WBPSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern: 600 Marks, 80 wpm Shorthand, Paper-wise Details
The Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC) has released the official WBPSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 and exam pattern for the English Stenographer (Basic Grade) in Schedule A & B Recruitment Examination, 2025 (Advt. No. 04/2025). The exam has three papers with a total of 600 marks: General English (100), Dictation and Transcription (400) and Computer Typing (100). The exam will be held in Kolkata, tentatively in December 2026, for 266 vacancies.
Paper II, Dictation and Transcription, carries 400 of the 600 marks, so shorthand is the most important part of the WBPSC Steno exam. Candidates take a 6-minute dictation at 80 words per minute and then transcribe it on a computer in 1 hour. The final merit list is based on the total marks of all three papers. For vacancy details, eligibility, fee and how to apply, read our WBPSC Stenographer Recruitment 2026 article. This article covers the paper-wise WBPSC Stenographer exam pattern, syllabus, qualifying marks, tie-breaking rules and preparation tips, all taken from the official scheme and syllabus and the detailed advertisement.
Quick summary:
➤ Exam: English Stenographer (Basic Grade) in Schedule A & B Recruitment Examination, 2025
➤ Advertisement No.: 04/2025
➤ Conducting body: Public Service Commission, West Bengal
➤ Papers: General English, Dictation & Transcription, Computer Typing
➤ Total marks: 600 (100 + 400 + 100)
➤ Shorthand speed: 80 words per minute (6-minute dictation)
➤ Typing speed: at least 30 words per minute (10-minute test)
➤ Qualifying marks: 40% (UR/EWS/MSP), 38% (OBC), 35% (SC), 30% (ST/PwBD)
➤ Exam: Tentatively December 2026, Kolkata
➤ Official website: psc.wb.gov.in
Table of Contents
- WBPSC Stenographer Exam Pattern 2026
- Paper I: General English Syllabus
- Paper II: Dictation and Transcription
- Paper III: Computer Typing
- How the Exam Is Conducted
- Qualifying Marks
- Tie-Breaking Rules
- Bengali Language Test
- Preparation Tips
- FAQs
- Important Links
WBPSC Stenographer Exam Pattern 2026
The WBPSC Stenographer exam pattern 2026 has three papers. Paper I tests General English, Paper II tests shorthand dictation and computer transcription, and Paper III tests computer typing speed. The paper-wise WBPSC English Stenographer exam pattern is given below.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | 100 | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Paper II | Dictation and Transcription | 400 | 6 minutes dictation + 1 hour transcription |
| Paper III | Computer Typing | 100 | 10 minutes |
| Total | 600 |
The Commission will decide how many errors are allowed in Paper II and Paper III. It will also fix qualifying marks for each paper separately and in aggregate.
WBPSC Stenographer Paper I: General English Syllabus
WBPSC Stenographer Paper I is a 100-mark General English paper of 1 hour 30 minutes. It is held first, and its result decides who is called for Papers II and III. The official General English syllabus topics are listed below.
| Topic | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Spelling of words | Correct spelling of commonly used and commonly misspelt words |
| Correct use of words | Choosing the right word in a sentence, commonly confused words |
| Correction of sentences | Spotting and correcting grammatical errors |
| Use of common phrases | Common phrases and their correct usage |
| Synonyms and antonyms | Words with similar and opposite meanings |
| Punctuation | Correct use of full stop, comma, apostrophe and other marks |
WBPSC Stenographer Paper II: Dictation and Transcription
WBPSC Stenographer Paper II carries 400 marks, two-thirds of the total. It is the paper that decides the merit list. Candidates hear a passage dictated at a fixed speed, take it down in shorthand, and then type it out on a computer. The Paper II details are given below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Marks | 400 |
| Dictation length | 6 minutes |
| Dictation speed | 80 words per minute, uniform speed |
| Transcription | Shorthand notes transcribed on computer |
| Transcription time | 1 hour |
| Errors allowed | To be fixed by the Commission |
At 80 wpm for 6 minutes, the dictation will be about 480 words. Transcription is done on a computer, not by hand, so typing skill matters in Paper II too.
WBPSC Stenographer Paper III: Computer Typing
WBPSC Stenographer Paper III is a 10-minute computer typing test worth 100 marks. The minimum speed is 30 words per minute, which is also the typing speed required as an eligibility qualification. The Paper III details are given below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Marks | 100 |
| Minimum speed | 30 words per minute |
| Time | 10 minutes |
| Mode | On computer |
| Errors allowed | To be fixed by the Commission |
How the WBPSC Stenographer Exam Is Conducted
The WBPSC English Stenographer exam is held in stages. Not every candidate who takes Paper I will sit for Papers II and III. The stage-wise process, as given in the detailed advertisement, is explained below.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Paper I (General English) is held first, at centres in Kolkata |
| Stage 2 | Based on Paper I results, a limited number of candidates are called for Paper II (Dictation and Transcription) and Paper III (Computer Typing) |
| Bengali test | Candidates whose mother tongue is not Bengali or Nepali are tested on Bengali at the typing test |
| Final merit | Total marks of Paper I + Paper II + Paper III |
| After selection | Medical board exam and police verification |
Writing your name, roll number or any identifying mark in an answer script leads to a deduction of 10% of the full marks of that paper.
WBPSC Stenographer Qualifying Marks 2026
The Commission has fixed category-wise qualifying marks in aggregate, counted on the total of all three papers (600 marks). These qualifying marks are given below. The Commission may relax them if a sizeable number of reserved posts remain unfilled.
| Category | Qualifying marks (aggregate) | Approx. marks out of 600 |
|---|---|---|
| UR | 40% | 240 |
| EWS | 40% | 240 |
| MSP | 40% | 240 |
| OBC | 38% | 228 |
| SC | 35% | 210 |
| ST | 30% | 180 |
| PwBD | 30% | 180 |
The marks out of 600 are our calculation from the official percentages. The Commission may also set separate qualifying marks for each paper.
WBPSC Stenographer Tie-Breaking Rules
If two or more candidates have the same total marks, WBPSC will break the tie in this order:
- Higher marks in Dictation and Transcription (Paper II).
- Higher marks in the Typing paper (Paper III).
- Higher marks for accuracy in the Typing paper.
- Higher marks for speed.
- The older candidate.
WBPSC Stenographer Bengali Language Test
All candidates must be able to read, write and speak Bengali, except those whose mother tongue is Nepali. Candidates whose mother tongue is not Bengali or Nepali will be tested on Bengali at the time of the computer typing test. Poor performance in this Bengali test can lead to cancellation of candidature.
WBPSC Stenographer Preparation Tips
These tips are our suggestions, based on the official exam pattern:
- Give most time to shorthand: Paper II carries 400 of 600 marks. Practise dictation at 80 wpm every day, and push to 90–100 wpm in practice so 80 wpm feels comfortable.
- Practise transcription on a computer: transcription is typed, not handwritten. Practise reading your notes and typing them within the time limit.
- Build typing speed beyond 30 wpm: aim for 35–40 wpm with good accuracy, since accuracy is also used to break ties.
- Do not ignore Paper I: you must clear Paper I to be called for Papers II and III. Revise spelling, sentence correction, phrases, synonyms, antonyms and punctuation.
- Bengali: if Bengali is not your mother tongue, practise reading and writing it before the typing test.
WBPSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 FAQs
Q1. How many papers are there in the WBPSC Stenographer exam?
Three: General English (100 marks), Dictation and Transcription (400 marks) and Computer Typing (100 marks).
Q2. What is the shorthand speed for the WBPSC English Stenographer exam?
80 words per minute, with a 6-minute dictation followed by 1 hour of transcription on computer.
Q3. What is the typing speed required?
At least 30 words per minute on computer, in a 10-minute test.
Q4. What is the total marks of the WBPSC Stenographer exam?
600 marks.
Q5. What are the qualifying marks for UR candidates?
40% in aggregate (about 240 out of 600).
Q6. Is there an interview in the WBPSC Stenographer recruitment?
The official scheme has only three papers. The final merit list is based on the total marks of all three papers.
Q7. When is the WBPSC Stenographer exam 2026?
Tentatively in December 2026, at centres in Kolkata.
WBPSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 Important Links
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| WBPSC English Stenographer Scheme and Syllabus (Official PDF) | Download PDF |
| WBPSC English Stenographer Detailed Advertisement (Advt. 04/2025) | Download PDF |
| Apply Online (18 Oct – 7 Nov 2026) | psc.wb.gov.in |
| Join our WhatsApp Channel for job updates | Join BongJobs WhatsApp Channel |
| Join our Telegram Channel for job updates | Join BongJobs Telegram Channel |
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Pradip Chakraborty is a Biology teacher with 6+ years in content writing, including 3.5+ years on government jobs and education. He checks every official notice and explains it in simple words for students and job seekers. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.