| Acronym | HS |
|---|---|
| Type | Paper-based Standardized Test |
| Administrator | West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) |
| Skills tested | Subject-specific knowledge (Science, Commerce, Humanities) |
| Purpose | Standardized exam at completion of Higher Secondary education as well as admission to the undergraduate courses in various higher education institutions in the State of West Bengal. |
| Year started | 1978 (under WBCHSE) [1] |
| Duration | March - April (upto 2025) September (Sem III) and March–April (Sem IV) |
| Score range | 0 to 100 per subject |
| Offered | Once a year |
| Regions | West Bengal, India |
| Languages | Bengali, English, Santali(depending on the medium of instruction) |
| Website | wbchse |
Uccha Madhyamik Pariksha, also known as Higher Secondary Examination (HS), is a public examination conducted by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE). It is the final school-level exam in West Bengal, held at the end of Grade 12. [2] Students from various streams, including Science, Commerce, and Humanities, participate in this exam. The result of this examination plays a critical role in determining admission to higher education institutions. [3]
The exam is conducted by West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education. It was established under the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education Act, 1975, to manage and regulate higher secondary education in West Bengal. [4] First HS examination was held in 1978. [1] By 2023, around 8.5 lakh students took the exam. [5]
The Uccha Madhyamik Pariksha follows a structured format with theory and practical examinations, depending on the subject. The theory portion typically carries more weight, with practicals applicable to subjects like Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. Semester system was introduced to the students in class XI from the session 2024-25 and in XII from the session 2025-26.
The new semester system introduced by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) for Uccha Madhyamik Pariksha (Class 11 and 12) divides the curriculum into four semesters to ease the academic burden and align with the state's education reforms. [6] [7]
Higher Secondary (10+2) curriculum was initiated in the year of 1976 and the first Higher Secondary Examination took place in the year 1978.
...the HS or Class 12 final examinations ...
...holds great importance for the students. On the basis of WB Board HS Result 2016, students will be able to apply and enrol in the colleges and universities for graduate level courses...