WBCHSE Exam Rules: Strict Guidelines for Teachers from the Council Regarding Answer Scripts and Guard Duty
WBCHSE Exam Rules: The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has taken a groundbreaking step to bring transparency to the state’s education system and refine the examination process. Significant changes have been introduced regarding answer script evaluation and invigilation duties for the upcoming Higher Secondary Semester system exams. A special guideline has been issued specifically for those performing duties as invigilators. This new decision by the Council has sparked widespread discussion among teachers and students across the state.
Major Decision on Loose Sheets or Extra Answer Scripts
Until now, students could take extra pages or ‘Loose Sheets’ if the pages of the main answer booklet ran out during the Secondary (Madhyamik) or Higher Secondary exams. However, under the Council’s new rules, this practice is set to be completely abolished.
- Loose Sheets Banned: Students will no longer be given any loose sheets in the Higher Secondary Fourth Semester exams.
- Alternative Arrangement: To ensure students face no difficulty in writing, the volume or number of pages in the main answer booklet will be increased. That is, the booklet will contain significantly more pages than before.
- Question Pattern: Question papers will be set in such a way that examinees can complete their answers within the prescribed pages.
Strict ‘Last Entry’ Rule for Invigilators
The Council is set to introduce strict rules in the examination hall, mirroring the style of election duties. Just as in Assembly or Lok Sabha elections, where the Presiding Officer has to draw a line and sign to confirm the ‘Last Entry’ in the ‘Form 17A’ or voter register after the last vote, a similar rule is being introduced for exam scripts.
The invigilator must sign exactly at the line or spot where the examinee finishes writing their answer. Previously, teachers usually signed at the beginning of the script or in a specific box during guard duty. But from now on, having the invigilator’s signature at the place where writing ends has been made mandatory. This will ensure that the student’s writing ended exactly at that spot and nothing was added later.
Comparison: Old vs. New Rules
For the convenience of teachers and students, a comparative view of the new and old rules is provided below:
| Subject | Old Rule | New Rule (From 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Pages (Loose Sheet) | Could be taken as needed. | Completely stopped. Main booklet pages increased. |
| Invigilator’s Signature | Signed in a specific box. | Must sign exactly where the answer ends. |
| RTI Complications | Allegations of missing pages arose. | Transparency maintained; no scope for missing pages. |
Why This Radical Change?
The Council’s main objective behind introducing these new rules is to avoid legal complications and confusion regarding exam scripts. After the results are out, students often challenge their scripts or file an RTI if they do not get the expected marks. In such cases, many examinees claim that they had written more answers or that loose sheets were lost from the script.
Once the rule of the invigilator’s signature at the end of the answer script is implemented, such problems will be completely eliminated. This is because that signature will serve as proof of exactly where the answer writing ended and that there were no pages or writing after that point.
When Will This Rule Be Effective?
According to Council sources, this new rule will come into effect from the upcoming 2026 Higher Secondary Fourth Semester examination. Since all teachers in the state have to perform guard or invigilation duties on a rotational basis, it is extremely important for everyone to be aware of this matter. The Council will soon publish detailed guidelines or a notification regarding this, which will contain clearer instructions on the signing method.
