Difference between revisions of "Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level"

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The '''General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level''' is an educational qualification offered in Singapore. The examinations are jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore Examinations and Assessments Board (SEAB) and University of Cambridge International Examinations (UCIE).
The '''Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level''' (or '''GCE O-Level''') is jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) and the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).<ref>[//www.seab.gov.sg/pages/nationalExaminations/GOL "General Information"]. Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board. Retrieved 10 December 2017.</ref> The examination is taken by secondary school students at the end of their fourth year (for Express stream) or fifth year (for Normal (Academic) stream), and is open to private candidates. Recent studies show that approximately 30,000 candidates take the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level exams annually.<ref>[//www.seab.gov.sg/content/pressReleases/Results_of_2016_GCEO-Level_Examination_11012017.pdf "Release of the 2016 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level) Examination"]. Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board. Retrieved 16 October 2017.</ref>


==Description==
==History==
The O-Level examinations are conducted annually in Singapore, taken by students after four years (Secondary 4) in the Express stream or five years (Secondary 5) in the Normal Academic stream. It is the rough equivalent of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Certificate_of_Secondary_Education General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)] offered in Great Britain.  
The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) examination was introduced in 1971. Despite the engagement of an identical examination board as partnering authority, the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examination has no relation to the British GCSE examinations, having de-linked since 2006 when the Ministry of Education (MOE) took over the management of its national examination. This is owing to the stark differences in the development of the respective education systems in the two countries.<ref>[//www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/british-exam-reforms-wont-affect-spore-students "Changes to Britain's GCSE and A-level exams won't affect Singapore students"]. Hermes (The Straits Times, 11 September 2017). Retrieved 10 December 2017.</ref> Nevertheless, the qualification is recognised internationally as equivalent to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), taken by international candidates including Singaporean students who take the exam as private candidates, as well as the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examination taken by students in the United Kingdom.<ref>[//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/correspondents/158008.stm "Ten years of the GCSE"]. BBC News (26 August 1998). Retrieved 27 December 2006.</ref>


The [[Cambridge International Examinations|University of Cambridge International Examinations]] (UCIE) is the examining authority for subjects conducted in the English language, foreign languages and Non-Tamil Indian Languages. The examining authority for subjects such as the Mother Tongue Languages & Social Studies is the Ministry of Education.
In 2019, MOE announced that the last year of assessment for the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Levels will be in 2026. From 2027, all Secondary 4 students will sit for the new '''Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC)''', which combines the former O-Levels, N-Levels certificates into a single certificate. This is in alignment with the removal of streaming in secondary schools from 2024, which previously separated O-Level, N-Level candidates into the Express Stream, Normal (Academic) Stream and Normal (Technical) Stream respectively, in efforts to improve social mobility within the country.<ref>[//www.todayonline.com/singapore/gce-o-and-n-level-exams-be-replaced-new-national-common-exam-2027 "GCE O- and N-Level exams to be replaced by new national common exam in 2027"]. TODAY. Retrieved 1 October 2024.</ref>


===Comparison with the British O-levels===
==Examination subjects==
The O-level examinations are a product of the colonial era, as the O-levels were too offered in England until 1988. Although the English O-levels were examined by various examination boards like the University of London, the Singaporean O-levels have always been examined only by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate.
All Secondary 4 (Express) or Secondary 5 (Normal Academic) students will usually take the following combinations:


==Grading==
{|class=wikitable
{| class="wikitable"
!Category
!Pure Science<br><small>(7 – 8 subjects)</small>
!Combined Science<br><small>(6 – 7 subjects)</small>
|-
|-
!Grade
!Common
!Marks range
|colspan=2|
* English Language
* Mathematics (E-Maths)
* Mother Tongue
* Higher Mother Tongue (for higher ability students only)
|-
|-
|A1
!Science
|75 ≤ x ≤ 100
|
'''Either 2:'''
* Biology
* Chemistry
* Physics
|
'''Either 1:'''
* Combined Science (Biology / Chemistry)
* Combined Science (Biology / Physics)
* Combined Science (Chemistry / Physics)
|-
|-
|A2
!Humanities
|70 ≤ x ≤ 74
|colspan=2|
'''Either 1:'''
* Combined Humanities (Social Studies / Geography)
* Combined Humanities (Social Studies / History)
* Combined Humanities (Social Studies / Literature in English)
|-
|-
|B3
!rowspan=2|Elective (Up to 2)
|65 ≤ x ≤ 69
|
'''Remaining 1 (Triple Science):'''
* Biology
* Chemistry
* Physics
|{{N/A}}
|-
|-
|B4
|colspan=2|
|60 ≤ x ≤ 64
* Additional Mathematics
* Art<small style='vertical-align:super;font-size:75%;font-weight:400;'>[ Coursework Subject ]</small>
* Computing
* Design & Technology<small style='vertical-align:super;font-size:75%;font-weight:400;'>[ Coursework Subject ]</small>
* Geography
* History
* Literature in English
* Music<small style='vertical-align:super;font-size:75%;font-weight:400;'>[ Coursework Subject ]</small>
* Nutrition & Food Science<small style='vertical-align:super;font-size:75%;font-weight:400;'>[ Coursework Subject ]</small>
* Principles of Accounts
|}
 
'''Restriction:'''
# Students taking triple science typically do not take Coursework subjects as elective.
# For Pure Humanities subject, students are not allowed to take the same subject/combination in Combined Humanities (i.e. History and Social Studies / History is not allowed)
 
The following are the examination format and code published by Singapore Examination and Assessment Board.
 
{| class='wikitable sortable mw-collapsible'
!Subject Code
!Subject Title
|-
|-
|C5
|1116 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/1116_y24_sy.pdf]
|55 ≤ x ≤ 59
|Higher Chinese
|-
|-
|C6
|1117 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/1117_y24_sy.pdf]
|50 ≤ x ≤ 54
|Higher Malay
|-
|-
|D7
|1147 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/1147_y24_sy.pdf]
|45 ≤ x ≤ 49
|Higher Tamil
|-
|-
|E8
|1148 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/1148_y24_sy.pdf]
|40 ≤ x ≤ 44
|Malay
|-
|-
|F9
|1151 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/1151_y24_sy.pdf]
|0 ≤ x ≤ 39
|Malay B
|}
 
==Examinable Subjects==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
!Subject Code
|1152 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/1152_y24_sy.pdf]
!Subject
|Tamil B
!Notes
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1128_2017.pdf 1128]
|1153 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/1153_y24_sy.pdf]
|English Language
|Chinese B
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1135_2017.pdf 1135]
|1157 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/1157_y24_sy.pdf]
|Arabic as a 3rd Language
|Tamil
|rowspan=2|For school candidates only.
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1136_2017.pdf 1136]
|1160 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/1160_y24_sy.pdf]
|Bahasa Indonesia as a 3rd Language
|Chinese
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/2049_2017.pdf 2049]
|1184 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/1184_y24_sy.pdf]
|Religious Studies (Bible Knowledge)
|English Language
|For private candidates only.
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/2065_2017.pdf 2065]
|2065 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/2065_y24_sy.pdf]
|Literature in English
|Literature in English
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/2174_2017.pdf 2174]
|2174 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/2174_y24_sy.pdf]
|History
|History
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/2204_2017.pdf 2204]
|Combined Humanities
|Last year of examination in 2017. May be offered to repeat school candidates from 5N in 2018.
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/2236_2017.pdf 2236]
|Geography
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/2267_2017.pdf 2267]
|2260 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/2260_y24_sy.pdf]
|Combined Humanities
|Humanities (Social Studies, Geography)
|Last year of examination in 2018
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/2272_2018.pdf 2272]
|2261 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/2261_y24_sy.pdf]
|Humanities (Social Studies, Geography) ||rowspan=6|Offered from 2018 to replace Combined Humanities syllabus 2267.
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/2273_2018.pdf 2273]
|Humanities (Social Studies, History)
|Humanities (Social Studies, History)
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/2274_2018.pdf 2274]
|2262 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/2262_y24_sy.pdf]
|Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in English)
|Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in English)
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/2275_2018.pdf 2275]
|2279 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/2279_y24_sy.pdf]
|Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in Chinese)
|Geography
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/2276_2018.pdf 2276]
|Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in Malay)
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/2277_2018.pdf 2277]
|Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in Tamil)
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/3012_2017.pdf 3012]
|French
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/3028_2017.pdf 3028]
|German
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/3034_2017.pdf 3034]
|Spanish
|For school candidates only.
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/3186_2017.pdf 3186]
|Arabic
|For private candidates only.
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/NTIL_2017.pdf 3194]
|Hindi
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/NTIL_2017.pdf 3196]
|Urdu
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/NTIL_2017.pdf 3199]
|Gujarati
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/NTIL_2017.pdf 3203]
|Panjabi
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/NTIL_2017.pdf 3215]
|Bengali
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/3249_2017.pdf 3249]
|4049 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/4049_y24_sy.pdf]
|Burmese
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/3260_2017.pdf 3260]
|Thai
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/3261_2017.pdf 3261]
|Japanese
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/4047_2017.pdf 4047]
|Additional Mathematics
|Additional Mathematics
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/4048_2017.pdf 4048]
|4052 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/4052_y24_sy.pdf]
|Mathematics
|Mathematics
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/5059_2017.pdf 5059]
|5086 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/5086_y24_sy.pdf]
|Physics (SPA)
|rowspan=3|Last year of examination in 2018, to be replaced by revised versions (6091, 6092 & 6093). For school candidates only.
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/5073_2017.pdf 5073]
|Chemistry (SPA)
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/5158_2017.pdf 5158]
|Biology (SPA)
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/5076_2017.pdf 5076]
|Science (Physics, Chemistry)
|Science (Physics, Chemistry)
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/5077_2017.pdf 5077]
|5087 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/5087_y24_sy.pdf]
|Science (Physics, Biology)
|Science (Physics, Biology)
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/5078_2017.pdf 5078]
|5088 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/5088_y24_sy.pdf]
|Science (Chemistry, Biology)
|Science (Chemistry, Biology)
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/6063_2018.pdf 6063]
|6085 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/6085_y24_sy.pdf]
|Electronics
|New subject from 2018. For school candidates only.
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/6085_2017.pdf 6085]
|Music
|Music
|rowspan=3|For school candidates only.
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/6086_2017.pdf 6086]
|Higher Music
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/6087_2017.pdf 6087]
|Food and Nutrition
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/6091_2018.pdf 6091]
|6091 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/6091_y24_sy.pdf]
|Physics
|Physics
|rowspan=3|Revised syllabus from 2018. Replacing 5059, 5073 & 5158 respectively.
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/6092_2018.pdf 6092]
|6092 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/6092_y24_sy.pdf]
|Chemistry
|Chemistry
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/6093_2018.pdf 6093]
|6093 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/6093_y24_sy.pdf]
|Biology
|Biology
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/6123_2017.pdf 6123]
|6097 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/6097_y24_sy.pdf]
|Nutrition and Food Science
|-
|6123 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/6123_y24_sy.pdf]
|Art
|Art
|rowspan=3|For school candidates only.
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/6124_2017.pdf 6124]
|7059 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/7059_y24_sy.pdf]
|Higher Art
|Design & Technology
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/7051_2017.pdf 7051]
|7087 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/7087_y24_sy.pdf]
|Design and Technology
|Principles of Accounts
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/7155_2018.pdf 7155]
|7155 [//www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/olevel/2024syllabus/7155_y24_sy.pdf]
|Computing
|Computing
|New subject from 2018. For school candidates only.
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/7175_2017.pdf 7175]
|Principles of Accounts
|
|}
|}


==Special Papers (For school candidates only)==
==Grading==
{| style="width:100%;"
| style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;"|
===OSIE Cambridge Subjects===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!Subject Code
!Grade
!Subject
!Marks range
!Notes
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/2286_2017.pdf 2286]
|A1
|Economics
|75 ≤ x ≤ 100
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/5999_2017.pdf 5999]
|A2
|Drama
|70 ≤ x ≤ 74
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/6080_2017.pdf 6080]
|B3
|Physical Education
|65 ≤ x ≤ 69
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/7085_2017.pdf 7085]
|B4
|Business Studies
|60 ≤ x ≤ 64
|
|}
'''Note''': The above electives are applicable only for candidates from schools approved to offer the subjects.
 
| style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;"|
===Applied Subjects===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!Subject Code
|C5
!Subject
|55 ≤ x ≤ 59
!Notes
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/NP04_2017.pdf NP04]
|C6
|Biotechnology
|50 ≤ x ≤ 54
|
|-
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/NP05_2017.pdf NP05]
|D7
|Design Studies
|45 ≤ x ≤ 49
|
|-
|-
|}
|E8
'''Note''': The above Applied Subjects are applicable only for candidates from schools approved to offer the subjects.
|40 ≤ x ≤ 44
|}
 
==Local Papers==
{| style="width:80%;"
| style="vertical-align:top;width:40%;"|
===Examined in Chinese===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!Subject Code
|F9
!Subject
|0 ≤ x ≤ 39
!Notes
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1116_2017.pdf 1116]
|Higher Chinese
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1153_2017.pdf 1153]
|Chinese B^
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1160_2017.pdf 1160]
|Chinese
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1166_2017.pdf 1166]
|Chinese (Special Programme)
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/2093_2017.pdf 2093]
|Literature in Chinese
|
|}
===Examined in Tamil===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Subject Code
!Subject
!Notes
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1147_2017.pdf 1147]
|Higher Tamil
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1152_2017.pdf 1152]
|Tamil B^
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1157_2017.pdf 1157]
|Tamil
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/2098_2017.pdf 2098]
|Literature in Tamil
|
|}
| style="vertical-align:top;width:40%;"|
===Examined in Malay===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Subject Code
!Subject
!Notes
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1117_2017.pdf 1117]
|Higher Malay
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1133_2017.pdf 1133]
|Malay (Special Programme)
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1148_2017.pdf 1148]
|Malay
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/1151_2017.pdf 1151]
|Malay B^
|
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2017Syllabus/2080_2017.pdf 2080]
| Islamic Religious Knowledge
|For private candidates only.
|-
|[http://www.seab.gov.sg/content/syllabus/olevel/2018Syllabus/2238_2018_School_Candidates.pdf 2238]
|Literature in Malay
|Revised syllabus from 2018.
|}
|}
|}
'''^:''' Are not O-Level subjects

Latest revision as of 21:12, 4 November 2024

The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (or GCE O-Level) is jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) and the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).[1] The examination is taken by secondary school students at the end of their fourth year (for Express stream) or fifth year (for Normal (Academic) stream), and is open to private candidates. Recent studies show that approximately 30,000 candidates take the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level exams annually.[2]

History[edit]

The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) examination was introduced in 1971. Despite the engagement of an identical examination board as partnering authority, the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examination has no relation to the British GCSE examinations, having de-linked since 2006 when the Ministry of Education (MOE) took over the management of its national examination. This is owing to the stark differences in the development of the respective education systems in the two countries.[3] Nevertheless, the qualification is recognised internationally as equivalent to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), taken by international candidates including Singaporean students who take the exam as private candidates, as well as the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examination taken by students in the United Kingdom.[4]

In 2019, MOE announced that the last year of assessment for the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Levels will be in 2026. From 2027, all Secondary 4 students will sit for the new Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), which combines the former O-Levels, N-Levels certificates into a single certificate. This is in alignment with the removal of streaming in secondary schools from 2024, which previously separated O-Level, N-Level candidates into the Express Stream, Normal (Academic) Stream and Normal (Technical) Stream respectively, in efforts to improve social mobility within the country.[5]

Examination subjects[edit]

All Secondary 4 (Express) or Secondary 5 (Normal Academic) students will usually take the following combinations:

Category Pure Science
(7 – 8 subjects) 		Combined Science
(6 – 7 subjects)
Common
  • English Language
  • Mathematics (E-Maths)
  • Mother Tongue
  • Higher Mother Tongue (for higher ability students only)
Science

Either 2:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics

Either 1:

  • Combined Science (Biology / Chemistry)
  • Combined Science (Biology / Physics)
  • Combined Science (Chemistry / Physics)
Humanities

Either 1:

  • Combined Humanities (Social Studies / Geography)
  • Combined Humanities (Social Studies / History)
  • Combined Humanities (Social Studies / Literature in English)
Elective (Up to 2)

Remaining 1 (Triple Science):

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
 N/A
  • Additional Mathematics
  • Art[ Coursework Subject ]
  • Computing
  • Design & Technology[ Coursework Subject ]
  • Geography
  • History
  • Literature in English
  • Music[ Coursework Subject ]
  • Nutrition & Food Science[ Coursework Subject ]
  • Principles of Accounts

Restriction:

  1. Students taking triple science typically do not take Coursework subjects as elective.
  2. For Pure Humanities subject, students are not allowed to take the same subject/combination in Combined Humanities (i.e. History and Social Studies / History is not allowed)

The following are the examination format and code published by Singapore Examination and Assessment Board.

Subject Code Subject Title
1116 [1] Higher Chinese
1117 [2] Higher Malay
1147 [3] Higher Tamil
1148 [4] Malay
1151 [5] Malay B
1152 [6] Tamil B
1153 [7] Chinese B
1157 [8] Tamil
1160 [9] Chinese
1184 [10] English Language
2065 [11] Literature in English
2174 [12] History
2260 [13] Humanities (Social Studies, Geography)
2261 [14] Humanities (Social Studies, History)
2262 [15] Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in English)
2279 [16] Geography
4049 [17] Additional Mathematics
4052 [18] Mathematics
5086 [19] Science (Physics, Chemistry)
5087 [20] Science (Physics, Biology)
5088 [21] Science (Chemistry, Biology)
6085 [22] Music
6091 [23] Physics
6092 [24] Chemistry
6093 [25] Biology
6097 [26] Nutrition and Food Science
6123 [27] Art
7059 [28] Design & Technology
7087 [29] Principles of Accounts
7155 [30] Computing

Grading[edit]

Grade Marks range
A1 75 ≤ x ≤ 100
A2 70 ≤ x ≤ 74
B3 65 ≤ x ≤ 69
B4 60 ≤ x ≤ 64
C5 55 ≤ x ≤ 59
C6 50 ≤ x ≤ 54
D7 45 ≤ x ≤ 49
E8 40 ≤ x ≤ 44
F9 0 ≤ x ≤ 39
  1. ↑ "General Information". Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Release of the 2016 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level) Examination". Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "Changes to Britain's GCSE and A-level exams won't affect Singapore students". Hermes (The Straits Times, 11 September 2017). Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Ten years of the GCSE". BBC News (26 August 1998). Retrieved 27 December 2006.
  5. ↑ "GCE O- and N-Level exams to be replaced by new national common exam in 2027". TODAY. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
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