Cadet colleges are arguably some of the finest institutions in Bangladesh, offering high school and college level education. Theses military-run, residential colleges have long been providing quality education along with eyes on physical fitness and discipline. There are 12 cadet colleges altogether—nine for boys and three for girls. Cadets spend six of their formative years here, from class seven to twelve.
Cadet colleges admit fresh intakes of cadets once a year and this year’s circular for admission in class seven has already been published. If you are an admission aspirant in one of the cadet colleges then this article is just for you.
Cadet college selection process comes in three steps: a written test, an interview (viva) and a medical test. Today we talk about the first hurdle to tackle—written test.
Let’s get into business.
First thing first: Know the syllabus
The written test carries a total of 300 marks, with a duration of three hours. It covers four subjects: Bengali, English, Mathematics, and General Knowledge. The marks distribution is as follows:
– Bengali: 60 marks
– English: 100 marks
– Mathematics: 100 marks
– General Knowledge: 40 marks
Let’s break down each section to give you a clearer idea of what to expect and how to prepare.
Insights from the experts:
To guide us through this challenging exam, we spoke to Monjur Alam, a former cadet of Rangpur Cadet College who now runs a cadet coaching centre in Dhaka’s Farmgate, and Jannatun Nayem, a former cadet from Rajshahi Cadet College who has been teaching in the cadet coaching for years. Here’s what they had to share:
Bengali section
Monjur says, “The key to success in the Bengali section is familiarity with the textbook. The questions span the first paper (literature), second paper (grammar), and a written section. Key areas to focus on include biographies of authors, word meanings, short questions, and parts of speech. For grammar, pay attention to topics like parts of speech, case, sentence transformation, punctuation, and types of sentences. The written section may require you to summarise passages or elaborate on specific topics.”
Let’s take a quick look at some topics from the 2023 exam:
1. Multiple-choice questions: based on the Grade 6 textbook (10 marks)
2. Spelling correction (7 marks)
3. Rearranging jumble words: to form meaningful words
4. Short answers to textbook questions (10 marks)
5. Long-form answers (12 marks)
6.Passage summarisation (5 marks)
7. Paragraph writing on a given topic (10 marks)
English Section
Jannatun Nayem shares his insights, “Building a strong vocabulary is essential for the English section. Similar to the Bengali section, it includes reading comprehension, grammar, and writing. Focus areas include synonyms, antonyms, punctuation, tenses, parts of speech, and sentence transformation. The writing section often includes letter writing, applications, and argumentative essays. Reading newspapers regularly can enhance your language skills.”
Sample topics from the 2023 Exam:
1. Reading comprehension with 5 questions (10 marks)
2. Parts of speech identification (5 marks)
3. Fill-in-the-blanks with appropriate prepositions (5 marks)
4. Column matching (5 marks)
5. Sentence transformation (5 marks)
6. Right forms of verbs (5 marks)
7. Jumbled sentence rearrangement (10 marks)
8.Spelling and error correction (20 marks)
9. Paragraph writing (10 marks)
10. Story completion (10 marks)
Mathematics section
Mathematics is the most critical section that carries a significant weight in the exam.
Monjur advises, “Focus on topics like percentages, fractions, unitary methods, series, and equations. Geometry problems, especially those involving angles, are also common. He stresses the importance of mastering the Grade 6 and 7 textbooks for this section.
Let’s see the summary of the 2023 question paper:
1. Arithmetic and algebra short questions (10 marks)
2. Problem-solving with multiple parts (10 marks)
3. Creative short questions (5 marks)
4. Long-form questions (20 marks)
5. Algebra problems with multiple parts (10 marks)
6. Extended questions on geometry and algebra (10 marks)
7. Mixed questions from geometry and algebra (10 marks)
8. Creative geometry problems (10 marks)
9. Short questions mixing algebra and geometry (15 marks)
General Knowledge section
“Now, this is a vast topic. But don’t get lost trying to read everything you lay your eyes on. Remember—you just need the essentials,” Monjur says. Keeping up with current affairs is crucial. Nayem adds, “Candidates should remember both the Arabic and Bengali dates of the exam day, and for IQ part prepare for questions like identifying the odd one out or correcting spellings. The questions may be either multiple-choice or short answer.”
Sample topics from the 2023 Exam:
1. Concise answers to 10 question (10 marks)
2. Fill-in-the-blanks (5 marks)
3. Multiple-choice questions (10 marks)
4. True or false statements (5 marks)
5. Short answer questions (5 marks)
6. Logic and reasoning (5 marks)
Dos and Don’ts for the exam
Monjur and Nayem offer some final tips for candidates:
– Prioritise questions: Leave time-consuming ones for later.
– Accuracy matters: A wrong final answer, even with correct calculations, results in zero marks.
– Focus on strong areas first: Answer sections where you’re most confident.
– Handwriting speed: Since time is limited, practice writing quickly and legibly.
– Stay calm: Avoid panic, especially in the math section where precision is crucial.
Additional advice from Nayem includes focusing on the Math and English sections as they carry the most weight. Reading newspapers can help with current affairs and the paragraph section. Manage your time efficiently; for instance, don’t spend more than 20 minutes on the General Knowledge section. Remember that your answer sheet and question paper are the same, so write your responses neatly within the provided spaces.
And Nayem’s one last tip? “Know who the Army chief is!”
Now, it’s time to buckle up, study, and practice. With the right preparation, you’ll be ready to excel. Remember—you’ve got this!