Semester System West Bengal Higher Secondary Board: 30% passing confirmed
WBCHSE has set the minimum passing mark at 30% in each subject for the 2026 academic year under the Semester System West Bengal Higher Secondary Board. The board updated these rules on Mar 27, 2026 and the semester-format assessment is now in place for classes 11 and 12.
Semester System West Bengal Higher Secondary Board: how semesters work
Class 11 is split into first and second semesters. Class 12 is split into third and fourth semesters. The third semester uses an OMR-based exam carrying 30% weight , while the fourth semester is a board-style theoretical exam.
Semester System West Bengal Higher Secondary Board: passing marks and subject breakdown
You must secure 30% in each subject and meet minimums in both theory and practical/project where applicable. Failing either theory or practical means you fail that subject.
Science, Commerce, Arts and language patterns follow these rules:
| Subject group | Theory max | Theory pass | Practical/Project max | Practical pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science) | 70 | 21 | 30 | 9 |
| Mathematics (Pure / Commerce) | 100 | 30 | - | - |
| Commerce (Accounts, Business Studies, Economics) | 80 | 24 | 20 | 6 |
| Geography (Arts) | 70 | 21 | 30 | 9 |
| Languages (English, Bengali) | 80 | 24 | 20 | 6 |
| Music / Visual Arts | 50 | 15 | 50 | 15 |
| Health & Physical Education, Applied AI, Cyber Security | 70 | 21 | 30 | 9 |
| Science of Well-Being | 80 | 24 | 20 | 6 |
New and applied subjects follow the stated evaluation patterns: Applied Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security use 70+30 , while Science of Well-Being follows 80+20 .
Grading and passing grade
WBCHSE uses a 9-point grading scale . The grade ranges include A+ (80–100) , A (60–79) , B (45–59) and C (30–44) . A C grade (30–44) is the minimum passing grade for each subject.
Important dates:
- Article updated: Mar 27, 2026
- Passing marks referenced for academic year: 2026
What’s not yet public: the board has not released a full timeline for rolling the semester system out to all schools, details on internal assessment weightage per semester, or formal re-evaluation/reappear procedures.
Quick facts at a glance
- Passing threshold: 30% per subject
- 70+30 pattern: 21/70 theory and 9/30 practical
- 80+20 pattern: 24/80 theory and 6/20 project
- Music/Visual Arts: 15/50 in theory and practical
- Third-semester OMR: 30% weightage
FAQs
Q: What is the passing mark for West Bengal Higher Secondary exam? A: Minimum 30% in all subjects , including separate theory and practical/project requirements in the fourth semester.
Q: What is the passing mark for science subjects? A: 21/70 in theory and 9/30 in practical for science papers.
Q: What is the passing mark for Mathematics? A: 30 marks in the 100-mark Mathematics theory paper.
Q: Is 6 out of 20 a passing mark? A: Yes. For 80+20 pattern subjects, 6/20 is the pass mark for practical/project.
Q: Is 23 out of 80 a pass? A: No. You need 24/80 to meet the 30% threshold.
Q: What are passing marks for language subjects? A: 24/80 in theory and 6/20 in project for English and Bengali.
Q: What is the passing score for Music and Visual Arts? A: 15 in theory and 15 in practical (out of 50 each).
Q: What is the passing grade? A: A C grade (30–44) counts as passing.