National University to Change Admission Test Question Pattern

The authorities of the National University have indicated a major change in the admission test for the undergraduate (honours) programmes. Breaking away from the long-standing traditional system, the university is taking initiatives to bring diversity in the question pattern to better assess students’ merit and creativity. This new plan has been taken with the aim of improving the quality of education and properly evaluating students’ true abilities.

According to university sources, the main objective of this decision is to reduce students’ dependence on rote learning and make them more focused on original textbooks. This will encourage students to gain deep subject-based knowledge instead of relying only on guide books or notes.

A member of the university’s examination committee told The Daily Campus, “For a long time, we have observed that students only memorise previous years’ questions or some standard information from guide books to participate in the admission test. This does not allow us to properly evaluate their real merit.”

He added, “To overcome this limitation, under the directive of the Vice-Chancellor, we are giving priority to creativity in the question pattern. Our main goal is to create an examination system where students must understand the core content of the textbooks. We want students to secure their seats through proper study and genuine ability, not just by passing exams.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.S.M. Amanullah has confirmed the plan to bring diversity in the question pattern for improving the quality of examinations and developing students’ merit. He told The Daily Campus, “There will be no change in the existing mark distribution of the admission test. However, we are trying to make the question style more creative. We want students to study properly, show their true merit, and pass with distinction.”

New Examination Pattern & Evaluation Method

• The admission test will be held in MCQ format.
• Total marks: 100.
• Duration: 1 hour.
• 1 mark for each correct answer. No negative marking for wrong answers.

Mark Distribution:

• Bengali: 20 marks
• English: 20 marks
• General Knowledge: 20 marks
• Subject-based questions (according to respective groups — Science, Humanities/Home Economics, Business Studies): 40 marks

Pass Mark: 35

Merit List Preparation:

• SSC/Equivalent GPA (including 4th subject): 40% weightage (40 marks)
• HSC/Equivalent GPA (including 4th subject): 60% weightage (60 marks)
• Total: 200 marks (100 exam + 40 SSC + 60 HSC)

Seats & Quota

There are currently 881 affiliated colleges under the National University (264 government and 617 private). In the 2024-25 academic year, the total number of seats in the undergraduate (honours) programme was 436,285.

In every subject, a maximum of 8 seats will be reserved for quotas:

• Freedom Fighter Quota: 3 seats
• Indigenous Quota: 1 seat
• Disabled Quota: 1 seat
• Ward Quota (children of university employees): 3 seats