Overview
The GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) is Sri Lanka's national school-leaving examination for secondary education, conducted by the Department of Examinations under the Ministry of Education. It is sat at the end of Grade 11, after five years of secondary schooling, and in three mediums: Sinhala, Tamil and English. Passing it is the standard route into the GCE Advanced Level (A/L), the separate exam sat two years later that leads to university admission; the two exams are covered in separate files on this site (see the lk-al programme for the A/L).
Note
The Department of Examinations' own site (doenets.lk) could not be fetched directly while writing this file, so the facts below are drawn from secondary reports and guides that cite official notices, timetables and results announcements. Check doenets.lk or onlineexams.gov.lk for the exact subject list, dates and fees for the year you are sitting the exam.
Who can apply
Students completing Grade 11 at a school sit the O/L through that school, which registers them. A candidate who has left school can also sit as a private (external) candidate, applying directly to the Department of Examinations online with their National Identity Card (NIC) or birth certificate details, within the published application window.
Exam pattern
Candidates sit nine subjects in total: six compulsory subjects and three optional subjects chosen from three subject "baskets."
| Group | Subjects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory (6) | First language (Sinhala or Tamil), English Language, Mathematics, Science, History, Religion | Religion is offered as Buddhism, Hinduism (Saivaneri), Islam or Christianity, chosen by the candidate. |
| Basket I (choose 1) | Business & Accounting Studies, Geography, Civic Education, Entrepreneurship Studies, Second Language (Sinhala or Tamil) | |
| Basket II (choose 1) | Information & Communication Technology, Agriculture & Food Technology, Home Economics, Health & Physical Education, Design & Technology subjects, Arts & Crafts, and other practical/technology subjects | Not every subject in this basket is offered at every school. |
| Basket III (choose 1) | Art, Music, Dancing, Drama & Theatre, and other aesthetic or additional-language subjects |
Each subject is examined with its own written paper (and, for some subjects, a practical or oral component), set and marked centrally by the Department of Examinations.
Marking and results
Each subject is graded on a five-point letter scale:
| Grade | Mark range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | 75-100 | Distinction |
| B | 65-74 | Very good pass |
| C | 50-64 | Credit pass |
| S | 35-49 | Simple pass |
| W | Below 35 | Fail |
A candidate is considered to have passed the O/L overall by scoring at least an S grade in each of the six compulsory subjects; a W in any compulsory subject is treated as an overall fail regardless of the optional-subject results.
Progressing to A/L study additionally requires credit-level results, not just an overall pass. Reports on the current Ministry of Education standard describe this as a credit pass (C or above) in at least three subjects, including Mathematics and the first language (or, in some accounts, English), together with an S or above in the remaining compulsory subjects; some older guides state a six-subject-pass-with-three-credits rule instead. Because sources do not agree exactly, confirm the current year's eligibility rule on doenets.lk or with your school before planning an A/L subject stream around it.
Important dates
The O/L's calendar has shifted more than once in recent years: the exam was traditionally held in December, moved toward an August sitting from 2023, and the sitting covering the 2025 school-leaving cohort (referred to by the Department as "2025 (2026)") was instead held from 17 to 26 February 2026, with results released online around June 2026. A later cycle was scheduled for December 2026. Because the sitting month has changed from year to year, check the Department of Examinations' current notice rather than assuming a fixed month. Online applications typically open a few weeks before the sitting and close well ahead of it; results are usually published three to four months after the last paper.
How to apply
School candidates are registered for the exam by their own school; no separate application is needed. Private candidates apply online, through the Department of Examinations' portals (doenets.lk and onlineexams.gov.lk), providing their NIC or birth-certificate details and subject choices before the published closing date.
After the exam
Candidates who meet the pass and credit requirements go on to two years of A/L study in one of four streams: Science, Arts, Commerce, or Technology (Engineering Technology / Bio Systems Technology). Schools place students into a stream partly based on which O/L subjects and credits they hold and partly on student preference and seat availability; students who do not continue to A/L, or who prefer a practical route, can instead move into vocational or technical training. The GCE A/L itself is covered separately on this site (the lk-al programme), since it is a distinct exam with its own subjects, grading and university-admission process.
Preparation tips
Confirm your school's subject offerings early, especially for Basket II and III subjects, since not every subject is taught at every school.
Treat the six compulsory subjects as the priority: a fail (W) in any one of them fails the whole exam, no matter how well the optional subjects go.
If you already know which A/L stream you want, check the credit requirements for that stream (for example Mathematics and Science credits for the Science stream) before finalising O/L optional subjects.
Work through the Department of Examinations' past papers and marking schemes for each subject; question patterns tend to repeat year to year.
Track the Department's notices for the exact application window and exam dates for your year, since both have changed between recent cycles.
FAQs
How many subjects do I take for the GCE O/L?
Nine in total: six compulsory subjects (first language, English Language, Mathematics, Science, History and Religion) plus one subject chosen from each of three optional baskets.
What happens if I fail one compulsory subject but pass the rest?
A W grade in any of the six compulsory subjects is treated as an overall fail for the O/L, even if every other subject, compulsory or optional, is passed.
Is a simple pass (S) enough to go on to the GCE A/L?
An S grade in each compulsory subject is enough to pass the O/L itself, but moving on to A/L study normally also requires credit-level (C or above) results in specific subjects, commonly Mathematics and the first language. Check the current year's rule with your school or the Department of Examinations, since the exact credit requirement has been described differently across sources.
Is the GCE O/L the same exam as the GCE A/L?
No. The O/L is sat at the end of Grade 11 and is the general secondary school-leaving exam. The A/L is sat two years later, after subject-specialised study in a chosen stream, and is the exam used for university admission in Sri Lanka.