The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations for 2026 begin across the country today, Tuesday (April 21). A total of 1,857,344 students are expected to sit for the exams this year.

The exams will commence at 10:00 AM with the Bengali First Paper. The written examinations are scheduled to continue until May 20, followed by practical exams from June 7 to June 14.

Enrollment Statistics
According to official data, the distribution of candidates is as follows:

• General Education Boards (9): Over 1.418 million candidates.
• Madrasah Education Board (Dakhil): Over 300,000 candidates.
• Technical Education Board: Over 134,000 candidates.
• Gender Breakdown: 930,305 male students and 927,039 female students.

The total number of candidates has seen a decrease of approximately 71,626 compared to the previous year. Exams will be held at 3,885 centers nationwide.

14 Mandatory Guidelines for Candidates
Authorities have issued 14 specific directives that must be adhered to throughout the examination period:

1. Arrival: Candidates must take their seats at least 30 minutes before the exam begins.
2. Duration: Exams must follow the time allocated on the question paper.
3. Sequence: The Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) test will be held first, followed by the Creative/Descriptive (Theoretical) test, with no break in between.
4. Admit Cards: Students must collect their admit cards from their respective heads of institutions at least three days before the exams start.
5. Continuous Assessment: Marks for Physical Education, Health Science & Sports, and Career Education will be provided by institutions to centers based on NCTB guidelines for continuous assessment.
6. OMR Sheets: Roll numbers, registration numbers, and subject codes must be filled in correctly on OMR forms. Answer scripts must not be folded.
7. Pass Criteria: Students must pass the Creative, MCQ, and Practical sections separately.
8. Subject Compliance: Candidates can only sit for subjects listed on their registration cards.
9. Distribution Accountability: Heads of institutions are liable for any complications regarding the distribution of admit cards, which must be completed 7 days prior to the start.
10. Calculators: Only board-approved calculators are permitted.
11. Mobile Ban: No one except the Center Secretary is allowed to carry or use a mobile phone within the center.
12. Attendance: A single attendance sheet will be used for all sections (Theoretical, MCQ, and Practical).
13. Practical Venue: Practical exams will be conducted at the students' respective centers.
14. Re-evaluation: Applications for result re-scrutiny must be submitted online within seven days of the result publication.

While SSC exams traditionally begin in February and HSC in April, the schedule has been adjusted for the past two years due to prevailing circumstances. Additionally, the HSC and equivalent exams are scheduled to begin on July 2.