GCE OL subjects

GCE OL subjects are 9 in Sri Lankan educational system. These include 6 main (mandatory) subjects and 3 optional subjects, known as “Basket Subjects,” which candidates can select according to their interests.

Main G.C.E (O/L) Subjects

For the Religion subject, students must choose one religion to study from the following options:

• Buddhism
• Saivanery (Hinduism)
• Catholicism
• Christianity (Non-Catholic)
• Islam

For the Language & Literature subject, students must select their mother tongue, either Sinhala or Tamil, depending on their background.

Optional Subjects (GCE OL Basket Subjects)

Basket subjects offer a range of options for students to choose from. These are divided into three categories:

Category I:

Category II:

For Category II subjects (such as Drama and Theatre, Oriental Music, Western Music, Carnatic Music, Oriental Dance & Bharata Dance), students are required to undergo both practical and written tests. For example:

• In Drama and Theatre, students may need to perform an act or sing a song.
• In Western Music, students can choose an instrument to perform a piece of music.
• In Dance, students perform a dance and may also have to sing.

Category III:

However, some basket subjects may not be available in all government schools due to limited resources, funding, or teachers.

GCE OL Grading System

The GCE O Level exam uses a grading system from A to F. Here is a breakdown:

A: 100 – 75 marks (Excellent)
B: 74 – 65 marks (Good)
C: 64 – 50 marks (Fair)
S: 49 – 35 marks (Simple Pass)
F: 34 – 0 marks (Fail); W: (Week)

In the past GCE OL, the grading was done with the terms: Distinction, Credit, Simple Pass, and Fail. To pass the GCE O/L exam, a student must score at least an “S” in the 6 mandatory subjects.