HSC, equivalent exams begin

The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations began across the country on Sunday.

The exams started at 11am and will continue till 1pm.

The total number of candidates under 11 education boards- nine general education boards, one madrasa and one technical board- is 12, 03,407 this year.

Of them, 6, 22,796 are male examinees and 5,80,611 are female students. The examinations are taking place at 2,649 centres while the exams will end on December 13.

The number of examinees was 13,99,690 last year while the number of examinees this year declined by 1,96,283 compared to that of last year.

Various steps have been taken for holding the examinations this year in a fair manner. All coaching centers across the country will remain closed for 42 days from November 3 to December 14 during the exams.

This year marks and duration of the examinations have been reduced. Candidates of science department have to answer 15 out of 25 multiple choice questions (MCQs) in 20 minutes. Three out of eight questions must be answered in the written or theory part of the test in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Candidates of Humanities and Business Education will have to answer 15 out of 30 MCQs in 20 minutes. Four out of 11 questions must be answered in the theory part of the examination in 1 hour and 40 minutes.