The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has revised its regulations concerning the Class 11 supplementary examination process, introducing a notable change for students who do not pass Semester 2 papers.
Beginning with the academic year 2024–25, students who do not succeed in the Semester 2 examination will now have the opportunity to take supplementary exams within one month following the announcement of results.
What was the previous system?
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Under the former guidelines, only those students who failed in any subject during Semester 1 were permitted to take supplementary exams. These exams were conducted simultaneously with the Semester 2 exams within the same academic year. There was no provision for students who failed Semester 2; such students were required to repeat the entire academic year.
What has changed now?
According to the updated Regulation 8, students who do not pass Semester 2 subjects will now have the opportunity to take supplementary exams within one month after the completion of the Semester 2 exams. This newly introduced provision aims to minimize the academic loss for students and enable them to address backlogs without having to repeat the entire year immediately.
The revised regulations will take effect from the academic year 2024–25 and will apply retrospectively to students who took the 2025 Semester 2 exams.
WBCHSE has instructed all Heads of Institutions (HOIs) to implement these changes as a special case with immediate effect.
However, if a student fails to pass the supplementary exams (for either Semester 1 or Semester 2), they will be required to repeat both semesters in the subsequent academic session.
Key revisions to regulation 8
| Clause | Earlier Provision | Revised Provision (2024–25 onwards) |
| 8.(1)(i) | Students failing in any Semester 1 subject could appear for a supplementary exam along with Semester 2 in the same academic year. | Retained as is under 8.(1)(i)(a). |
| New: 8.(1)(i)(b) | No provision existed for those failing Semester 2 exams. | Students who fail in any Semester 2 subject can now take a supplementary exam within one month, conducted by their institution. |
| 8.(1)(ii) | If the student fails to pass after the Semester 1 supplementary exam, they must repeat both semesters in the next academic year. | Now applies to both Semester 1 and Semester 2 supplementary exams. If a student fails either, they must repeat the full academic year. |
| 8.(1)(iv) | The supplementary exam was to be conducted by the institution. | Clarified to include both Semester 1 and Semester 2 supplementary exams to be held by the respective institutions. |
This regulatory change introduces a much-needed flexibility for Class 11 students, enabling them to progress academically without being held back for the entire year due to Semester 2 failures provided they clear the supplementary exams within the stipulated timeframe.
