The admission tests for first-year undergraduate programmes under the General, Science and Technology (GST) cluster system began on Friday, 27 March. The process started with the ‘C’ unit exam for Business Studies applicants.
The one-hour test took place from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. It was held at 21 centres across Bangladesh. The exam followed a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format with a total of 100 marks.
This year, 284,480 students applied for admission to 20 public universities under the cluster system. Among them, 166,162 applied for the ‘A’ unit (Science). Another 93,102 applied for the ‘B’ unit (Humanities). A total of 25,216 students applied for the ‘C’ unit.
The minimum passing mark has been set at 30. For each wrong answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted. Authorities also allowed students to sit for the test for a second time under special provisions.
The total number of available seats across the 20 universities is about 13,500. As in previous years, all tests will be held in MCQ format.
At examination centres, students entered halls in an orderly manner before the test began. Many guardians waited outside the campuses during the exam period.
University authorities and student groups arranged support services for visitors. Help desks were set up to guide students and guardians. Some campuses also offered light refreshments and rest areas for guardians who travelled long distances.
Medical teams remained ready to provide treatment if any candidate became ill. Members of BNCC, Rover Scouts, and law enforcement agencies worked with university proctorial teams to maintain discipline and security.
The admission circular for the GST cluster was published on 7 December. The application process started on 10 December and ended on 16 January.
According to the notice, students who passed SSC or equivalent exams in 2021, 2022, or 2023 could apply. Applicants also needed to pass HSC or equivalent exams in 2024 or 2025.
According to the cluster committee and the University Grants Commission, the ‘B’ unit exam will take place on 3 April. The ‘A’ unit exam is scheduled for 10 April. Results and further admission steps will follow after the tests conclude.
