HSC Mark Distribution — Question Pattern & Marks
বাংলায় পড়তে চাও? দেখো: এইচএসসি মানবন্টন — প্রশ্নের ধরন ও নম্বর বিভাজন
At HSC each paper is a separate exam carrying its own marks, so knowing the distribution matters even more than at SSC. Without it — how many marks per paper, how many questions to answer, how much the practical is worth — you will get your priorities wrong.
The standard per-paper mark distribution
| Type of subject | Creative (CQ) | MCQ | Practical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No practical (Bangla, Accounting, Civics …) | 70 | 30 | — | 100 |
| With practical (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Higher Maths …) | 50 | 25 | 25 | 100 |
| ICT (single paper) | 50 | 25 | — | 75 |
English 1st and 2nd Paper have no creative questions — all 100 marks are skills-based written questions. Confirm the final split against the NCTB’s published mark distribution.
How a creative question is built
| Part | Ability tested | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Knowledge — a definition or direct fact | 1 |
| (b) | Comprehension — explain in your own words | 2 |
| (c) | Application — apply to the stimulus, including calculation | 3 |
| (d) | Higher ability — analyse, evaluate and conclude | 4 |
In science subjects parts (c) and (d) are almost always numerical — write the formula, substitute the values, give the answer with its unit and finish with a one-line conclusion.
How many questions to answer
- In a subject without a practical you usually answer 7 of 11 creative questions.
- In a subject with a practical you answer 5 of 8.
- The MCQ section has 30 questions in 30 minutes where it is worth 30, or 25 in 25 minutes where it is worth 25.
- There is no negative marking — never leave a circle blank.
- Practicals are held on separate days and add to the theory marks to make up the subject total.
Dividing your time in the hall
- Spend the first 5 minutes reading the paper and choosing your questions.
- Take the numerical questions first — they take longer but the marks are more certain.
- Allow at most 20 minutes per question and keep 10 minutes at the end to review.
- Draw and label figures and graphs in pencil — they carry marks of their own.
- Finally, re-check the roll, registration, subject and set codes on the OMR and the script.
Frequently asked questions
Usually 100 marks per paper — 70 creative and 30 MCQ without a practical; 50 creative, 25 MCQ and 25 practical with one. ICT is a single paper worth 75.
Practical marks are usually split between performing the experiment, the lab notebook and a viva. A properly kept, on-time lab notebook secures a large share of them.
No — no marks are deducted for a wrong MCQ answer at HSC, so it always pays to answer every question.
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