The online application process for Dhaka University’s 2024-2025 undergraduate admissions opened on 4 November. Thousands of bright, ambitious science students across Bangladesh eagerly anticipated the Dhaka University A Unit admission test.
Unfortunately, due to the limited seat number and intense competition, only a select few successfully pass this demanding hour-and-a-half exam. So those who are aiming for A unit need strong preparation in essential subjects, a solid study plan, and plenty of motivation.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the A Unit admission exam for the 2024-25 academic year.
Key information
Exam Date: 15 February 2025, from 11:00am to 12:30pm
Total Seats Available: 1896
Official Website: www.du.ac.bd
Admission eligibility criteria
- For candidates who passed their secondary school certificate (SSC) or equivalent examinations in 2019 and onwards, the eligibility for admission to the higher secondary education Programme (IGCSE/O-Level, IAL/GCE/A-Level) should meet the minimum grade point average (GPA) requirements in the respective disciplines. Specifically, the minimum GPA required for GCE/IGCSE-O-Level and IAL/GCE/A-Level in vocational and academic subjects must be 3.5 GPA out of 5. The GPA calculation should include all subjects taken.
- Candidates who have studied Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology at the Higher Secondary (HSC) or equivalent level will take exams in these subjects. However, if a candidate wishes, they may choose to take the exam in either Bangla or At the Higher Secondary level, English replaces the fourth subject. Note that exams in Physics and Chemistry are mandatory.
- Candidates who have studied at the A-Level are required to take exams in Physics and Chemistry, along with any other two subjects from Mathematics, Biology, Bangla, or English, thereby completing a total of four subjects.
Marks Distribution
- MCQ:
Total Marks: 60
Pass Marks: 24
Only candidates scoring at least 24 in the MCQ section will be considered for evaluation of the written exam answer script. However, only candidates who pass the MCQ test and have at least five times the total number of available seats in A Unit will have their written answer scripts evaluated.
- Written:
Total Marks: 40
Pass Marks: 12
| Subject Name | MCQ | Written |
| Physics | 15 | 10 |
| Chemistry | 15 | 10 |
| Mathematics | 15 | 10 |
| Biology | 15 | 10 |
| Bengali | 15 | 10 |
| English | 15 | 10 |
Note: Students can choose any two subjects from Mathematics, Biology, Bengali, and English.
In total, candidates must score at least 40 out of 100 to be considered for admission. Candidates who score below 40 will not be eligible for admission. The time limit for each section is 45 minutes.
Each incorrect answer in the MCQ exam will deduct 0.25 marks, with adjustments made for each subject. The admission to a specific department or institute will depend on the four subjects a candidate chooses to answer questions from.
Faculties and subjects
A-Unit offers a total of 31 subjects across 5 faculties and 4 institutes.
| Faculties/Institute | Subjects |
| Faculty of Science | Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Statistics, Applied Mathematics |
| Faculty of Biological Sciences | Soil, Water, and Environment, Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Psychology, Microbiology, Fisheries, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology |
| Pharmacy Faculty | Pharmacy |
| Earth and Environmental Science Faculty | Geography & Environment, Geology, Oceanography, Disaster Science and Management |
| Engineering & Technology Faculty | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Applied Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Robotics & Mechanical Engineering |
| Statistics Institute | Applied Statistics |
| Nutrition and Food Science Institute | Nutrition and Food Science |
| Leather Engineering and Technology Institute | Leather Engineering, Footwear Engineering, Leather Products Engineering |
| Education and Research Institute | Physical Science, Biological Science |
Preparation guide
In the DU A Unit test, questions come from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Advanced Mathematics. However, there’s an option: if you’ve chosen Biology or Advanced Mathematics as your fourth (optional) subject, you can choose to answer questions from Bengali or English instead. Remember, though, opting out of Biology or Advanced Mathematics limits your eligibility for certain departments within the A Unit.
Subject-specific preparation tips
Mathematics:
For the math section, concentrate on the intermediate-level book you studied and use a question bank. You can solve most math problems quickly with a bit of thinking. Dhaka University’s questions won’t be overly complex; instead, they’ll focus on basic concepts.
So, your goal should be to solve each question in about 30-40 seconds as efficiently as possible. Since calculators aren’t allowed, they’ll avoid giving you problems that require heavy calculations. Math is all about practice, and it will take time to build speed, so solve the question banks repeatedly.
Physics:
In this section, you’ll need to directly apply formulas. When you see a physics problem, you should be able to immediately recognise which formula to use. You also need to be skilled with graphical concepts.
If you look at previous physics question patterns, you’ll notice they ask specific types of questions, and the options are often close, so be cautious. Review your physics book carefully, then practice with the question bank, making sure you’re very familiar with applying formulas.
Chemistry:
What you studied in higher secondary is enough. Try to focus on the basics of each chapter, memorise the reactions and equations, and go through the past years’ questions. You’ll notice that mathematical questions are very few (usually 1 or 2), and their purpose is to test your understanding of the fundamentals.
Pay attention to various reactions, particularly those that identify organic compounds, and comprehension-based questions, particularly those that ask “why” questions. It’s important to understand what different terminology signifies, the significance of a theory, its application, and its mathematical form. These are the key topics for the theoretical section.
Biology:
The biology questions are more information-based compared to the others, and this section tests your memorisation skills the most. You’ll need to highlight important lines from the book and review them repeatedly to do well in the multiple-choice questions.
The written questions are similar to creative writing questions. You should focus on topics like images, characteristics, differences, explanations of terminology, important lists and examples (e.g., names of blood clotting factors), scientific names, process flowcharts, etc. If you study thoughtfully, you can score very well in the written section.
According to Ahona Rahman, a 3rd-year student of DU CSE, applicants need to thoroughly solve the past years’ questions of DU. At least solve the questions from the last ten years. This will reveal your current position, exam topics, DU’s preferred questions, and weaknesses.
This will allow you to make your preparation more efficient. And most importantly, solve as many questions as possible alongside your studies. Ultimately, the objective is to utilise the acquired knowledge, and practice is indispensible.
From the beginning of your practice until the entrance exam, ensure that your answers are concise and direct. In the written exam, avoid any unnecessary or irrelevant writing and get into the habit of writing the main answer (with the process for mathematical questions). That’s how you will be able to crack a seat of DU A unit.