GPA-5, pass rate drop in HSC, equivalent exams

After a streak of remarkable GPA-5 achievements in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams over the past three years, this year saw a significant drop in the highest result index.

Among the 1.35 million students who participated in the exams across 11 education boards this year, only 92,595 secured a GPA-5.

Besides, the pass rate in the HSC and equivalent exams has dropped to 78.64% in 2023 from 85.95% the previous year.

This figure was nearly half compared to the previous year, where 176,282 students attained the top score in 2022.

In recent years, the number of GPA-5 holders hit a low point in 2018, with 29,262 achieving this score. That number was 37,969 in 2017. 

However, in 2020, there was a dramatic surge to 1,61,807 GPA-5 achievers, triggering an upward trend.

This peaked in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, with an impressive 1,89,169 students securing this outstanding result.

Education Minister Dipu Moni held a press briefing on Sunday afternoon and presented the in-detail results. Earlier in the day she presented the results to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office.

The minister Dipu Moni noted that this year, despite a drop in GPA-5 and a slight decrease in pass rates, the exams were more rigorous than the previous year. 

However, when compared to the pre-Covid-19 period, the results are positive, she said. 

She mentioned that there will be an opportunity for exam result re-evaluation from 27 November to 3 December.

This year a total of 13,74,488 students sat for HSC and equivalent exams from 17 August to 25 September. Of them, 6,89,023 were boys and 6,68,892 were girls. 

Of those securing the pass rate, 80.57% were girls and 76.76% were boys.

Girls have once again done better than boys, both in terms of pass rate and number of GPA-5. 

The passing rate is 3.81% more among female students compared to males this year.

The passing rate in the Madrasah board this year is 90.75%. While in the technical education board, the passing rate is 91.25%

Lowest pass rate in Jashore Board

Among the nine education boards, Jashore had the lowest pass rate and GPA-5. Pass rate and GPA-5 obtained in the board decreased to 69.88% and 8,122 students got GPA-5, which was 83.95% and 18,703 last year. 

During the briefing, Jashore Board's Chairman Md Abdul Mazid said the pass rate in Jashore was low due to poor results in English. The board's passing rate in English is 77.36%.

The pass rate in Dhaka Board stood at 79.44%, Chattogram Board at 74.45%, Rajshahi Board 78.46%, Sylhet Board 73.4%, Barishal 80.65%, Cumilla 75.39%, Mymensingh 70.44%, and Dinajpur 70.44%.

This year, the number of educational institutions where no one passed is 42, last year it was 50. The number of institutions this year where everyone passed is 953; last year it was 1330.