– Mita Mukherjee

The number of examinees who have scored more than 90 per cent and above is the lowest in mathematics and the highest number of scorers in the top grade is in geography in the West Bengal state Madhyamik 2026 (Class X) examinations, the results of which were declared on May 7.

The overall pass percentage stood at 86.83 per cent this year while it was marginally low last year’s, 86.56 per cent.

Figures provided by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), that conducts the examination showed numbers of AA Grade holders (90 to 100 per cent marks) is lowest in mathematics—16,026.

In physical science, the number of AA Grade scorers is 18,916 in the current year’s exam.

After publication of the results, heads of several schools said the scores in mathematics of most students were found between 50 to 60 percent.

The 90 percent and above scorers were found highest in geography –40,704 followed by life-science in which 39,418 examinees scored 90 per cent and above marks.

In history 33,365 candidates scored the highest AA Grade.

A quick analysis of the results of individual schools too showed that the overall performance of students was “satisfactory” in most subjects but the number of high scorers – 90 per cent and above are low and below expectation in mathematics. In some schools the numbers of high performers in science and mathematics were lowest in the past 10 years though several such schools saw 100 per cent success of students, the schools said.

Ramanuj Ganguly, WBBSE president, said that the overall success rate has “slightly” increased and performance of girl students is higher than boys this time like the previous years.

Partha Pratim Baidya, headmaster of Jadavpur Vidyapith School in Kolkata said, in his institution the scores in life-science and Bengali are “ not up to their expectation” this year but in keeping with a trend that is being noticed over the past few years, the number of 90 percent and above scorers are also “quite low” in mathematics even this year.

“The overall performance of our students is very good this year like previous years. But some meritorious students who we all expected would score more than 90 in some subjects like Bengali and life-science are disappointed because their marks are unexpectedly low. At the same time the number of 90 per cent and above scorers in mathematics is also low like the previous years. Many of our students failed to score above 90 per cent mainly because of these two reasons,” Baidya told EducationWorld.

Soumen Pal, headmaster of Haradayal Nag Adarsha Vidyalaya said the marks of students of his school in mathematics and science subjects are “very low” this time. “ The trend is not new. But now we are worried. We need to find out why children are not doing well in math. In my opinion, the existing math syllabus needs to be revamped and make it more student-friendly,” Pal told EducationWorld.

Headmaster of another school in south Kolkata, where performance of students in mathematics is “poor” said students are not scoring high because they don’t find the subject interesting and to reverse this inclination among students there is a need to restructure the math syllabus with a modern approach.

“The math syllabus needs to be revised. We need to align it with a new and modern approach. The teaching methods, question patterns too need to be upgraded,” the headmaster said.

Madhab Das Pradhan who teaches math at Jadavpur Vidyapith School said there students are scoring high marks in math not because they lack merit but they need more practice.

Avirup Bhadra of North Dinajpur emerged as the topper of West Bengal Madhyamik 2026 with 698 marks out of 700 which is 99.77 percent.

This year more than 9,71,000 students wrote the Madhyamik exam.

In terms of districts, Kalimpong in the hills region has achieved the highest pass percentage of 95.10 percent.

Also read: TN records 95.03 pass percentage in Class 12 board exams