Overview of Sri Lanka’s GCE Ordinary Level School Exam
Sri Lanka’s GCE Ordinary Level in Sri Lanka, the General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) represents a significant turning point in the educational landscape. The GCE O-Level, which is given by the Department of Examinations, is the main public exam that students take to complete their secondary education. An important factor in deciding students’ future educational and professional pathways is the exam.
Importance and Relevance of the GCE Ordinary Level in Sri Lanka
There are various reasons why the GCE O-Level is crucial. It serves as a starting point for postsecondary education, career training, and jobs. A good results on GCE O-Level is frequently required to be admitted to GCE Advanced Level (A-Level) in Sri Lanka, which have an additional impact on university admissions and scholarship chances.
OL Results Release Date 2023 (2024) – www.doenets.lk
Background and History of the GCE Ordinary Level in Sri Lanka
The GCE O-Level has a long history and has changed dramatically since it was first introduced. It was once based on the British educational system, but it has undergone several changes to conform to both national and international norms. These modifications are a part of larger educational reforms in Sri Lanka that are meant to increase relevance, quality, and accessibility.
| Organization | Ministry of Education Sri Lanka |
| Exam Conducted by | Department of Examination Sri Lanka |
| Study duration of GCE Ordinary Level in Sri Lanka | 2 Years |
| Grades | Grade 10, Grade 11 |
| Number of School Terms | 3 Terms in Grade 10, 3 Terms School Grade 11 |
| Medium | Sinhala, Tamil, English |
| GCE Ordinary Level Results Updates | Click Here |
G.C.E.(O/L) Examinations – List of Subjects
| Code | Subject |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| 11 | Buddhism |
| 12 | Saivanery |
| 14 | Catholicism |
| 15 | Christianity |
| 16 | Islam |
| Language & Literature | |
| 21 | Sinhala Language & Literature |
| 22 | Tamil Language & Literature |
| 31 | English Language |
| 32 | Mathematics |
| 33 | History |
| 34 | Science |
| Category II | |
| 40 | Music (Oriental) |
| 41 | Music (Western) |
| 42 | Music (Carnatic) |
| 43 | Art |
| 44 | Dancing (Oriental) |
| 45 | Dancing (Bharata) |
| 46 | Appreciation of English Literary Texts |
| 47 | Appreciation of Sinhala Literary Texts |
| 48 | Appreciation of Tamil Literary Texts |
| 49 | Appreciation of Arabic Literary Texts |
| 50 | Drama and Theatre (Sinhala) |
| 51 | Drama and Theatre (Tamil) |
| 52 | Drama and Theatre (English) |
| Category I | |
| 60 | Business & Accounting Studies |
| 61 | Geography |
| 62 | Civic Education |
| 63 | Entrepreneurship Studies |
| 64 | Second Language (Sinhala) |
| 65 | Second Language (Tamil) |
| 66 | Pali |
| 67 | Sanskrit |
| 68 | French |
| 69 | German |
| 70 | Hindi |
| 71 | Japanese |
| 72 | Arabic |
| 73 | Korean |
| 74 | Chinese |
| 75 | Russian |
| Category III | |
| 80 | Information & Communication Technology |
| 81 | Agriculture & Food Technology |
| 82 | Aquatic Bioresources Technology |
| 84 | Art & Crafts |
| 85 | Home Economics |
| 86 | Health & Physical Education |
| 87 | Communication & Media Studies |
| 88 | Design & Construction Technology |
| 89 | Design & Mechanical Technology |
| 90 | Design, Electrical & Electronic Technology |
| 92 | Electronic Writing & Shorthand (Sinhala) |
| 93 | Electronic Writing & Shorthand (Tamil) |
| 94 | Electronic Writing & Shorthand (English) |
Download GCE O/L List of Subjects PDF
The GCE Ordinary Level Examination’s Structure
The GCE O-Level examination comprises written papers, practical tests, and coursework assessments. Each subject typically includes multiple components:
- Written Papers: These assess theoretical knowledge and understanding.
- Practical Tests: For subjects Aesthetic Subjects practical tests evaluate students’ hands-on skills.
- Assessments: Some subjects include project work or continuous assessments contributing to the final grade.
GCE Ordinary Level Format and Components
For every subject, there are several papers in the test that address both theoretical and practical aspects. Each paper’s length and format may change based on the subject and requirements of the syllabus. Common type is MCQ paper for 1 hours and written papers for 3 hours
Department of Examination Sri Lanka – Doenets.lk
GCE Ordinary Level Grading Method
The GCE Advanced Level test is scored on a range of A to F, where F represents a failing grade and A is the highest grade. The grading scheme considers both the overall exam difficulty and the students’ performance in comparison to their peers.
A Credit Marks Range 100 – 75
B Credit Marks Range 74 -65
C Credit Marks Range 64 – 50
S Credit Marks Range 49 – 35
F Credit Marks Range 35 – 0
| Year | Number of Candidates | Qualified for G.C.E. (A.L.) | % Qualified for G.C.E. (A.L.) | Obtained 9 “A” Passes | % Obtained 9 “A” Passes | Failed in All Subjects | % Failed in All Subjects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 273,224 | 189,428 | 69.33% | 6,102 | 2.23% | 8,698 | 3.18% |
| 2016 | 286,251 | 200,208 | 69.94% | 8,224 | 2.87% | 8,900 | 3.11% |
| 2017 | 296,812 | 216,815 | 73.05% | 9,960 | 3.36% | 7,308 | 2.46% |
| 2018 | 296,029 | 222,281 | 75.09% | 9,261 | 3.13% | 5,917 | 2.00% |
| 2019 | 305,427 | 225,539 | 73.84% | 10,201 | 3.34% | 7,007 | 2.29% |
| 2020 | 308,134 | 236,015 | 76.59% | 11,661 | 3.78% | 5,764 | 1.87% |
| 2021 | 311,321 | 231,982 | 74.52% | 10,863 | 3.49% | 6,566 | 2.11% |
| 2022 | 317,326 | 236,041 | 74.38% | 13,380 | 4.22% | 7,045 | 2.22% |
Download GCE O/L 2022 Perfomance Report PDF
Who Conduct the GCE Ordinary Level Exam?
The Department of Examinations of Sri Lanka conducts the GCE Ordinary Level Exam, as announced by the Ministry of Education.
What are official sources to validate GCE Ordinary Level Exam results?
Through official website of Department of Examinations of Sri Lanka and Government/private schools receives copy of result sheets by post.
GCE AL 2026 Classes Begin Right After GCE OL 2023 (2024) Exam