West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education has lowered the cut-off to 35 per cent in certain subjects for students to take up science-based elective subjects in Class 11, according to a notice issued by the authorities concerned.

The minimum percentage of marks has been reduced from 45 per cent.

"As directed, the council is pleased to publish the criteria of minimum percentage of marks in a subject, a student must obtain in Madhyamik Examination or its equivalent examination, in order to be eligible for taking up certain Science-based elective subjects," said the notice issued by the WBCHSE on Saturday.

Those who would like to take up mathematics or statistics or computer science as elective subjects need to obtain a minimum of 35 per cent in mathematics, and similarly, for biological science, the cut-off is 35 per cent in life science.

Students who prefer admission to Class 11 with physics or chemistry or both as the elective subjects must have at least 35 per cent marks in physical science in the Class 10 board exams.

WBCHSE President Chiranjib Bhattacharya told PTI that the cut-off percentage mark was raised to 45 per cent in 2021 as the Class 10 board exams could not be conducted in view of COVID-19 and almost all were expected to meet the criteria owing to the high scores last year.

"This year, it has been reduced to 35 per cent," he said.

The council, in another notice, increased the maximum number of seats from 275 to 400 in every higher secondary school.

The results of the Class 10 state board examinations were announced on June 3, and over 86 per cent of the 10.98 lakh candidates were declared successful. More girls had passed the tests than boys.