How much will GPA-5 impact university, medical admissions this year?

The education boards are set to publish the HSC results on October 16, marking a return to normalcy after years of auto-pass, shortened syllabi, and subject mapping. However, stricter evaluation and the absence of grace marks may lead to fewer GPA-5s and lower pass rates, stakeholders say. This has sparked concerns among admission aspirants about how “poor results” might affect their chances in university entrance tests. Yet, many argue that GPA-5 or A+ grades have little bearing on securing higher education spots.

Sources indicate that universities and medical colleges in Bangladesh impose specific HSC result requirements for admissions. Falling short of the required GPA often bars candidates from applying. Engineering universities generally enforce the strictest criteria. For instance, in 2024, at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), applicants from the science stream must secure a GPA-5 in HSC, including in higher mathematics, physics, and chemistry individually. Additionally, a minimum GPA-4 is required in SSC for these subjects.

Similarly, for medical admissions, candidates need a combined SSC and HSC GPA of at least 9, with no single exam below 3.5. HSC must include biology, physics, and chemistry, with a minimum grade point of 4 in biology.

Last year at Dhaka University, science unit applicants require a combined SSC and HSC GPA (including fourth subject) of at least 8, with a minimum 3.5 in each. For arts, law, and social sciences units, the combined GPA must be 7.5, with a minimum 3 in each. Business studies and fine arts units require a combined GPA of 7.5 and 6.5, respectively, with a minimum 3 in each.

Data shows that in 2019, 47,286 students achieved GPA-5. This surged to 1,61,807 in 2020—3.42 times higher—due to subject mapping during the Covid-19 pandemic when HSC exams were canceled. In 2021, GPA-5 recipients rose to 1,89,169, followed by 1,76,282 in 2022, 1,45,911 in 2023, and 78,521 in 2024. The last full syllabus exam was in 2019. This year’s stricter evaluation and lack of grace marks may reduce GPA-5s and pass rates, mirroring trends in SSC results.

Stakeholders note that GPA-5 or “good results” in SSC and HSC have a limited impact on university admissions. Many students meet minimum eligibility and secure spots through entrance exams. On May 31, Education Adviser Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar said at a discussion on education modernization, “Despite an influx of A+ and golden grades, 90 percent fail university entrance exams. Students will get the marks they deserve, not inflated ones. We won’t chase cheap popularity.”

Experts advise students to mentally prepare for the current scenario. Since everyone faces similar conditions, they recommend focusing on university entrance preparation. Md. Atikur Rahman, a lecturer at a Dhaka college, said, “Like SSC, HSC pass rates may drop this year. But this exam doesn’t define one’s future. Results based purely on merit will reveal students’ true standing. With proper preparation for university entrance tests, they can build a strong career.”

Multiple HSC candidates preparing for university admissions told The Daily Campus that some universities are advancing entrance exams due to the February national election and Ramadan, adding pressure amid stricter HSC evaluation. They also believe the HSC grade may also take a toll on their admission preparation.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Dhaka University used to allocate 100 marks based on HSC and SSC GPAs, while medical admission tests carried a weight of 200 marks. With a probability of restoring that system, the anticipated fall in this year’s results could play a decisive role in university admissions.

On the contrary, Abidul Islam Khan, a popular university admission coach and DUCSU VP candidate from Chatra Dal, said, “Most students will meet the eligibility criteria for applications. Lower HSC GPAs won’t drastically affect admissions. At DU, only 20 marks depend on SSC and HSC results, and many universities don’t factor these in at all.”

On time constraints, he added, “Three months is enough for admission preparation. Unlike earlier ‘out-of-syllabus’ exams, questions now align with textbooks. General knowledge requires some extra effort, but average students are prepared. Exams in late December or early January, post-results, won’t pose major issues.”

Md. Suman Ali, a postgraduate student at Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST), who passed HSC with a 3.83 GPA, secured admission in JUST’s mathematics department through relentless effort. Reflecting on HSC’s impact, he told The Daily Campus, “People say fate decides everything, but I believed hard work could change it. I took HSC twice—3.42 the first time, 3.83 the second, still below 4. After my 26th attempt, I got into JUST at serial 143. I wanted mathematics, so I joined it.”