The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) commenced the HS Exam 2026 Semester 3 on September 8, 2025. The first paper held was the language exam, which included subjects such as Bengali, English, Hindi, Nepali, Urdu, Santhali, Odia, Telugu, and Punjabi.
According to official data, around 6.6 lakh students are taking part in the WB 12th Semester III examination this year. Out of the total examinees, 56.03 percent are girls, marking a significant representation.
WB HS Semester 3 Exam 2026 Schedule
The Semester 3 examinations will run from September 8 to September 22, 2025. Each exam will be conducted in a single morning shift from 10:00 am to 10:45 am. The board has set up 2016 examination centres across the state, with 122 centres identified as sensitive for additional monitoring.
WB HS Exam Format and Evaluation Changes
This year’s exam is significant as it marks the first Class 12 evaluation in a semester-based format in WBCHSE’s history.
- Semester 1 and 3: Multiple-choice questions to encourage logical thinking and reasoning.
- Semester 2 and 4: Short Answer Questions (SAQ) and Development Quotient (DQ) to assess writing abilities.
WBCHSE President Chiranjib Bhattacharya confirmed that the new format has been designed to balance analytical skills and writing proficiency among students.
WB HS Guidelines for Students
The board has issued strict rules for candidates. From this year, students are not allowed to carry calculators or restricted items such as:
- Printed or handwritten materials
- Electronic gadgets, including mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, and cameras
- Accessories like goggles, bags, health bands, or meta glasses
Violations of these rules may lead to disqualification.
Subjects Covered in WB HS Semester 3
The exam began with language papers and will conclude with subjects including:
- Biological Science
- Political Science
- Costing and Taxation
This shift towards a semester-based model is expected to modernise the evaluation process and reduce exam stress for higher secondary students.
