Combined SSC and equivalent results, out on Tuesday, for all the 10 education boards showed an average pass rate of 70.89 percent—a 1.29 percent fall from the total number of students who passed the test last year.

The number of students scoring the maximum GPA-5, however, has increased this year to more than 62,000, marking an increase of about 10,000 compared with last year.

The average pass rate was 72.18 percent, with 52,500 students gaining a GPA-5 last year.

The total number of this year's GPA-5 is 62,307 of which 45,934 is in the SSC. Last year, the number of GPA-5 scoring students was 41,917.

Sylhet Board secured the highest pass rate, 78.71 percent. The lowest pass percentage of 58.41 was claimed by the Rajshahi Board candidates.

Under Sylhet board 29,443 students sat for the examinations while 1,13,779 candidates took examinations.

Among the eight general education boards, Dhaka board pass percentage was 69.11, Comilla, 72.77, Jessore, 68.01, Chittagong, 69.61, Barisaal, 65.63 and Dinajpur, 63.58.

The pass percentage for the Dakhil examinees under Madrasa Education Board was 85.85 and for the SSC (vocational)under Technical Education Board 70.90.

Examinations of the SSC and its equivalent written papers began on Feb 15 and were rounded off on March 18.

After the Feb 25-26 BDR killings, examinations of eight affected examinees of the Peelkhana centre were conducted under a special arrangement on later dates.

Motijheel Ideal School and College secured the highest score in pass percentage.

Viquarunnissa Noon School has the highest number of GPA-5 scorers, which is 887.

Residential Model School and College boasts a total 268 GPA-5 scorers.

The qualification rate in 2008 for the SSC and equivalent examinations was 72.18 percent.

Only for SSC, the figure was 70.81 percent and the total number of GPA-5 scorers were 52, 500.

The results are available on internet, in all schools and examination centres, and can be received by sms.

The website address is http://www.result.educationboard.gov.bd , and it will also be accessed through 4636 and 2323 ports of mobile phone. The registration process for sms alert can be learned from mobile-phone operators.