HSC Results Crush Medical Admission Dreams for Many

A girl from a school in Jhenidah, who secured GPA-5 in Science in her SSC exams, enrolled in a local college with dreams of pursuing medicine, engineering, or studying at prestigious institutions like the University of Dhaka. She even joined coaching classes after her HSC exams. However, her HSC results have turned her dreams into a nightmare.

Like many others, this student failed to achieve the desired results in HSC, scoring below GPA-4.0. Now uncertain about her eligibility to apply to top universities, including medical colleges, she is among many students anxious about this year’s disappointing exam outcomes. They are now demanding a reduction in the total GPA requirement for admission applications.

According to the Student Admission Policy-2025 for MBBS courses in medical colleges, applicants from the Science stream must have a minimum combined GPA of 9.0 in SSC and HSC or equivalent exams, with at least a grade point of 4.0 in Biology. However, these criteria may exclude many students from even applying.

Ishrat Jahan, a student from a renowned college in the capital, scored GPA-4.25 in this year’s HSC exams. She told The Daily Campus, “Due to this year’s disastrous results, many of us won’t be able to apply. The eligibility requirement of a total GPA of 9 should be lowered to 8. This would at least give many of us a chance to sit for the exam and prove our merit.”

In 2025, the average pass rate in HSC exams under nine general education boards was only 57.12%, nearly 19% lower than last year. Approximately 43% of students failed to pass. The number of GPA-5 achievers has also significantly declined. In 2024, over 1,31,000 students scored GPA-5; in 2023, it was 78,521. This year, it dropped to just 63,219.

Statistics show that 10,47,242 students appeared for the exams under nine general education boards, with 5,98,166 passing. Results for Alim under the Madrasah Board and HSC Vocational, BM, and Diploma in Commerce under the Technical Education Board have also been published.

Amid this situation, private medical college authorities are concerned about securing enough students. They have noted that the stringent criteria may result in fewer applicants. The Bangladesh Private Medical Colleges Association (BPMCA) has reportedly proposed reducing the GPA requirement from 9 to 8 for admission test applications. Sources from the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) and the Directorate General of Health Education indicate that a meeting on this matter may be held soon.

Regarding the students’ demands, Professor Dr. Rubina Yasmin, Additional Director General (Medical Education) of the Directorate General of Health Education, told The Daily Campus, “We are unaware of any such demands from students. No discussions have taken place in any forum of the directorate. If discussions occur, we can address the issue then.”

The admission test for the 2025-26 academic year in government and private medical and dental colleges is scheduled for 12 December. Application submission will begin in November, though the exact start date has not yet been finalized.

A source from the Health Education and Family Welfare Division informed The Daily Campus of this. On condition of anonymity, a joint secretary from the division said, “Admission applications will start from the first week of November. Major changes to the admission policy are unlikely. Another meeting next week may finalize these matters.”

The official added, “This year, the medical and dental admission tests will be held on the same day with the same question paper. Details of the selection process will be clarified after next week’s meeting.”

Last year’s MBBS admission test for the 2024-25 academic year was held on 17 January. This year’s test has been advanced by over a month. According to the Directorate General of Health Education, there are 5,380 seats in 37 government medical colleges and 6,293 seats in 67 approved private medical colleges, totaling 110 medical colleges in the country.

In addition to government and private colleges, there is one Armed Forces Medical College and five private Army Medical Colleges. A proposal has been made to reduce over 1,000 seats in government and private medical and dental colleges for the 2025-26 academic year. The final decision will be made at a meeting at the Health and Family Welfare Ministry in the Secretariat next week.