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TheO-Level (Ordinary Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of theGeneral Certificate of Education. It began in theUnited Kingdom and has been adopted, often with modifications, in several other countries.
In theUnited Kingdom, it was introduced in place of theSchool Certificate in 1951 as part of an educational reform alongside the more in-depth and academically rigorousA-Level (Advanced Level) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Those three jurisdictions replaced O-Level gradually withGeneral Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) completely by 1988 and, theInternational General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) over time. The Scottish equivalent was theO-grade (replaced by theStandard Grade).
TheAO-Level (Alternative Ordinary Level) was formerly available in most subject areas. Sometimes incorrectly known as the Advanced Ordinary Level, the AO-Level syllabus and examination both assumed a higher degree of maturity on the part of candidates, and employed teaching methods more commonly associated with A-Level study. The AO Level was discontinued, with final qualifications awarded in 1988.[1]
The O-Level qualification is still awarded by CIECambridge International Examinations, the international counterpart of the British examination Board OCR (Oxford, Cambridge & Royal Society of Arts),[2] in select locations, instead of or alongside theInternational General Certificate of Secondary Education qualifications. Both CIE and OCR have Cambridge Assessment as their parent organisation.[2] The Cambridge O-Level has already been phased out and is no longer available in certain administrative regions.[3]
There are some differences between O-Levels and IGCSE. The lowest achievable grade in O-Levels is E whereas in IGCSE G is the lowest. Compared with IGCSEs, fewer O-Levels syllabuses have a coursework component.[4]
In Bangladesh, theInternational GCSE (IGCSE) qualification is offered, which is colloquially known as O-Levels, with examinations conducted byCambridge Assessment International Examinations (CAIE) andPearson Edexcel both under the board ofBritish Council. Both Pearson Edexcel and CAIE offer International GCSE qualifications. O-Level qualification has become a replacement for the matriculation qualification (SSC) offered by the Government boards of education. However, due to the high costs associated withIGCSE qualifications, their reach is limited to middle to elite class families.
InBrunei, the O-Level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted byCambridge Assessment International Examinations (CAIE).
A number of subjects: English Language, English Literature, Bahasa Melayu (Malay language), Malay Literature, Islamic Religious Knowledge, Ulum al-Quran, Hafaz al-Quran, Tafsir al-Quran (Asas), History, Geography, Pure sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology), Arabic, Art and Design offer exam papers and syllabuses unique to Brunei. Additionally, the Mathematics (Syllabus D) subject previously offered an exam paper and a syllabus unique to Brunei, but this has since been retired and the regular syllabus used worldwide is offered. This is equivalent to secondary education now.
InIndia,Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) GCE Ordinary-Level qualifications are offered at private and international schools as an alternative to the conventional Indian School Certificate (ISC).[5][6]
InMalaysia, the O-Level qualification is offered as theSijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM, Malaysian Education Certificate), with examinations conducted by the Malaysian Examination Syndicate (Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia). The examinations were formerly conducted by theUniversity of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which still advises the national examination board on standards.
The English Language subject was previously offered with an exam paper and a syllabus unique to Malaysia, but this Malaysia-specific qualification has since expired, and the regular English Language exam paper and syllabus used worldwide is now used within the country. The English paper is separately graded by the national examination board and UCLES, and both grades are displayed on the result slip.
InMauritius, the O-Level qualification is awarded as part of theSchool Certificate, which is awarded upon successful completion of Form V insecondary school. The O-Level examinations are jointly conducted by theMauritius Examinations Syndicate and theUniversity of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). TheInternational General Certificate of Secondary Education fromEdexcel is also offered as an equivalent alternative qualification, for which exam registration may be done through the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate.
A number of subjects, including English Language, English Language (Syllabus B), History, Mathematics (Syllabus A), Mathematics (Syllabus D), offer exam papers and syllabuses unique to Mauritius. Additionally, the subject of Art and Design, the offering of which is restricted to a limited geographic region, is available in Mauritius.
The GCE O-Level qualification is offered in Pakistan by the CIE and conducted by theBritish Council. Due to the high costs associated with O Level Schooling, it is mostly opted by privileged citizens. Passing criteria of O levels is to have passes in 8 subjects including Maths, English, Pakistan Studies, Islamiat, Urdu and any three optional subjects.[7] Students can also study more than these 3 subjects.
InSeychelles, the O-Level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted byCambridge International Examinations (CIE). Some subjects are unique to Seychelles or have a format, curriculum, or syllabus that is unique to Seychelles.
InSingapore, theO-Level qualification is offered jointly byCambridge International Examinations (CIE) and theSingapore Ministry of Education. The examinations are mainly conducted by CIE, with select subject examinations conducted by the Singapore Ministry of Education, including selectmother tongue subjects, such as Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, and humanities subject of Social Studies.
A number of subjects previously offered exam papers and syllabuses unique to Singapore, but these have since been retired or planned to be phased out. After taking O-levels, some Singapore students go on toGCE Advanced Level exams, which are also marked byCambridge International Examinations. In 2027, the O levels as well as the N levels will be phased out for a new local examination known as theSingapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC).
The GCE Ordinary-Level qualification is currently administered by the British Council of Sri Lanka Schools (BCS).[8] In the past, this qualification was jointly offered byCambridge International Examinations and the Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka. The examinations in Sri Lanka are taken very seriously and the exam is considered a starting point to a student's higher education. This is why in recent years Sri Lanka has produced high scoring batches holding this qualification.
The GCE Ordinary-Level qualification is offered by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC).[9] Before, this qualification was jointly offered by Cambridge International Examinations and theMinistry of Education in Zimbabwe.
The O-Level qualification was previously awarded in the Caribbean. However, many Caribbean countries have now switched to awarding Caribbean Secondary Education Certification (CSEC) qualifications based on successful completion of examinations administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).
The O-Level qualification was previously awarded in Hong Kong, along with theHong Kong version of theA-Level qualification. However, this was replaced with the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE), which was then replaced with the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE). The HKCEE was previously benchmarked against the O-Levels for comparable subjects; since its introduction, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) has been the benchmark for the equivalent local qualification (again, where comparable).
TheGCE O-Level qualification originated in theUnited Kingdom, where it was awarded as the secondary school-leaving qualification. It was primarily an examinations-based qualification, with a grading system that changed over the years. In theUnited Kingdom, O-Level qualifications were replaced in 1988 with theGeneral Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and theInternational General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).