HSC exam results: Pass rate declines, GPA-5 soars
The results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams, released on Tuesday, reveal a mixed outcome. Although the pass rate has declined compared to last year, the number of students achieving the highest grade point average (GPA-5) has significantly increased.
A unique set of circumstances shaped this year's results.
The HSC exams were disrupted multiple times due to student protests, leading to the cancellation of several subject exams. For the subjects that were completed, answer sheets were evaluated as usual.
However, for the subjects that had been postponed, the results were determined through a process called subject mapping, using the candidates' Secondary School Certificate (SSC) marks as a reference.
Despite expectations that subject mapping would bolster the pass rate, the reality was different.
The average pass rate across the nine general education boards declined from 76.9% last year to 75.56% this year.
However, the number of students obtaining a GPA-5, the highest academic distinction, saw a sharp rise.
In addition, girls once again outperformed boys, surpassing them both in overall pass rates and in the number of top achievers securing GPA-5.
A total of 145,911 students attained GPA-5 this year, with 80,933 of them being female, compared to 64,978 male students. This marks a notable gender gap of 15,955 in favor of girls.
This year’s increase in GPA-5 is significant compared to last year's total of 78,521. While this suggests improved individual performance, the overall pass rate has not mirrored this trend.
Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar, Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board and President of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, attributed the decline in the pass rate to the disrupted examination schedule.
"The canceled exams did not have a significant impact on the pass rate for core subjects like English and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which were still tested," he explained.
According to the chairman, the increase in GPA-5 is largely due to subject mapping, which was implemented when students could not sit for all their exams.
“In cases where students changed their field of study—such as moving from science to humanities—their marks in the science subjects from the SSC were used for the HSC subjects in which they were enrolled," he added.
The role of subject mapping
Subject mapping is a process that assigns SSC subject marks to corresponding HSC subjects, compensating for the missed exams. This practice is not new; it was also used during the COVID-19 pandemic when students faced reduced exams.
Under this system, a student who took science subjects in SSC but switched to business education or humanities for HSC would have their science marks counted toward their HSC results, where applicable. The system aims to ensure fairness and continuity in grading despite the disruptions.
This year’s HSC exams, which started on June 30, faced numerous delays. The initial postponements were triggered by ongoing student-led protests for government job quota reforms, which escalated into larger political unrest.
After several exam dates were missed, the government decided to reschedule the remaining exams.
Finally, it was decided that the exams would be held starting September 11, but this too was delayed due to a section of students demanding not to participate in the exams, ultimately leading to reliance on subject mapping for result preparation.