Some 38,218 students will compete for a total of 8,591 seats in 24 schools, sources said.

The Directorate of Secondary Education, which is coordinating the admission procedures at government schools on behalf of the education ministry, has grouped the city government schools into Ka, Kha and Ga.

Admission test for group 'Ka' was held yesterday and there were huge crowds as some of the best government schools including Government Laboratory High School belong to group 'Ka'.

Other schools under the group are Mirpur Government High School, Motijheel Government Girls' High School, Khilgaon Govt High School, Nawabpur Govt High School, New Government Girls' High School, Islamia Government High School, and Mohammadpur Government High School.

The test for 'Kha' group will be held tomorrow. Schools under 'Kha' group are Motihjheel Boys High School, Narinda Govt High School, Government Muslim High School, Banglabazar Government Girls' High School, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Govt Boys' High School, Government Boys' School under Tejgaon Science College, Dhanmandi Govt Girls' High School and Dhanmandi Kamrunnesa Govt Girls' High School.

The test for 'Ga' group will be held on December 6. Schools under 'Ga' group are Dhanmandi Govt. BoyS High School, Armanitola Govt. High School, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Govt. Girls' School, Tikatuli Government Kamrunnesa Girls High School, Tejgaon Govt. Girls' School, Dhaka Collegiate School, Gano Bhaban Government School, Tejgaon High School.

Government schools are still most preferred educational institutions due to low tuition fees and opportunity for education upto Secondary School Certificate (SSC) in the same institution.