Twenty public universities have decided to hold uniform admission tests, likely in June-July.

Besides, Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet), Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) and Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) have set June 12 as a tentative date for a single entry test. 

The decisions were made at a virtual meeting of Bangladesh Bishwabidyalaya Parishad yesterday, Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Prof Mizanur Rahman, a joint convener of a committee working to hold the cluster entry tests at the 20 universities, told The Daily Star.

Bangladesh Bishwabidyalaya Parishad is an association of VCs of public universities. Prof Mizan and the association's Deputy Secretary Motahar Hossain said the examinations would be held on three dates.

The tentative date for admission test for students from the humanities group is June 19. For the business group, it is June 26 and the science group either July 3 or July 10, they said.

The 20 public universities include Jagannath University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Khulna University, Begum Rokeya University, Islamic University, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Comilla University, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Jessore University of Science and Technology, Pabna University of Science and Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, University of Barishal, Rangamati Science and Technology University, Rabindra University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University, Sheikh Hasina University, and Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University.

Besides, a cluster-based admission test for seven agricultural universities is likely to be held on May 29.

The tentative dates for Dhaka University admission test are May 21, 22, 26, 27 and June 5, while it is June 10 for Buet.

The entry test for Jahangirnagar University is likely to be on June 6-10 and June 20.

Admission test for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University is likely to be held on June 4-5, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University on June 26, Bangladesh University of Textiles on June 18 and Bangladesh University of Professionals on February 26 and 27.

However, the probable date of admission test for Rajshahi and Chittagong universities have not been decided yet.

Admission tests for the MBBS course in the country's government-run and private medical colleges for the academic year 2020-21 will be held on April 2.

Also, entry tests for BDS courses of dental colleges and units will be held on April 30.

Tight competition awaits admission seekers of public universities this year. A record-setting number of students got GPA 5 in the HSC examinations, thanks to the lack of actual exams and the results being reflections of each student's grades in public exams held before.

For the first time in history, everyone who registered for the HSC cleared the tests as they were not arranged at all due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over 1,53,610 students have been awarded GPA 5 under nine general education boards. The number was 41,807 in 2019.

All boards combined, 13,67,377 students -- 7,06,885 boys and 6,60,492 girls -- who registered for the 2020 HSC-level exams from 9,063 institutions will get the certificates. In 2019, the percentage of students who passed the exam was 73.93.