West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) announced a major change in the state's higher secondary education system by the implementation of the semester system for Class 11 and 12 students. The education reform at the state level is as per the state's education policy and will come into effect in all state-run and state-aided schools.
Semester Exams for Class 12 Start in September
For the first time, students of Class 12 (Semester III) will take their semester-wise exams between September 8 to 22, 2025. Only those who have cleared Class 11 will be allowed to take the Semester III exams, as per the council, as per the news agency PTI report.
The tests will be held on OMR sheets and will be in the form of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), as in competitive exams like NEET-UG and JEE. Students sitting next to one another will be given different sets of question papers for the sake of avoiding duplication and maintaining fairness.
Exam Duration and Guidelines
The semester exams will be for 1 hour and 15 minutes, during which time students will not be permitted to leave their seats, including for washroom breaks.
The semester system was officially introduced in April 2025, marking a significant restructuring of the 10+2 curriculum in West Bengal. According to WBCHSE:
- Class 11 is split into Semester I and Semester II
- Class 12 consists of Semester III and Semester IV
While the Semester III examinations will be conducted in September 2025, Semester IV examinations will be conducted from February 12 to 27, 2026.
Admit Cards to be Released Online
Admit cards for the Semester III examinations will be released online in a new digital format. Heads of institutions will download and print admit cards using their login ID and password via the WBCHSE portal.
