RU Unit ‘A’ admission tests: 59 aspirants vie for each seat as first shift concludes

The undergraduate admission tests for 'Unit A' (Humanities) at Rajshahi University (RU) for the 2025–26 academic session commenced today (January 17), with intense competition marking the first half of the day. As of noon, the first shift of the examination has successfully concluded, while the second batch of aspirants prepares for the afternoon session.

This year, an average of 59 candidates are competing for each seat in the unit, which houses some of the university’s most sought-after departments, including Law and various Social Science disciplines.

Shift Schedule and Participation

The examination is being held in two phases. The first shift took place from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The second shift is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM and will end at 4:00 PM. Unlike previous years, there was no preliminary selection process, allowing all eligible applicants to sit for the exam.

Unit Profile and Seat Statistics

Unit ‘A’ encompasses 27 departments under the faculties of Arts, Law, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts, along with the Institute of Education and Research (IER). The total number of available seats stands at 1,897, following an addition of 25 seats this session.

Out of 2,72,625 total applications for RU this year, Unit ‘A’ alone received 1,11,514 applications. To maintain a diverse student body, 55% of the seats are reserved for students from Humanities backgrounds, while the remaining 45% are allocated to students from Science and Commerce streams.

Examination Format and Grading

The admission test follows a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) format:

• Total Marks: 100 (80 questions, 1.25 marks each).

• Duration: 1 hour.

• Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer (1 mark lost for 4 errors).

• Pass Mark: 40.

For specialized departments like Music, Dramatics, and Fine Arts, a 100-mark practical test is mandatory. Furthermore, candidates aiming for English, Law, and Law & Land Administration must qualify in the MCQ round to appear for a subsequent 50-mark integrated written test (Reading Comprehension and Essay).

Regional Centers and Merit Selection

In a move to ease the travel burden on students, the exams are being held simultaneously at public university campuses across Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, and Rajshahi.

The final merit list will be prepared solely on the basis of admission test scores, with no marks carries over from SSC or HSC results. Detailed updates and results will be made available on the university's official portal: admission.ru.ac.bd.