What Is O Level Education?

22.04.2023 Grady A. Lowry 0 Comments

What are the O and A levels? O LEVEL O Level stands for ordinary level. It is the first half part of the General Certificate of Education (GCE), the second part being Advanced Level (A Level) which students enter after the completion of O Level. It is an internationally recognised qualification and is considered to be the equivalent of Cambridge IGCSE and UK GCSE.

O Level is usually taken up either in the 11th year (17 years) or between the age group of 14-16. It is the final certification for secondary school and once a student has completed it, they are considered to have completed formal education. Subjects There are 40 subjects available to pick and choose from in any combination.

Students usually take 7-9 subjects for the O Level examination. The maximum number of subjects a student can take being 14. The subjects are divided into six of the following groups- Group I: Languages Subjects- French, German, Spanish, etc. Group II: Humanities and Social Sciences Subjects- Economics, Geography, Sociology, etc.

Group III: Sciences Subjects- Agriculture, Physics, Chemistry, etc.
Group IV: Mathematics Subjects- Additional, Mathematics D (Calculator Version).
Group V: Business, Technical and Creative Subjects- Business Studies, Commerce, Computer Science, etc.
Group VI: English Language and Literature.
Subjects- English Language, English Literature, etc.

Cambridge sets the syllabus but gives the teachers freedom on how to conduct classes. The course on an average takes two years to complete at the end of which the students take up the exam. Assessment Grades scorable are from A* to E with A* indicating the highest level of achievement and E being the minimum satisfactory performance.

The grade U (Ungraded) is considered to be a fail in a given subject.
The Cambridge O Level exam is conducted twice a year during the months of June and November with the results being declared during the months of August and January respectively.
Recognition Majority of the universities worldwide require both O Level along with A Level but some universities in the US and Canada will accept students with five O Level subjects with the minimum achieved grade being C in all five subjects.

Grade C in O Level English satisfies the English proficiency standards set by many universities in English speaking countries. A LEVEL Advanced Level (A Level) is the second part of the General Certificate of Education (GCE), the first part being O Levels. Students between the ages of 16-18 or the 12th or 13th year of schooling take up this programme. It is a two year course and is considered as a standard assessment of students in order to determine their candidacy for college and university applications.

It is offered by education institutions primarily in the UK, but is also provided countries under the common wealth or countries previously under the common wealth.
British Council considers A Levels as similar to the American Advance Placement which in turn are equal to the first year coursework of their four year bachelors degree.

Subjects A minimum of five subjects graded between A* to C (including English and Mathematics) in either GCSE or O Levels are required in order to qualify for the A Level programme. Students are required to choose four to six subjects for A Levels out of a total of fifty five possible subjects.

This allows the school the flexibility and freedom to customise the subjects they offer to their students.
These fifty five subjects fall into six groups- Group I: Languages Subjects- French, German, Spanish, etc.
Group II: Humanities and Social Sciences Subjects- Economics, Geography, Sociology, etc.

Group III: Sciences Subjects- Agriculture, Physics, Chemistry, etc. Group IV: Mathematics Subjects- Additional, Mathematics D (Calculator Version). Group V: Business, Technical and Creative Subjects- Business Studies, Commerce, Computer Science, etc. Group VI: English Language and Literature.

The student can choose to take up the Cambridge International AS Level only. The syllabus content is half a Cambridge International A Level. The student can choose to take a ‘staged’ assessment route,ie, take the Cambridge International AS Level in the first examination series and complete the final Cambridge International A Level in the second series. AS Level marks can be carried forward to a full A Level twice within a 13 month period The student can take all papers of the Cambridge International A Level course in one examination session, generally at the end of the course.

Cambridge International AS & A Level examination series are held twice a year, in June and November. Results are issued in August and January. Recognition A Level course work is generally considered to be very tough and is widely accepted among various universities worldwide.

Students usually apply to their preferred universtities prior to actually writing their A Level exams with their A Level results which have been predicted by the school.
But as the predicted grades are given by the student’s teachers, they are considered to be unreliable.
Universities will still insist on the actual A Level exam results before finalising the student’s place in their courses, tho there are cases where the student is guarnteed a place in the university earlier.

Cambridge is a very challenging curriculum and sometimes you require the help of an expert tutor to help you score the best grade possible. provides live online one to one classes from the comfort of your home, with the best Cambridge teachers. They guarantee 100% satisfaction or your first lesson is completely free.
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Contents

1 What is meant by O level?
2 Does university need O Level?
3 What is meant by O-level and GCSE level?
- 3.1 What is O Level Education [ difference between O level and A level ] in Bangla
  - 3.1.1 What are O and A levels classes?

What is meant by O level?

1. : the lowest of three levels of standardized British examinations in a secondary school subject. also : successful completion of an O-level examination in a particular subject. called also Ordinary level.
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What is the equivalent of an O level?

Cambridge O Level is an internationally recognised qualification equivalent to Cambridge IGCSE and the UK GCSE.
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What is the difference between O and A level?

What is the difference between O level and A level examinations? Written By: Cudy 16th December 2022 O level examinations will normally hold at the end of the two-year sixth form programme. The examination covers a broad range of subjects and prepares students for entry into higher education or employment. O level has accepted as an entrance qualification for university courses in many countries.
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What is the difference between Cambridge A level and O level?

A-Level are one of the most popular pre-university pathways among students. However, many are still in the dark as to what this prestigious program is all about. This article will act as your guide and discuss what A-Level is and why it may be the next step in your education path.

What are A-Level? A-Level is one of the available options for pre-university that Malaysians can choose from.
This course’s curriculum is modelled on the UK education system.
It’s equivalent to the STPM here.
It is also known as GCE Advanced Level, and it prepares you for a university degree by allowing you to study a variety of subjects in depth.

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The Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and Edexcel are the two examination boards that deliver the A-Level in Malaysia. The Cambridge A-Level is offered at most Malaysian colleges. In A-Level, you will typically select three or four subjects to study. Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash What’s the difference between AS & A2? AS level is essentially half of an A-Level; they provide a broad grasp of a topic but not as much depth as an A-Level. The AS level was used to count towards a full A-Level until recently.

The A2, on the other hand, is the full A-Level. So, at the end of the first year, you’d earn the AS level, and at the end of the second year, you’d get the A2 (full A-Level). AS levels have been taken alongside – rather than as part of – A-Level from 2015. This implies they won’t count towards your total A-Level grade.

As a result, you’ll only take your AS examinations at the conclusion of your first year and all of your A-Level exams at the end of the two-year program. A-Level vs O-Level The O-Level examinations are the first GCE exams that students must take, and they are usually taken when they are around sixteen years old.

One of the goals of the O-Level test is to evaluate a student’s preparedness for more advanced courses, such as A-Level.
On the other hand, A-Level is generally taken as an advanced course after they have completed the O-Level or high school studies.
During the first year, students may take 3 to 5 subjects and three during the second year.

A-Level was created in 1951 with the goal of encouraging pupils to focus on a smaller number of subject areas that they might choose to pursue at university. Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash A-Level entry requirements in Malaysia This program, like other pre-university courses, usually requires a minimum of 5 Cs in SPM, O-Level, or the equivalent. Subject prerequisites are required for several A-Level courses, such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Further Mathematics.

This implies that in order to study these topics, you must have studied and received the minimum needed grades for the relevant subjects at the SPM or high school level.
Subjects taught in A-Level With A-Level, there are no compulsory subjects.
You are free to pick the topics that interest you or that you believe would be most useful to your future studies or careers.

English Language & Literature, Maths, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry are among the topics studied by students. It’s usually a good idea to double-check if the courses are offered at the institution you’re considering ahead of time, as this varies from school to school.

Are there any specific topics or grades that you require? If you want to pursue a certain career, employment, or higher education, you may need to select a specific subject to fulfil the admission criteria. Examine what you are most likely to love and excel at. You are more likely to succeed if you like a subject or already possess a skill in it. How broad do you want your future education and job options to be?

Who should study A-Level? Since this course is 100% exam based, it might not be suitable for everyone. Nevertheless, you should continue your studies by pursuing A-Level if:

You like academic learning and want to study a wide range of courses. You’ve made the decision to continue your studies at a university. If you’re unsure about what degree or career you want to pursue, taking a variety of A-Level subjects might help keep your choices open.

Photo by Alex Samuels on Unsplash Why study A-Level? A-Level is an excellent choice for those who know which topics they excel in. If you excel in Mathematics but struggle in English Literature, you might benefit from being allowed to concentrate on math and forgo English.

With the International Baccalaureate (IB), this would be impossible.
Because foundation programs prepare you for higher study in the subject you’ve selected, you may be limited to specific degrees at certain colleges.
A-Level, on the other hand, allows you to continue on to a variety of degrees once you’ve completed it.

This is especially useful if you aren’t sure what degree you want to pursue. Is A-Level hard? A-Level subjects are often regarded as challenging since they demand for you to analyse and apply logical reasoning while answering test questions. In comparison to other courses, such as Australian Matriculation, you’ll also notice that the study content is more in-depth. Photo by javier trueba on Unsplash Can I go abroad with A-Level? Yes, you can do so. A-Level is widely recognised as the gold standard of pre-university education and is accepted by many of the world’s best universities. While it is often used to study in the United Kingdom, it is also approved in many other countries, including Australia, the United States, Canada, and Singapore.

Where can I study A-Level? There are many universities that offer A-Level.
However, here at UOW Malaysia KDU, our A-Level program prepare students to be self-assured, responsible, inventive, and involved, coaching them for success in today’s fast-paced world.
A-Level students at our establishment have been accepted into prestigious institutions such as the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Manchester, University of London, and others since the programme began.

To learn more about this program, drop your enquiries here. Conclusion At the end of the day, the choice lies with you on whether this pathway is the right one for you. If you’re an analytic, studious and organised person, this programme will be the best option for you.
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Is O Level equal to high school?

Inter Board Committee of Chairmen Home » FAQs » What is GCE “O” level/GCSE equivalent in Pakistan? GCE ‘O’ Level/GCSE is considered equivalent to Secondary School Certificate (SSC) subject to meeting the requirement of Scheme of Studies and for Pakistan based examinations, Eight subjects including Compulsory English, Mathematics, Urdu, Islamiyat, Pakistan Studies and three electives are required.
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Is O Level higher than a level?

General Certificate of Education Academic qualification in the British Commonwealth The General Certificate of Education ( GCE ) is a subject-specific family of academic qualifications used in in,,, and a few, For some time, the has been different from those in the other countries of the United Kingdom. The GCE is composed of three levels; they are, in increasing order of difficulty:

the (“O Level”);
the (“A1 Level” or “AS Level”), higher than the O Level, serving as a level in its own right, and functioning as a precursor to the full Advanced Level; and
(“A Level”).

The General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE “A Levels”) is an entry qualification for universities in the United Kingdom and many other locations worldwide.
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Is O level a diploma?

Students in the third year of a polytechnic engineering course at any government recognised institute can apply for and complete the ‘O’ level course. The NIELIT issues the certificate only after the student has completed the polytechnic course successfully.
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Is O level lower than a level?

A levels and AS levels are taught in a similar way, but A levels are more advanced and take longer to complete. AS levels are similar to the first year of an A-level course. AS level results used to count towards your final A level result.
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Do O Levels still exist?

The General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (O level) was a qualification offered from 1951 until the introduction of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in 1986. You can find out more information about O levels below.
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Is O Level same as year 11?

O Level is usually taken up either in the 11th year (17 years) or between the age group of 14-16. It is the final certification for secondary school and once a student has completed it, they are considered to have completed formal education. Subjects There are 40 subjects available to pick and choose from in any combination.

Group III: Sciences Subjects- Agriculture, Physics, Chemistry, etc.
Group IV: Mathematics Subjects- Additional, Mathematics D (Calculator Version).
Group V: Business, Technical and Creative Subjects- Business Studies, Commerce, Computer Science, etc.
Group VI: English Language and Literature.
Subjects- English Language, English Literature, etc.

The grade U (Ungraded) is considered to be a fail in a given subject.
The Cambridge O Level exam is conducted twice a year during the months of June and November with the results being declared during the months of August and January respectively.
Recognition Majority of the universities worldwide require both O Level along with A Level but some universities in the US and Canada will accept students with five O Level subjects with the minimum achieved grade being C in all five subjects.

It is offered by education institutions primarily in the UK, but is also provided countries under the common wealth or countries previously under the common wealth.
British Council considers A Levels as similar to the American Advance Placement which in turn are equal to the first year coursework of their four year bachelors degree.

This allows the school the flexibility and freedom to customise the subjects they offer to their students.
These fifty five subjects fall into six groups- Group I: Languages Subjects- French, German, Spanish, etc.
Group II: Humanities and Social Sciences Subjects- Economics, Geography, Sociology, etc.

Students usually apply to their preferred universtities prior to actually writing their A Level exams with their A Level results which have been predicted by the school.
But as the predicted grades are given by the student’s teachers, they are considered to be unreliable.
Universities will still insist on the actual A Level exam results before finalising the student’s place in their courses, tho there are cases where the student is guarnteed a place in the university earlier.

How many years is O Levels?

Cambridge O Level courses usually take two years to complete and exams are taken at the end of that period. Examinations are held in June and November each year with results issued in August and January respectively.
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What does O Level mean in UK?

The O Levels, or Ordinary Levels, typically represent a total of 11 years of study and mark the end of the secondary education cycle. Students take examinations in their chosen subject areas. For consideration as successful completion, usually a minimum of five subject passes are needed.
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What grade is passing for O Level?

Grades – Candidates are graded based on their performance relative to the cohort. A grade in one GCE exam subject consists of a number and an accompanying letter. In descending order of achievement, the grades are: A (1,2), B (3,4), C (5,6), D7, E8, and F9.

A grade of C6 or better is considered an O-Level pass.
Obtaining a pass in one or more subjects will lead to a Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level).
Candidates whose subject(s) are denoted as ‘Absent’—should they be absent from any component(s) for the subject—will not have the subject listed on the certificate; this is likewise for those who obtain an F9, though it will appear on the result slip.

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The grades of six or five subjects (depending on the scoring system used) taken are added to give an aggregate score known as L1R5 (one language subject and five relevant subjects), or EL1R2B2, which is a separate aggregate scoring system used for polytechnic admission.
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Is O Level harder than IGCSE?

GCE O Level – Students are allowed to retake their GCE O level subjects

In your current secondary school (if you meet the criteria for retaking) As a private candidate

The Cambridge IGCSE and GCE O Levels cannot be said that one curriculum is harder or easier than another since the examinations are curated for different purposes.
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Is O Level important?

Because it leads you to A levels ( JC ) or Diploma ( Poly ). And it does affect your chances of getting into a university and even your future career.
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Does university need O Level?

With a Foundation year program, you can graduate to university in just one year after O-Level upon successful completion. You can apply with your last year O-Level results so that you are able to start the Foundation year in the coming September and progress to university in September the next year.
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What is meant by O-level and GCSE level?

O Level is usually taken up either in the 11th year (17 years) or between the age group of 14-16.
It is the final certification for secondary school and once a student has completed it, they are considered to have completed formal education.
Subjects There are 40 subjects available to pick and choose from in any combination.

The grade U (Ungraded) is considered to be a fail in a given subject. The Cambridge O Level exam is conducted twice a year during the months of June and November with the results being declared during the months of August and January respectively. Recognition Majority of the universities worldwide require both O Level along with A Level but some universities in the US and Canada will accept students with five O Level subjects with the minimum achieved grade being C in all five subjects.

What is O Level Education [ difference between O level and A level ] in Bangla

It is offered by education institutions primarily in the UK, but is also provided countries under the common wealth or countries previously under the common wealth. British Council considers A Levels as similar to the American Advance Placement which in turn are equal to the first year coursework of their four year bachelors degree.

This allows the school the flexibility and freedom to customise the subjects they offer to their students. These fifty five subjects fall into six groups- Group I: Languages Subjects- French, German, Spanish, etc. Group II: Humanities and Social Sciences Subjects- Economics, Geography, Sociology, etc.

Students usually apply to their preferred universtities prior to actually writing their A Level exams with their A Level results which have been predicted by the school. But as the predicted grades are given by the student’s teachers, they are considered to be unreliable. Universities will still insist on the actual A Level exam results before finalising the student’s place in their courses, tho there are cases where the student is guarnteed a place in the university earlier.

What are O and A levels classes?

O-Levels is considered as equal to first two years (9 th and 10 th class) of higher education of BISE. Or we can say that it is equivalent to matriculation in Pakistan. After completing their ordinary level degree students can pursue their path in A-level or any other progressive stage.
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Grady A. Lowry