The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has reported a decline in the number of top scorers in the third-semester results of Class XII, even as the overall pass percentage rose to 93.72%. The results, based entirely on multiple-choice questions (MCQs) answered on OMR sheets, were announced on October 31, 2025.
According to official data, out of 6,05,274 students who qualified, only 0.48% secured the highest ‘O’ grade (90–100 marks). In comparison, 1.07% of the 4.3 lakh students who passed the previous higher secondary exams under the old format achieved the top grade.
West Bengal HS Results 2025: Key Highlights
Particulars | Details |
Exam Format | MCQ-based on OMR sheets |
Total Students Qualified | 6,05,274 |
Overall Pass Percentage | 93.72% |
Students Securing ‘O’ Grade (90–100) | 0.48% |
Previous Exam Top Grade Percentage | 1.07% |
Result Date | October 31, 2025 |
Council President Chiranjib Bhattacharjee acknowledged the trend, stating, “It is true that only a meagre percentage of students got the highest grade. We have to analyse the reasons. This percentage should have gone up.”
Semester-Based Evaluation and MCQ Pattern
This was the first Class XII result under the new semester-based system, introduced by the State Education Policy last year. The system divides the two-year course into four semesters, with the third and fourth semesters conducted by the Council and the first two managed by schools.
Bhattacharjee had earlier anticipated that the semester model would lead to a higher number of top performers. However, the latest data shows that students struggled with the MCQ-based testing pattern, which differs from the descriptive format used in previous years.
A senior Council official said that the MCQ format was designed to help students, especially those from the science stream, prepare for national-level entrance exams like JEE Main and NEET. However, the pattern appears to have challenged students unfamiliar with OMR-based evaluations.
Schools with Most Toppers
Among the 69 students who achieved the top grade, 55 were from Ramakrishna Mission institutions, including Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Purulia, and Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur. Bhattacharjee praised these schools for consistently preparing their students for competitive examinations and maintaining strong academic standards.
The Council is expected to review the third-semester performance data to assess the challenges faced by students under the new semester and MCQ model, ensuring better preparation and evaluation methods for upcoming semesters.
