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 council’s latest notice, released on October 3, 2025, provides detailed guidelines for students and teachers on how questions will be structured and evaluated in the upcoming Class 12 exams, which are scheduled to be held from February 12 to 27, 2026.

I am writing about this because the clarification comes at an important time when students across West Bengal are preparing for the final semester exams under the new semester-based system introduced by the WBCHSE. The change has raised many questions among students and teachers about paper structure and marking schemes. This official clarification aims to remove confusion and ensure that students understand the pattern before appearing for the exams. It’s a crucial update for both schools and students, as it affects preparation strategies, particularly in subjects with multiple units or sections.

WBCHSE Clarifies Semester 4 Question Pattern

According to the official notification released by the council, the number of questions to be attempted from each unit or topic in the Semester 4 question paper will follow a specific pattern. The formula stated is 2x, where ‘x’ represents the number of questions a student is required to attempt from a particular unit.

For example, if a student needs to answer two questions from a specific topic, four questions will be provided as options (2x = 4), allowing the student to choose any two. Similarly, if three questions need to be attempted, six questions will be given for selection.

The notification also clarified that all alternative questions will be chosen from the same unit or topic, ensuring that the options are balanced and relevant to the same area of study.

Aimed at Reducing Confusion Among Students

This clarification comes after several schools and students raised concerns about inconsistencies and doubts following earlier communications on the semester-based question structure. The council said that the intent behind the 2x format is to make the exam pattern student-friendly, allowing flexibility in choosing questions while ensuring equal coverage of all units.

Officials from the WBCHSE stated that this approach ensures fair evaluation and discourages selective study habits. It also helps students who may feel more confident in certain topics to perform better without being penalised for limited options.

Exams to Be Held in February 2026

The Semester 4 Higher Secondary examinations for Class 12 will take place from February 12 to 27, 2026, as per the exam schedule shared by the WBCHSE earlier this year. The board has confirmed that the exams will follow the semester-based system introduced in 2024, where students are evaluated through four semesters instead of the traditional single annual examination.

The new system aims to reduce exam stress, improve consistency in student performance, and give more weightage to continuous learning. Semester 4 will serve as the final round of evaluation for Class 12 students, determining their overall grades for the academic year.

Key Highlights from the Clarification

Here are the main points students should note from the WBCHSE’s latest circular:

• The 2x formula will be used to determine the total number of questions provided in each unit or section.
• Alternative questions will come from the same topic or unit as the main question.
• The pattern will be uniform across all subjects, both core and elective.
• Question papers will aim to balance conceptual understanding and analytical skills.
• The clarification applies only to Semester 4 of the 2026 examination session.

The WBCHSE has also urged schools to guide students properly and to avoid spreading misinformation regarding the question structure.

Schools Welcome the Clarification

Many teachers and school heads have welcomed the move, saying that it brings much-needed clarity for both educators and students. Teachers had earlier reported confusion due to the lack of specific guidelines on how alternatives would be structured in the question paper.

A senior teacher from Kolkata said, “This clarification was important because we were unsure if alternatives would come from the same unit. Now that it’s clear, we can plan revision schedules more effectively.”

Students, too, have expressed relief, noting that knowing the question pattern in advance helps them focus on preparation rather than speculation.

Part of Broader Examination Reforms

The introduction of the semester-based examination system and structured question patterns reflects WBCHSE’s ongoing efforts to modernise the state’s higher secondary education system. The council has been gradually aligning its approach with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises regular assessment and competency-based evaluation.

Education experts believe that these reforms will help students get used to continuous assessment models used in higher education and professional exams.

What Students Should Do Now

Students appearing for the Semester 4 HS exams are advised to:

• Go through the official WBCHSE notification carefully.
• Understand how the 2x formula applies to each subject.
• Revise all units thoroughly since alternatives will be from the same topic.
• Practise sample question papers following the updated format.
• Consult teachers for clarity on unit-wise question distribution.

The WBCHSE is also expected to release sample papers or model questions based on this clarified pattern soon to help students familiarise themselves with the structure.