Kerala Board of Higher Secondary Examinations[1] (KBHSE) is the statutory body responsible for conducting higher secondary examinations in Kerala. The Board deals with all matters related to the conduct of examinations, finalisation of results, and issuance of certificates. It functions under the Directorate of General Education, Government of Kerala and is chaired by the director of general education.[2][3][4] Template:Infobox organization
Board members
The board consists of the following members:[2]
- Director of General Education, Kerala – Chairman
- Joint Director (Examination), Higher Secondary – Secretary
- Joint Director (Academic), Higher Secondary – Member
- Secretary to the Commissioner for Government Examinations – Member
- Director, SCERT, Kerala – Member
- Secretary, Board of Vocational Higher Secondary Examinations – Member
- Commissioner for Entrance Examinations or nominee – Member
- Director of Collegiate Education or nominee – Member
- Director of Technical Education or nominee – Member
- Registrar, University of Kerala or nominee – Member
- Director of IHRD or nominee – Member
- Principal of a Higher Secondary School (nominated by the Director) – Member
- Senior HSST (nominated by the Director) – Member
Affiliations
There are a total of 2,167 schools affiliated with the DGE, including 845 government schools, 860 government-aided schools, and 461 unaided schools.[5]
Higher Secondary Examination Branch
The Higher Secondary Examination Branch of the Directorate of General Education functions under the general control of the director. The director is the chairman of the board and is responsible for the conduct of the examinations.
A joint director (examination) serves as the secretary of the board and is responsible for conducting examinations and incurring expenditure related to the same under the supervision of the chairman.
Grading system
| Grade | Grade range |
|---|---|
| A+ | Total Score 180–200 |
| A | Total Score 160–179 |
| B+ | Total Score 140–159 |
| B | Total Score 120–139 |
| C+ | Total Score 100–119 with TE score ≥ 30% of TE maximum |
| C | Total Score 80–99 with TE score ≥ 30% of TE maximum |
| D+ | Total Score 60–79 with TE score ≥ 30% of TE maximum |
| D | Total Score 40–59 or TE score < 30% of TE maximum |
| E | Total Score below 40 |
Streams of examinations
The board conducts examinations for the following streams.[7]
- Higher secondary
- Technical higher secondary
- Art higher secondary
- Vocational higher secondary
- Higher secondary equivalency
Types of examinations
The board conducts the following higher secondary examinations:
- First year higher secondary examination
- First year higher secondary improvement/supplementary examination
- Second year higher secondary examination
- Second year higher secondary SAY/improvement examination
- First year higher secondary equivalency examination
- First year higher secondary equivalency improvement/supplementary examination
- Second year higher secondary equivalency examination
See also
- Kerala Board of Public Examination (KBPE) - responsibile for conducting SSLC Exam
- General Education Department (Kerala)
References
- ↑ Kerala State higher secondary exam board name changed on COBSE website. The Hindu(2024-09-06). Retrieved 2025-11-20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Government of Kerala Manual of Higher Secondary Examinations. Department of General Education (Higher Secondary). Government of Kerala(2022).
- ↑ Name of state HSE board corrected on central website. The Times of India(2024-09-05). Retrieved 2025-11-20.
- ↑ Economic Review 2016 – Higher Secondary Education. Kerala State Planning Board.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Higher Secondary Education Portal-Directorate of General Education, Government of Kerala. www.hseportal.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
- ↑ Kerala plus Two exam 2025 results to be declared on May 21, says Minister V. Sivankutty. The Hindu(2025-05-06). Retrieved 2025-11-20.
- ↑ VHSE Examinations. Government of Kerala. Retrieved 8 December 2025.