The O-Level (Ordinary Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the
General Certificate of Education. It was introduced in place of the
School Certificate in 1951 as part of an educational reform alongside the more in-depth and academically rigorous
A-Level (Advanced Level) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Those three jurisdictions replaced O-Level gradually with
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) completely by 1988 and, the
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) over time. The Scottish equivalent was the
O-grade (replaced by the
Standard Grade).
The AO-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.
The O-Level qualification is still awarded by CIE
Cambridge International Examinations, the international counterpart of the British examination Board OCR (Oxford, Cambridge & Royal Society of Arts),
in select locations, instead of or alongside the
International General Certificate of Secondary Education qualifications. Both CIE and OCR have Cambridge Assessment as their parent organisation.
The Cambridge O-Level has already been phased out and is no longer available in certain administrative regions.
Current usage
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, the O Level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by
Cambridge Assessment International Examinations (CAIE) under the board of
British Council
The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh la ...
. 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 with O Level qualifications, their reach is limited to middle to elite class families.
Brunei
In
Brunei
Brunei ( , ), formally Brunei Darussalam ( ms, Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi alphabet, Jawi: , ), is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its South China Sea coast, it is completely sur ...
, the O Level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by
Cambridge 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.
India
In
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
,
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).
Malaysia
In
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
, the O Level qualification is offered as the ''
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia'' (''SPM'', Malaysian Education Certificate), with examinations conducted by the Malaysian Examination Syndicate (''Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia''). The examinations were formerly conducted by the
University 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.
Mauritius
In
Mauritius
Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label=Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It incl ...
, the O Level qualification is awarded as part of the
School Certificate, which is awarded upon successful completion of Form V in
secondary school. The O Level examinations are jointly conducted by the
Mauritius Examinations Syndicate and the
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). The
International General Certificate of Secondary Education from
Edexcel 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.
Pakistan
The GCE O Level qualification is offered in Pakistan by the CIE and conducted by the
British Council
The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh la ...
. Due to the high costs associated with O Level Schooling, it is mostly opted by privileged citizens.
Seychelles
In
Seychelles
Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (french: link=no, République des Seychelles; Creole: ''La Repiblik Sesel''), is an archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, ...
, the O Level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Some subjects are unique to Seychelles or have a format, curriculum, or syllabus that is unique to Seychelles.
Singapore
In
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
, the
O Level qualification is offered jointly by
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) and the
Singapore Ministry of Education. The examinations are mainly conducted by CIE, with select subject examinations conducted by the Singapore Ministry of Education, including select
mother tongue
A first language, native tongue, native language, mother tongue or L1 is the first language or dialect that a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' or ''mother tong ...
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 to
GCE Advanced Level
The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational au ...
exams, which are also marked by
Cambridge International Examinations. In 2024, the O levels as well as the N levels will be phased out for a new local examination.
Sri Lanka
The GCE Ordinary Level qualification is offered by the British council of Sri Lanka School (BCS). Before, this qualification was jointly offered by Cambridge International Examinations and the
Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe
The GCE Ordinary Level qualification is offered by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC).
Before, this qualification was jointly offered by Cambridge International Examinations and the
Ministry of Education in Zimbabwe.
Former usage
Caribbean
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).
Hong Kong
The O Level qualification was previously awarded in Hong Kong, along with the
Hong Kong version of the
A Level
The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational au ...
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, but with the introduction of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) qualification the Hong Kong equivalent qualification was then benchmarked against the IGCSE.
United Kingdom
The
GCE O Level qualification originated in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, 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 the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, the O Level qualifications were replaced in 1988 with the
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and the
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
See also
* GCE Ordinary Level (International) (O-Level)
**
GCE Ordinary Level (United Kingdom)
The General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level, also called the O-level or O level, was a subject-based academic qualification. Introduced in 1951 as a replacement for the 16+ School Certificate (United Kingdom), School Certificate ( ...
**
Ordinary Level (Sri Lanka)
**
Cambridge International Ordinary Level (Singapore)
**
Cambridge International O-Level subjects
* Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)
**
Certificate of Secondary Education (United Kingdom)(CSE)
*
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), which replaced the O Levels and CSE
**
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), which is offered with or instead of O Levels internationally
*
General Certificate of Education (GCE), which comprises O Levels and A-levels
* School certificate (SC), predecessor to the GCE O-Level and CSE qualifications
**
School Certificate (United Kingdom)
**
School Certificate (Australia)
**
School Certificate (New Zealand)
References
{{Education in England
Educational qualifications in England
Secondary school qualifications
Secondary education in England
Secondary education in Wales
Secondary education in Northern Ireland
Educational qualifications in Wales
Educational qualifications in Northern Ireland