The HSC exam is the Higher Secondary School Certificate exam, which is the equivalent of the A-Levels in the UK. It is taken by students in Bangladesh who have completed their SSC (Secondary School Certificate) exam, and is the final exam before they can progress to university. The HSC exam is split into two parts; the written exam and the practical exam. The written exam is made up of four papers, each worth 100 marks. The papers are: English, Bengali, Mathematics and General Paper. The practical exam is worth 200 marks and is made up of two papers; Physics and Chemistry. To pass the HSC exam, students must achieve a total of 600 marks.