Overview
Cambridge O Level is an international school-leaving qualification for 14- to 16-year-olds, offered directly by Cambridge International, part of Cambridge Assessment International Education (Cambridge University Press & Assessment). It sits at the same stage as Cambridge IGCSE and uses a similar style of assessment, but it is the older of the two qualifications, and Cambridge has withdrawn it from its timetable in most countries in favour of IGCSE. It stays current in a smaller number of countries: Cambridge's own O Level subject list still includes subjects set specifically for particular national candidates, such as Pakistan Studies, Islamiyat and Urdu, and separately Sinhala, Tamil and Bangladesh Studies, which points to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh among the countries where candidates still sit it. Pakistan is the clearest case, where O Level remains the everyday upper-secondary qualification rather than IGCSE.
Who can apply
Most candidates are 14 to 16 years old and are entered for O Level by a Cambridge-registered school that teaches the syllabus. A learner who is not enrolled at a Cambridge school, or who studies through an online Cambridge programme, can still take O Level as a private candidate, but must register through a Cambridge exam centre in their country that accepts private candidates. Not every syllabus accepts private candidates, and any syllabus that includes coursework cannot be taken privately.
Exam pattern
Candidates choose from more than 40 Cambridge O Level subjects in any combination to build their own curriculum. Each subject is assessed at the end of the course through a mix of written, oral and practical components, depending on the subject. Exams run worldwide twice a year, in a June series and a November series.
Marking and results
Each subject is graded on a 6-point scale: A*, A, B, C, D or E, with A* the highest grade and E the lowest passing grade reported — there is no F or G grade at O Level. In some countries, the statement of results also carries a percentage uniform mark for each subject: a common 0–100 scale that shows whether a candidate's performance sits near the top, middle or bottom of their grade band, without changing the grade itself. The percentage uniform mark appears on the statement of results but not on the certificate, and is not given for an ungraded, pending or withheld result.
Important dates
Results for the June exam series are issued in August, and results for the November exam series are issued in January of the following year. Exact series and results dates are set by Cambridge each year, so candidates should check the dates for their own subjects with their school's exams officer.
Fees
Cambridge does not publish one global student fee for O Level. Registered schools pay Cambridge an annual registration fee plus a per-subject entry fee for each series, and typically pass this cost on to candidates under their own school policy; current price lists are available to schools through Cambridge International Direct. A private candidate agrees fees directly with the exam centre they register with, since Cambridge collects the entry fee from the centre rather than from the candidate.
How to apply
A student at a Cambridge school is entered for O Level subjects by that school's exams officer as part of the school's normal registration with Cambridge. A candidate who is not enrolled at a Cambridge school finds a Cambridge exam centre in their country that accepts private candidates and arranges registration, fees and any access arrangements directly with that centre — not with Cambridge International itself.
After the exam
Cambridge issues a statement of results, and later a certificate, to the school or centre a candidate was entered through; in some countries the statement also shows a percentage uniform mark alongside each subject grade. Cambridge O Level is designed to prepare learners to progress to Cambridge Advanced (Cambridge International AS & A Level) or other equivalent next-stage qualifications.
Preparation tips
Work from the current syllabus and the current past or specimen papers Cambridge publishes for each subject, rather than an older edition, since syllabuses are reviewed from time to time.
Confirm with your school exactly which components and options you are entered for in each subject before you start revising, since several subjects offer a choice of components.
If you plan to enter as a private candidate, check early which exam centre in your country accepts private entries for your chosen subjects, since this varies by subject and by centre.
Is Cambridge O Level the same as Cambridge IGCSE?
No. Both are Cambridge International qualifications for the same 14-to-16 age group, but O Level is the older qualification and is graded on a 6-point scale (A* to E), while IGCSE uses an 8-point scale (A* to G). Cambridge has withdrawn O Level from most countries in favour of IGCSE, though it remains current in a smaller number of countries.
Can I take Cambridge O Level if my school does not offer it?
Yes, as a private candidate. You register through a Cambridge exam centre in your country that accepts private candidates, and you deal directly with that centre for registration, fees and any access arrangements rather than with Cambridge International. Not every subject accepts private candidates, and subjects with coursework cannot be taken privately.
How many grades are there at Cambridge O Level?
Six: A*, A, B, C, D and E, with A* the highest and E the lowest passing grade reported. There is no F or G grade at O Level.
Where can I find the exact fee for my subjects?
Cambridge does not set one global student fee. Your school's exams officer has the current price list through Cambridge International Direct; a private candidate should ask the exam centre they register with.