All boards to use same HSC questions this year

Students sitting for this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will face identical question papers across all general education boards, as the government introduces a unified assessment system aimed at ensuring greater consistency and fairness in public examinations.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon announced the decision at a press briefing held at the Secretariat on Thursday.

According to the minister, the new system has been introduced to eliminate variations in question standards among different education boards.

“We have introduced a single question paper system for the entire country this year. Let’s see how it works. As you know, there is competition among boards. Some set easier questions, some harder.

In the same country, SSC and HSC cannot have different question papers. That should not happen,” he said.

Highlighting international practices, Milon noted that examination standards are generally maintained through uniform question papers.

“In O Level and A Level examinations, question papers are not different from one place to another. That is why we have done this — for improvement,” he said.

The HSC and equivalent examinations are scheduled to commence on Jul 2.
Responding to questions regarding possible disruptions caused by natural disasters, the minister acknowledged that the examination period often coincides with seasons when certain regions are vulnerable to adverse weather conditions. In previous years, such situations have led to the suspension of examinations in some education boards.

However, he said disaster-related challenges are separate from the decision to introduce a unified question paper system.

“Disaster has nothing to do with the question paper. We have already sent the unified questions to respective upazilas. They go into our question bank. We have several emergency decision-making mechanisms in place for conducting exams during disasters. We will explain in detail later,” he said.

The minister indicated that arrangements are already in place to address any emergency situations that may arise during the examination period, with further details to be provided later.