The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has issued a clarification regarding the question pattern for Semester 4 of the upcoming Higher Secondary (HS) examinations. The clarification, outlined in an official notification dated October 3, 2025, follows earlier communications from the Council regarding the format and structure of the upcoming exams. In its initial notification, the Council had explained that the number of questions to be attempted from each topic or unit in the question paper would follow a specific formula: 2x, where ‘x’ represents the number of questions to be attempted from a certain unit or topic. Additionally, alternatives would be provided for each question type, with the alternatives coming from the same topic or unit. For example, in the sample question pattern provided, topics like "Learning & Learning Mechanism," "Mental Health & Wellbeing," "Educational Technology," and "Statistics in Education" were covered, with each topic offering specific numbers of questions for short-answer (Type 1 and Type 2) and descriptive-type questions, along with the corresponding alternatives. The Council further emphasised that this 2x formula would apply to most subjects, with only a few exceptional cases deviating from this pattern. In order to eliminate any confusion regarding the structure of the exams, the Council also plans to release subject-wise question patterns alongside this clarification. The Council urges students to stay informed about any updates and prepares them for a structured and consistent examination process. In mid-April, the WBCHSE had announced the adoption of the semester system for classes 11 and 12 across state-run and state-aided schools. Under the new system, the higher secondary or 10+2 course now comprises four parts — semester 1, 2, 3, and 4. According to the notice, while class 11 has been divided into semesters 1 and 2, class 12 has been divided into semesters 3 and 4. While the third-semester exams was held between September 8 and 22, the fourth-semester exam will be held from February 12 to 27 next year.
