For the recent graduates of SSC 2025, there might not be a greater desire than starting their HSC journey in some of the most prestigious colleges such as Holy Cross, Notre Dame or Saint Joseph College. 

Aside from these, most other colleges admit students through an online portal, and students have little to do other than hope for a favourable placement. However, these well-known institutions continue their long-standing tradition of holding admission tests to select top candidates. 

To help with effective preparation, Zafir Anam from Notre Dame College and Israt Jahan from Holy Cross College have shared some valuable tips to guide students towards their goals.

Exam criteria

At both colleges, the admission tests focus on basic knowledge from SSC textbooks. While external guides or suggestion sheets may provide some support, the top priority, according to Israt, is to “make the textbook your main source of study”. She recalls encountering both MCQs and short questions, noting that “it is the short questions that truly test your knowledge”.

Notre Dame administers an MCQ-based test, following a fast-paced format. Zafir mentions a rapid assessment covering Bangla, English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, General knowledge with 20 MCQ mixed, mostly coming from Higher Math in his time and English. 

This format demands quick thinking under pressure while covering a broad range of topics. Although interviews are typically part of the final selection, Zafir and Israt’s batches were exempted due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Preparation strategies

When asked whether they sought any outside help, both Zafir and Israt said they did not rely on formal coaching. Zafir briefly attended a coaching centre but “only did 2/3 classes”, implying that such support is not essential. 

Israt followed her own study routine and advises, “self-study I think is the best option. Joining any coaching doesn’t make much difference.” Both focused primarily on textbooks, with Zafir supplementing his study using SSC test papers.

Zafir’s preparation involved regular study, allocating “daily 2 hours” to gradually build his foundation before increasing efforts near the test date. Meanwhile, Israt dedicated “15 days” to a focused study sprint after a brief break. Approaches may vary, but maintaining consistent familiarity with the textbook during the break is crucial.

Question pattern

Both students experienced mental stress and uncertainty while preparing. Zafir notes that “there were lots of rumours about the question pattern.” To manage this, he recommends using a question bank with previous year’s papers. 

Even so, he stresses that each year is unique, and the best approach is to “do your best and take the best prep that you can.” Israt had a similar experience, having heard misleading rumours about bias, which later was proven untrue. Both agree that tuning out unreliable sources is essential, and students should stick to textbooks instead of shortcuts or guesswork.

Facing some ‘unusual’ questions

Holy Cross College includes questions designed to evaluate moral judgement along with academic understanding. “There were some questions that were based on morality and what we should do in difficult situations,” Israt shared. Although the questions were manageable, the unfamiliar format initially caught her off guard.

Notre Dame does not ask such questions. The only off-syllabus content is found in the general knowledge section, which Zafir says is fairly straightforward. “Having a basic understanding of your surroundings is enough to answer them correctly”, he adds.

Recommendations

For Notre Dame College hopefuls, Zafir advises focusing on “main books and test papers” and highlights the value of being “humble, gentle and clean guy at viva” if interviews are held. He recommends consistent study habits with increased intensity before the exam. For applicants to Holy Cross College, Israt stresses textbook mastery and practising maths without a calculator.

Gaining admission to either college requires serious commitment and a well-planned strategy. Above all, Zafir and Israt’s journeys show that with the right preparation and mindset, students can successfully secure a place at these esteemed institutions.