There will be no group-wise division such as Science, Commerce and Humanities in the first SSC examination to be held under the new system in 2008.

The system has been planned according to a recommendation by the latest education commission headed by Prof Moniruzzaman Miah.

Under the new system, students will answer "structured" questions that will ask for several items of information on a single topic.

Instead of 50 marks for the existing essay-type questions, there will be 60 marks for structured questions to be prepared as per the unitrack curriculum suggestions, an education ministry circular said, adding that there will be 40 marks for multiple-choice questions, instead of the existing 50 marks.

The new format, however, will not apply in case of General mathematics, higher mathematics, two papers of English and Bangla 2nd paper.

Examinees will be given 40 minutes to answer the 40-mark multiple choice questions, and two hours and ten minutes to answer 6 structured questions (out of nine) for 60 marks.

The education ministry circular asked the nine education boards to ensure training and other kinds of support for question-makers, moderators, examiners and head examiners as preparation for introducing the unitrack education system.

Multiple-choice questions in SSC examinations were introduced in 1992 in each subject except general mathematics and higher mathematics.

Questions on two papers of English in the SSC examinations were re-formatted in 2002 that excluded multiple-choice questions.

The number allocation for subjects will be 200 marks for Bangla (first and second papers), 200 marks for English (first and second papers), 100 marks for mathematics (first part and second part), 100 marks for religious studies, 150 marks for general science comprising including physics, chemistry, botany, zoology, nature science and demography, 150 marks for social studies first paper comprising history and geography, second paper comprising economics, civics and social science and 100 marks for a compulsory optional subject.

Another 100 marks will be allocated for an optional subject that is to be selected from higher mathematics, information communication technology (ICT), business geography, basic trade, music, arts and crafts, physical education and sports.

The existing GPA (grade point average) system will remain applicable in examination results.