For thousands of students across Bangladesh, the GST admission test serves as the gateway to 19 public universities. It is a highly competitive journey that demands not only academic knowledge but also strategy, perseverance, and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. 

While the syllabus and question patterns are important, many agree that mental discipline and consistency are what truly set successful candidates apart.

Cracking A unit: Practising is the key

Iftekhar Hossain Tamim is a first-year student in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering department at Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST). He had always dreamed of becoming an engineer. After securing good grades in school, he joined offline coaching during his first year of college. However, by the end of that year, reality hit—there were significant gaps in his preparation.

“I realised I couldn’t just keep doing what I was doing. I needed a different approach,” Tamim recalled.

That shift came with online platforms like ACS and Bondi Pathshala. Tamim systematically covered Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, making sure no topic was left untouched. Even after missing out on BUET and CUET due to a narrow miss in Physics, he did not give up.

“I told myself, engineering is still possible—I just have to keep going,” he said. His renewed focus on practice, especially with MCQs, paid off, earning him a position in the GST A Unit and a seat at JUST.

Tamim’s advice for future A Unit aspirants is straightforward: “Stick to your routine, use online resources wisely, and practise MCQs like your life depends on it. The more you practise, the more confident you will be in the exam hall.”

Another student from the Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Gopalganj Science and Technology University, Ayman Nur, shares a similar journey of grit and growth. Like many others, he excelled in SSC and went on to study at CUET School and College for his HSC. “During my time at CUET, I was inspired by the campus life of my seniors,” Ayman recalls. But when his HSC results fell short of expectations, he feared his engineering dream was over.

He, too, decided to start afresh — relying on platforms like ACS, studying alone, and sitting only for Udvash exams. “My mental state was very low back then, but I didn’t give up,” Ayman shares. He identified a gap in his preparation — too much reading, too little practice. The result was again disappointing: he missed chances at DU, CU, and JU. But he regrouped, sought guidance, worked with renewed focus on GST A Unit, and eventually secured a seat in his dream department. “Now that I’ve enrolled at Gopalganj Science and Technology University, I’ve started dreaming again,” he says.

For B unit aspirants: Persistence over perfection

For Ataur Rahman, the dream of attending university began in secondary school. But his path to JUST’s Finance and Banking department was anything but straightforward. Enrolling in college during the pandemic, Ataur had to adapt quickly to the realities of remote learning. Coming from the humanities group also made preparing for B Unit—focused on Bangla, English, and General Knowledge—a unique challenge.

The first major setback came with the Dhaka University admission test, where he failed in Bangla. Instead of giving up, he doubled down on his preparation for Rajshahi University and GST. His approach was rooted in discipline—reading NCTB-based books regularly, revising often, and limiting phone use. “I learned that it’s not about how many hours you study; it’s about how focused you are during those hours,” he shared.

Ataur now encourages B Unit candidates to integrate practice tests into their weekly routine and to strengthen their fundamentals in language and general knowledge. “Don’t underestimate revision. If you don’t review what you’ve learned, you’re just letting it fade away,” he added.

For C unit aspirants: Smart use of resources

Endra Chowdhury, a Finance and Banking student at JUST, discovered her passion for higher education during college. A strong HSC performance gave her confidence, but missing out on seats at Dhaka and Rajshahi universities meant she had to recalibrate her approach.

Her preparation for GST’s C Unit, which tests Business Studies knowledge, combined both online and offline efforts. Endra relied heavily on books like Joykoly and RAB, while also taking online classes and mock exams to assess her readiness. She believes that self-practice is key. “Solve past questions yourself; it forces you to think critically and manage your time under pressure,” she said.

Her top advice for C Unit hopefuls: “Cover your regular syllabus, use online resources for clarification, and keep solving previous years’ questions until you can do them without second-guessing yourself.”

Samia Zaman Mou, from the Management Department of Islamic University, Kushtia, began her admission journey with low confidence. Two early test attempts shook her, but guidance from her coaching teachers reignited her belief. Missing out on Rajshahi University by just a few marks, she channelled all her energy into GST.

Her hard work paid off, earning her admission offers from JUST, IU, PUST, and BRUR. She ultimately chose Islamic University. “Always keep confidence in yourself and have a clear target — for me, it was getting into a public university, no matter what,” she said.

The common thread: What every GST aspirant should know

While each student’s journey is unique, certain themes emerge across all units. Understanding the syllabus and question distribution is the first step, as it helps students know exactly what they are up against. 

Identifying weaknesses early and allocating more time to those topics can make a significant difference. Using past papers not only familiarises candidates with the exam pattern but also helps train them in time management.

It is also important to avoid over-reliance on shortcuts, especially in science- and maths-heavy sections where strong manual calculation skills are essential. Regular revision is crucial—multiple reviews help cement concepts and improve retention. Equally important is mental resilience; setbacks are inevitable, but persistence and a determined mindset pay off.

For the thousands who will attempt the next GST exam, these stories show that success does not always go to those with a perfect track record. Often, it belongs to those who can adapt, continue showing up, and believe that one good exam day can change everything. As Tamim puts it, “You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep moving forward.”