Five-year-old Faria had no problem in going inside the school premises but she was adamant not to move a single step without her father.

"Papa I won't go without you. I don't know anyone there please, papa please," cried Faria as she came to sit for the admission test at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.

Like Faria, several thousand children along with their parents gathered in front of the school on Friday morning for the first day's

admission test.

When Faria's father told her that the teachers may not allow him to go inside the school she asked him to request the teachers. "If you tell the teachers they will let you go," she said.

Finally the father was able to make Faria understand that she must go alone and the teachers would help her during the exam.

Against 350 seats in classI, more than 3,000 kids applied for admission in the leading private school in the city's Siddheswari area.

Thirty minutes after the admission test began; five-year-old Nusrat came out of the hall with tears in her eyes. When Nusrat was handed over to her parents they became depressed.

"We prepared her for the last one year at home and she was coached for six months. All our efforts have gone in vain," said Nusrat's mother.

Friday's chilly winter morn did not stop the children covered in warm clothes along with their parents, rushing to the school with pencil box, ruler and clipboard. Many

were not capable of carrying them.

"Mom said if I get admitted she will buy me a puppy," said Ashna, one of the competitors.

Many children were overjoyed to see many others of the same age group inside the exam hall with them, not knowing that they were going to compete with each other.

This year eight students are competing for a single seat in the school section of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. Three branches and the main campus of the school will enroll 1,050 students from around 8,400 applicants.

The children are sitting for a 100-mark admission test on three subjects --Bangla, English and Mathematics.

Tensed parents shared their experiences with journalists as they were waiting in front of the school.

"I am confident if Dina pays attention she will be able to answer all the questions but I am afraid that she may start playing inside the classroom," said Khalil Uddin Ahmed, Dina's father.

Many parents suggested that the admission tests of all the A-grade schools should be held on one day

while others are against the idea.

"Most kids are sitting for admission tests in three or four schools and many of them get chance in more than one, depriving others. The school authorities fill these vacant seats by unfair means," said a parent.

"The admission criterion differs from school to school. My child might do well in one entrance exam and not so well in another. Therefore options must be open," said another parent.

However, all of them agreed that the number of good schools should be increased and only this can ensure better future for their children.

Parents' anxiety reached the peak when the test ended. The parents in long queues were waiting to receive their kids.

The scene of the kids returning after the test was completely different. All of them were happy to come back to their parents.

It was really tough for traffic police to maintain the numerous amounts of vehicles carrying the students and their guardians and because of this there was a terrible traffic jam in the area until 1:00pm; hours after the admission test.