WBPSC Miscellaneous 2024 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

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

Preliminary Examination

Offline (question booklet), objective MCQ · 1 hour 30 minutes

SectionQuestionsMarks
General Studies75150
Arithmetic2550
Total100200

Marking: 2 marks for each correct answer. There is negative marking for each wrong answer. The 2024 advertisement says the amount will be printed on the question booklet. The official 2023 Prelims booklet deducted 0.50 mark per wrong answer.

  • One paper with 100 questions. The scheme gives 150 marks to General Studies and 50 marks to Arithmetic, at 2 marks per question.
  • This is a screening test only. Its marks are not counted in the final merit list.
  • Only candidates who qualify in the Prelims of a year can sit the Final exam of that year.
  • Model answers are put on the WBPSC website. Objections must be filed within the time limit given.

Final Examination (Written)

Offline, conventional (descriptive) written papers, held in Kolkata · Paper I: 1 hour 30 minutes; Paper II: 1 hour 30 minutes; Paper III: 2 hours 30 minutes

SectionQuestionsMarks
Paper I: English—150
Paper II: Bengali / Hindi / Urdu / Nepali / Santali—150
Paper III Group A: General Studies—100
Paper III Group B: Arithmetic—50
Total—450

Marking: Descriptive answers. The Commission may set qualifying marks in any paper and in the total. 10% of a paper's full marks may be cut if you write your name, roll number or any identifying mark inside the answer script.

  • All three papers are held on the same day.
  • Papers I and II are of Higher Secondary (10+2) standard of the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education.
  • Paper III: answer General Studies in English, Bengali or Nepali, and Arithmetic in English or Bengali. Use one language for the whole of each group.
  • In other papers (except language papers), answers may be in English or Bengali. Use only one language in a paper.

Personality Test

Interview at the WBPSC office, Kolkata · Not stated

SectionQuestionsMarks
Personality Test—100
Total—100

Marking: 100 marks. Final merit is based on Final written exam marks (450) plus Personality Test marks (100), out of 550.

  • A limited number of candidates are called, in order of merit from the Final written exam.
  • If your mother tongue is not Bengali or Nepali, your knowledge of Bengali is tested here. Average or poor performance can lead to cancellation.
  • Minimum aggregate (written + Personality Test) to qualify: UR 40%, EWS 40%, OBC-A and OBC-B 38%, SC 35%, ST 30%, PwBD 30%, Meritorious Sportsperson 40%. The Commission may relax these if many reserved posts stay unfilled.
  • Tie-break: higher Personality Test marks first; then higher total of your two best papers, then your best single paper; then the older candidate.

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