West Bengal High Secondary Council Adopts Semester System Entirely from 2025-26 Academic Year; Know Details

Aparajita Debnath

Updated on May 14, 2025 12:14

West Bengal is the first state to fully adopt a semester-based system at the higher secondary level from 2025-26.

West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education is replacing the long-standing yearly examination format, which ended in March 2023, with a full semester-based educational system beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year. The new WBCHSE structure will involve third-semester exams from September 8-22 and fourth-semester exams from February 12-27, with final grades determined by cumulative evaluations across these semesters.

Council President Chiranjib Bhattacharya emphasized that this new structure-shift aims "to promote thinking and reasoning holistically." The first and third semesters will utilize MCQs, while the second and fourth will focus on short answer questions (SAQs) and developmental quotient (DQ) questions to enhance students' writing abilities.

The curriculum will also introduce new subjects like Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Science of Well Being, and Applied Artificial Intelligence, offering students more flexibility in their course selection. Bhattacharya assured that "the semester system provides a greater flexibility for students in terms of course scheduling, allowing them to adopt a wider variety of courses." Additionally, initiatives like BOOTSTRAP, a computer-based training program, have been launched.

Students can switch to the new semester system through their schools if they failed the prior annual exams. Bhattacharya explained, "We are giving the disqualified candidates a chance to adapt to the new system and do well," clarifying that individual applications for this transition will not be accepted. Bhattacharya also specified that under the new semester format, third-semester exams will be 1 hour and 15 minutes long per paper (except for visual arts, music, and vocational subjects), and the cumulative grade will be based on the third and fourth semester performance.

WBCHSE announced results on May 7 for 4,73,919 examinees, with an overall pass rate of 90.79%. With a pass rate of 99.46%, Science led the streams, trailed by Commerce at 97.52% and Arts at 88.25%.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ans: The cumulative assessment of the third and fourth semester exam results will determine the final grades.

Ans: Students have more scheduling flexibility under the semester system, which enables them to enroll in a bigger range of courses.

Ans: The council launched a computer-based training program called BOOTSTRAP for WB HS exam 2025-26.

Ans: Yes, students who did not pass previous exams can transition to the new semester format through their respective educational institutions.

Ans: No, individual applications for transitioning to the semester system from the old annual system will not be accepted. The process must be routed through their schools.

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