West Bengal's main state entrance test is WBJEE, conducted by the WBJEE Board, for engineering, pharmacy and architecture. Medical admission uses NEET-UG followed by state counselling, and polytechnic admission uses JEXPO.
What each exam is for, who can take it, how it works and how you get selected.
Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (and Biology for pharmacy options as per the brochure).
Two papers: Paper 1 is Mathematics and Paper 2 is Physics and Chemistry.
Rank is used for state counselling, with domicile and category preferences.
Practise with past papers because question styles repeat.
Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
A national multiple-choice exam.
State quota seats are counselled by the West Bengal medical counselling committee.
Keep domicile documents ready.
Class 10 pass for polytechnic entry.
An entrance exam for diploma courses.
Counselling through the state council for technical education.
Check the exam and counselling notifications.
West Bengal domicile candidates get priority for state-quota seats; keep the domicile and caste certificates ready.
| Category | Share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 22% | As per West Bengal orders. |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 6% | As per West Bengal orders. |
| OBC-A | 10% | As per West Bengal orders. |
| OBC-B | 7% | As per West Bengal orders. |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 10% | Income and asset conditions apply. |
West Bengal reserves SC 22%, ST 6%, OBC-A 10% and OBC-B 7%, plus EWS 10% as per state orders; check the WBJEEB brochure.
Authority: WBJEEB (engineering, pharmacy), West Bengal medical counselling committee (medical), State Council for Technical Education (diploma). WBJEEB runs engineering counselling online; medical counselling is run by the state medical counselling committee.
Check the dates: the state authority publishes a schedule for registration, document verification, choice filling and each round.
Register on the official counselling portal with your exam roll number, mobile number and email, and pay the registration fee if asked.
Upload or present documents: mark sheets, entrance score card, domicile, category and income certificates, photo ID and passport photographs.
Fill your college and course choices in order of preference. Add more choices than you think you need; the system allots the first available choice on your list.
Check the provisional allotment result when it is published, then accept it by paying the seat acceptance fee or reporting to the college as instructed.
Choose whether to freeze the seat or float for a better option in the next round, if the state allows it.
Report to the allotted college with original documents, pay the fees and complete admission before the last date, because a missed deadline can cancel your seat.
Medical route: NEET-UG score, then West Bengal medical counselling for state-quota seats alongside MCC counselling.
JEXPO is the entrance exam for polytechnic diplomas in West Bengal, run by the State Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Skill Development. After a diploma, students can take lateral entry into engineering. Check the council's notification for courses and counselling.
JEXPO: JEXPO. State Council for Technical and Vocational Education. Official site
These schemes help students from villages, small towns and lower-income families. Names and amounts change, so verify on the official portal.
Annual and one-time support for girls continuing their education; apply via the portal.
Scholarship for minority students; check the portal for categories and dates.
To apply for a state scholarship: confirm eligibility on the portal, keep your income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), Aadhaar-linked bank account, previous marks and proof of admission ready, register on the scholarship portal, fill the form during the open window and submit it through your college so that it can be verified. Windows usually open after admissions and close within a few weeks, so check the dates early.
*Exam names, bodies, quota percentages and portals change between admission cycles. Always confirm on the official state portal and in the current information brochure.