WBPSC Clerkship Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

From the official Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC) documents · last checked 3 October 2026

Part-I (Objective)

Pen and paper, MCQ answered on an OMR sheet · 1 hour 30 minutes

SectionQuestionsMarks
English3030
General Studies4040
Arithmetic3030
Total100100

Marking: 1 mark for each correct answer. 0.25 mark is cut for each wrong answer.

  • Part-I is held first. Only a limited number of candidates who reach the qualifying mark are called to Part-II.
  • Part-I marks are added to Part-II marks for the final merit list.
  • The standard is similar to the Madhyamik examination of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education.
  • In the 2023 cycle, Part-I ran in four sessions over two days (16 and 17 November 2024).
  • Exam centres are in Kolkata and district towns (26 centre codes in the 2023 advertisement). The Commission may move a candidate to a nearby centre if the chosen one is full.

Part-II (Descriptive)

Pen and paper, written answers · 1 hour

SectionQuestionsMarks
Group-A: English—50
Group-B: Bengali / Hindi / Urdu / Nepali / Santali (one language)—50
Total—100

Marking: Written answers are checked by examiners. No negative marking is stated for Part-II. If a candidate writes their name or roll number, or puts any identifying mark in an answer script, 10% of the full marks of that paper is cut.

  • Each group has three tasks: drafting a report from given points, writing a summary (precis) of a prose passage, and translation.
  • Candidates who take Hindi, Urdu, Nepali or Santali in place of Bengali in Group-B must pass a departmental examination in Bengali during probation before they are confirmed.
  • Write all answers in a paper in one language only.
  • Minimum aggregate needed (Part-I and Part-II together): UR 40%, EWS 40%, MSP 40%, OBC (A and B) 38%, SC 35%, ST 30%, PwBD 30%, Ex-Servicemen 30%. The Commission may lower these for reserved categories if many posts stay unfilled.
  • Tie-break order: higher total in English plus the Group-B language, then higher English marks, then the older candidate.

Computer typing test (qualifying)

Practical test on a computer · Not stated in the advertisement

SectionQuestionsMarks

Marking: Qualifying only. Candidates must type at 20 words per minute in English or 10 words per minute in Bengali. The marks do not count for merit.

  • Only candidates who qualify in Part-I and Part-II take this test.
  • Candidates choose English or Bengali typing in the online application form.
  • Candidates whose mother tongue is not Bengali or Nepali are also tested on Bengali at this stage. Average or poor performance can lead to cancellation.
  • The final merit list includes only candidates who pass this test.

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