification:
Eligible for the make-up exam:
- Students who were absent from the July 13 exam — those who could not reach their centres or sit the paper at all due to the flood and adverse weather
Not eligible:
- Students who did sit the July 13 exam. They cannot retake it, even if they feel the conditions affected their performance
- No candidate’s July 13 exam will be cancelled or annulled
This point clarifies the confusion. In the days following the crisis, some reports suggested that the possibility of retaking the exam could be extended to students whose performance was affected by the bad weather, even if they were present. The minister’s statement on Thursday rules out that possibility: absence, and not a negative experience, is the only requirement for being able to sit the exam.
Which Subjects, and How
The July 13 date carried three First Paper examinations, and the make-up opportunity covers exactly those three:
- Physics (Theory) First Paper
- Accounting First Paper
- Logic (Jukti-bidya) First Paper
Absent students who want to take part must register for the make-up exam — it will not happen automatically, so eligible candidates will need to complete the registration process the board announces.
It is important to note that the resit exams will be conducted using a common (unified) questionnaire, in conjunction with the Chattogram Board of Education’s postponed exams. This is the same mechanism the government outlined in its previous five-point initiative package: rather than running a separate, single exam, the boards will include these absentees in the Chattogram Board’s rescheduled session, ensuring everyone takes the same exam on the same day.
A Separate Relief: Full Marks on the Flawed Physics Questions
It’s important to distinguish between two things that are sometimes confused in discussions.
The makeup exam described above only applies to those who were absent on July 13th. However, there is a second, separate measure that applies to everyone who took the first Physics exam that day: the two questions with errors will receive the highest possible grade for all test takers. This decision is universal and does not require an application; it is not a makeup exam, but rather a grade protection measure integrated into the assessment.
Therefore, a student who was present on July 13th and took the Physics exam will not have to retake it, but will automatically receive the highest possible grade for the two questions with errors. Both things are true, and it’s important to understand them clearly.
What Eligible Students Should Do Now
- Confirm your status honestly — the opportunity is strictly for those who were absent on July 13, in Physics, Accounting or Logic First Paper
- Watch for the registration announcement — the board will open a registration process; the make-up exam is not automatic, so missing the registration means missing the exam
- Expect the exam alongside the Chattogram Board’s schedule — with a common question paper, timed to the Chattogram Board’s rescheduled papers (its regular exams resume July 27, with the suspended papers to follow on a separate routine)
- Present students: no action needed on the Physics questions — the full-marks measure applies automatically; ignore anyone claiming you must “apply” for it
The Bigger Picture
This clarification is the government’s latest step in bringing to a close one of the most troubled HSC seasons in recent memory: flooding, the indefinite suspension of Chattogram, protests, a flawed exam, and now, a carefully defined retake policy. By limiting retakes strictly to those who were absent, the examining boards avoid the near-impossible task of retesting hundreds of thousands of students who simply had an off day, while protecting those who genuinely missed the opportunity to take the exam.
Whether this distinction seems fair depends largely on each student’s individual circumstances. But at least, after days of uncertainty, the distinction is now clearly defined.
We will publish registration details, dates, and the retake schedule as soon as the examining board announces them. Stay tuned for all HSC 2026 updates.
