WBPSC Clerk Syllabus 2026 — Clerkship Exam Pattern (Part I and Part II) and Complete Syllabus

WBPSC Clerk Syllabus 2026 — Clerkship Exam Pattern (Part I & Part II) & Complete Syllabus

About WBPSC and the Clerkship Examination

• The Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC) is the constitutional recruiting body of the State of West Bengal, constituted under Article 315 of the Constitution of India.
• The Clerkship Examination is conducted by WBPSC for recruitment to the post of Clerk (Group C) in the West Bengal government.
• The current scheme and syllabus relate to the Clerkship Examination under Advertisement No. 12/2024.
• Official website: https://psc.wb.gov.in/
• Official Scheme & Syllabus PDF: Download Official Syllabus PDF
• Candidates must read the detailed recruitment advertisement for eligibility, vacancies, dates, and conditions.

WBPSC Clerkship Examination — Key Highlights

• Conducting authority: Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC).
• Examination: Clerkship Examination (Advertisement No. 12/2024).
• Part I: objective (MCQ) examination — English, General Studies, and Arithmetic.
• Part II: conventional (descriptive) written examination — English and one prescribed Indian language.
• Additional assessment: elementary computer operation knowledge and typing ability on computer.
• Examination standard: comparable to the Madhyamik Examination of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education.
• Application mode: online through the official WBPSC portal.
• Job location: West Bengal.

Selection Process — At a Glance

• Stage 1 — Part I: objective examination covering English, General Studies, and Arithmetic.
• Stage 2 — Part II: descriptive written examination covering English and the applicable Indian language.
• Stage 3 — Computer and typing assessment: elementary computer operation knowledge and typing ability on computer are assessed for candidates who qualify in Part I and Part II.
• Final selection conditions, qualifying standards, and merit criteria: as per the detailed recruitment advertisement.

Part I — Objective Examination Pattern

• Part I consists of 100 multiple-choice questions carrying one mark each.
• Total marks: 100. Duration: 90 minutes (1 hour 30 minutes).
• All three subjects contribute to the overall Part I score; General Studies carries the highest weightage.
• Negative marking has been reported as 0.25 mark per incorrect answer — see the negative marking section below and confirm from the detailed advertisement.

Part I — Detailed Syllabus

• The official syllabus specifies three subjects for Part I: English, General Studies, and Arithmetic.
• The breakdown below follows the official subject areas, with standard study sub-topics added as a guide.
• Always treat the official Scheme & Syllabus PDF as the final source.

1. English (Part I)

• English vocabulary and word meanings.
• Grammar: parts of speech, tenses, articles, prepositions, and subject–verb agreement (standard study areas).
• Sentence structure and sentence correction.
• Synonyms and antonyms.
• Correct usage of words and expressions.
• Idioms, phrases, and one-word substitution (common practice areas).
• Regular reading and comprehension practice strengthens vocabulary in context.

2. General Studies (Part I)

• Matters of everyday observation.
• Everyday science.
• Current events of national and international importance.
• Current problems and issues, particularly relating to India.
• Elementary Indian History.
• Elementary Indian Geography.
• General Studies carries the highest weightage in Part I — 40 questions, 40 marks.
• Standard practice: revise school-level history (ancient, medieval, modern) and geography (physical, economic, Indian) as study guidance.

3. Arithmetic (Part I)

• Divisibility.
• Fractions.
• Decimals.
• Recurring decimals.
• Simplification.
• Highest Common Factor (HCF).
• Lowest Common Multiple (LCM).
• Partnership.
• Average.
• Ratio and proportion.
• Percentage.
• Simple interest.
• Profit and loss.
• Time and distance.
• Area of rectangles.
• Area of squares.

Part II — Conventional Written Examination Pattern

• Part II carries 100 marks in total; duration: 60 minutes (1 hour).
• Question type: conventional (descriptive) written questions.
• Group A is in English; Group B is in the applicable language (Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, or Santali).
• The paper tests practical writing skills: report drafting, précis writing, and translation.
• The syllabus PDF does not specify the number of questions for Part II; follow the official document for details.

Part II — Group A: English (50 Marks)

• Drafting a report in English using supplied points or materials.
• Condensing a prose passage into a summary or précis.
• Translation from Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, or Santali (as applicable) into English.
• Marks: 50.

Part II — Group B: Regional Language (50 Marks)

• Drafting a report from supplied points or materials in the applicable language.
• Condensing a prose passage into a summary or précis in the applicable language.
• Translation from English into Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, or Santali (as applicable).
• Marks: 50.
• Candidates must prepare in the language applicable to their candidature, as permitted by the official advertisement.

Part I vs Part II — Key Differences

• Question type: Part I is objective (MCQ); Part II is descriptive/conventional written.
• Subjects: Part I covers English, General Studies, and Arithmetic; Part II covers English and one prescribed Indian language.
• Marks and duration: Part I — 100 marks in 90 minutes; Part II — 100 marks in 60 minutes.
• Skills tested: language fundamentals, general knowledge, and arithmetic in Part I; report writing, précis, and translation in Part II.
• Candidates must qualify in both written parts to be assessed further in the computer and typing test.

Examination Standard

• The official syllabus states that the standard of the examination will be similar to the Madhyamik Examination of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education.
• Candidates should therefore focus on fundamental English, school-level Arithmetic, General Studies, and practical language-writing skills.

Computer Operation and Typing Test

• As per the official scheme, elementary knowledge of computer operation and the ability to type on a computer are assessed after candidates qualify in Part I and Part II.
• Reported minimum typing speeds: English — 20 words per minute; Bengali — 10 words per minute.
• The typing-speed requirements above are as reported; confirm the exact requirements from the detailed recruitment advertisement.
• Practise typing regularly alongside written exam preparation so the skill test holds no surprises.

Negative Marking

• A deduction of 0.25 mark for each incorrect answer in Part I has been reported.
• The one-page official Scheme and Syllabus document does not separately specify negative marking.
• Candidates should confirm the applicable penalty from the detailed recruitment advertisement and examination instructions before the test.
• If negative marking applies, avoid blind guessing and use elimination only when you can rule out options confidently.

Eligibility Highlights (As Per Official Advertisement)

• Educational qualification: as specified in the detailed recruitment advertisement (the examination standard itself is comparable to Madhyamik level).
• Age limit and category-wise relaxations: as per the official advertisement.
• Language option for Part II (Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali): choose as permitted in the official advertisement.
• Application fee, important dates, and vacancies: as per the official advertisement only.

How to Download the Official Syllabus PDF — Step by Step

• Visit the official WBPSC website: https://psc.wb.gov.in/
• Open the Examination section.
• Select Syllabus.
• Find Advertisement No. 12/2024 — Scheme and Syllabus for the Clerkship Examination.
• Open / download the official PDF: Download Official Syllabus PDF
• Check Part I and Part II subjects, marks distribution, and duration.
• Save the PDF for reference during preparation.

Subject-wise Preparation Strategy

• Prioritise General Studies (40 marks) in Part I, then balance English and Arithmetic (30 marks each).
• Arithmetic: practise percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, simple interest, profit and loss, fractions, HCF, LCM, and time-and-distance problems daily.
• English: revise grammar, vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, and sentence structure; read editorials for correct usage.
• General Studies: maintain a daily current affairs log; revise everyday science and school-level Indian history and geography.
• Part II writing: practise report drafting, précis writing, and translation within the 60-minute limit.
• Typing: practise computer typing in English and Bengali regularly.
• Previous papers: solve previous Clerkship question papers to understand the question style and manage time.

90-Day Study Plan (Indicative)

• Days 1–30 — Foundation: cover the full Part I syllabus topic-wise (English, General Studies, Arithmetic) and begin basic translation practice.
• Days 31–60 — Practice: sectional tests, previous year questions, timed report and précis writing, and daily typing practice.
• Days 61–90 — Revision and mocks: full-length mock tests in the 90-minute Part I format, Part II writing under the 60-minute timing, current affairs revision, and typing speed checks.
• Weekly review: analyse performance objectively and adjust the plan.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring General Studies, the highest-weightage section (40 marks) in Part I.
• Neglecting Part II descriptive writing — report, précis, and translation need regular timed practice.
• Practising only English typing and ignoring Bengali typing (10 words per minute is also reported).
• Not reading the official Scheme & Syllabus PDF and relying only on third-party summaries.
• Over-preparing advanced topics: the exam is set at Madhyamik standard, so fundamentals matter most.
• Leaving negative marking unaccounted for in Part I attempts.

Exam Day Tips

• Reach the examination centre early with the admit card and required documents.
• Read the on-screen and written instructions carefully before starting.
• In Part I, attempt sure-shot questions first and avoid wild guessing if negative marking applies.
• In Part II, allocate time between the report, précis, and translation; keep answers neat and structured.
• Keep an eye on the clock — 90 minutes for Part I and 60 minutes for Part II.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Is the WBPSC Clerkship syllabus released? Yes — the official Scheme and Syllabus for the Clerkship Examination under Advertisement No. 12/2024 is published on the WBPSC website (uploaded on 6 October 2026, as reported): Official Syllabus PDF
• Where can I download the official syllabus PDF? From the Syllabus section of the WBPSC website: https://psc.wb.gov.in/
• What subjects are included in Part I? English, General Studies, and Arithmetic.
• How many questions and marks are there in Part I? 100 objective questions for 100 marks in 90 minutes.
• What is Part II? A 100-mark conventional written paper (60 minutes): Group A — English (50 marks); Group B — Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali (50 marks).
• Is there negative marking? A deduction of 0.25 mark per incorrect answer in Part I has been reported; confirm from the detailed advertisement.
• Is there a typing test? Yes — elementary computer operation knowledge and typing ability are assessed after Part I and Part II.
• What is the examination standard? Comparable to the Madhyamik Examination of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education.

Important Links — Official Only

• Official Scheme & Syllabus PDF (Clerkship Examination, Advertisement No. 12/2024): Download Official Syllabus PDF
• WBPSC Official Website: https://psc.wb.gov.in/ (Official Website)
• Check the Examination / Recruitment sections of the official portal for notifications, admit cards, and results.

Disclaimer

• This page is an informational summary of the WBPSC Clerkship examination pattern and syllabus based on the official Scheme & Syllabus published by the Public Service Commission, West Bengal.
• It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Public Service Commission, West Bengal.
• The official Scheme & Syllabus PDF and the detailed recruitment advertisement are the binding and final sources for all details.
• Always verify details at https://psc.wb.gov.in/.