The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) recently announced that it will be adopting a semester system of examination for Classes XI and XII, effective from the 2025–26 academic session. West Bengal will be the first state in India to make use of this new examination system for the +2 grades.
Since 1978, West Bengal’s higher secondary examinations have followed an annual format. The 2025 examinations, conducted earlier this year, marked the final iteration of this system, recording a pass percentage of above 90 per cent. Starting with the 2025–26 academic session, the WBCHSE will restructure the curriculum into four semesters.
Grade 11 will be divided into semesters 1 and 2, and Grade 12 will be divided into semesters 3 and 4. This reorganisation aims to distribute the academic workload more evenly and provide students with continuous assessment opportunities.
The new semester system introduces varied assessment formats to evaluate different skill sets. The WBCHSE will conduct examinations for Class XII, while schools will be responsible for administering exams for Class XI. The final evaluation for higher secondary certification will be based solely on the cumulative performance in Class XII.
For the third semester, exams will be scheduled from September 8 to 22, 2025. This examination will consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to assess analytical and reasoning abilities. For the fourth semester, exams will be set for February 12 to 27, 2026. This examination will include short-answer questions (SAQs) and descriptive questions (DQs) to evaluate writing skills and conceptual understanding.
Each paper, except for subjects like visual arts, music, and vocational studies, will have a duration of 1 hour and 15 minutes.
In alignment with contemporary educational trends, the WBCHSE has introduced new subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Science of Well-Being, and Applied Artificial Intelligence. These additions aim to equip students with relevant skills for the modern world.
Students who did not pass the recent Higher Secondary examinations have the option to transition to the new semester system. Applications for this transition must be submitted through their respective educational institutions, ensuring institutional support during the changeover.
The transition to a semester system is expected to reduce academic pressure by distributing assessments throughout the academic year. It also offers students multiple opportunities to improve their performance, thereby enhancing the overall learning experience.
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As the WBCHSE embarks on this transformative journey, the focus remains on fostering a more flexible and comprehensive educational environment that aligns with global standards and prepares students for future challenges.
