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Bangladesh

Government schools restore written tests above Class One

Bangladesh’s 2027 admission policy keeps a central digital lottery for Class One but introduces written examinations for vacant seats in Classes Two to Nine. Applications, fees and results will be processed online, with separate caps and quotas.

From 15 October 2026 — Daily Brief

Government secondary schools will use a digital lottery for Class One admissions in 2027 and written tests for vacant seats in Classes Two to Nine under a new national policy.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education will run the Class One lottery centrally. Children aged five to seven on January 1, 2027 will be eligible, and applicants may list up to five schools in order of preference.

Written tests for Classes Two to Five will carry 50 marks across Bangla, English and mathematics and last one hour. Tests for Classes Six to Nine will carry 100 marks and last two hours. Questions are to follow the relevant national textbooks.

The maximum application fee is Tk110 for Class One and Tk250 for the higher classes. Each section will hold 55 students. In Dhaka, 40 per cent of places will be reserved for catchment-area applicants, alongside quotas for several specified groups.

Applications, fee collection and results will be managed online, while committees at metropolitan, district and upazila level will oversee implementation. The main test will be consistent execution: schools must publish vacancies clearly, protect question security and make both lotteries and written selection auditable.

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