Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) 2024 and equivalent exams are starting today at 10 am across the country. However, Sylhet Education Board, Madrasa Education Board and Bangladesh Technical Education Board exams have been postponed till July 8 due to floods. The exams which were scheduled to be held from July 9 will be held as usual.

This time around 1.45 lakh students will sit for the exam. Compared to last year, the number of candidates has increased by 91 thousand. As per the schedule this exam will start with Bengali (compulsory) first paper on 30th June. The written exam will end on August 11. Then the practical test will begin. It is learned that as per the earlier announcement, this exam will be held on the revised (shortened) syllabus.

HSC and equivalent exams will be held abroad in a total of 281 centers. Among these centers are 47 in Jeddah, 43 in Riyadh, two in Tripoli, 63 in Doha, 44 in Abu Dhabi, 22 in Dubai, 34 in Bahrain and 26 in Oman.

Meanwhile, the education boards have issued special instructions for this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) candidates. They are-

1. 30 (thirty) minutes before the commencement of the examination, candidates must take their seats in the examination room.

2. First the multiple choice and then the creative/compositional (theory) test will be held.

3. Time for 30 Marks Multiple Choice (MCQ) exam is 30 minutes and for 70 Marks Creative (CQ) exam time is 2 hours 30 minutes; Time for practical test is 25 minutes for multiple choice (MCQ) of 25 marks and 2 hours 35 minutes for creative (CQ) of 50 marks; The examination will continue continuously till the time mentioned in the question paper. There will be no break between the MCQ and CQ part of the exam;

(a) 9.30 am in case of examination conducted from 10 am. Distribution of unwritten answer sheets and multiple choice OMR sheets;

10 am distribution of multiple choice questions; 10.30 AM Collection of Multiple Choice Answer Sheets (OMR Sheets) and Distribution of Creative Question Papers; (In case of multiple choice test of 25 marks, this time is 10.25 minutes).

(b) distribution of unwritten answer sheets and multiple choice OMR sheets at 1.30 pm in case of examinations held from 2 pm;

2 pm distribution of multiple choice questions; 2.30 pm. Collection of Multiple Choice Answer Sheets (OMR Sheets) and Distribution of Creative Question Papers, (2.25 minutes in case of multiple choice test of 25 marks);

4. The exam should be taken according to the time mentioned in the question paper.

5. Candidates will collect their admit card from the head of their respective institution.

6. Each candidate shall write his examination roll number, registration number, subject code etc. in the OMR form in the provided answer sheet and fill the circle. Under no circumstances should the answer sheet be folded for writing in the margins or for any other purpose.

7. The candidate must pass the theory, multiple choice and practical sections (where applicable) separately.

8. Every candidate can appear in the examination of the subject/subjects mentioned in the registration card and admit card only; Under no circumstances will you be able to participate in the examination of any other subject.

9. A candidate's examination will not be held in his/her own college/institution, the candidate will have to arrange seats through transfer;

10. Candidates can use general scientific calculator (Non programmable) in the exam. Programming calculators cannot be used.

11. No one other than the in-charge officer of the examination center can use the mobile phone and no candidate can bring the mobile phone to the examination centre.