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O-Level is the abbreviation of Ordinary Level. It is one of the two-part GCE (General Certificate of Education). The second part of GCE is Advanced Level (A-Level), which students enter after completing O-Level.
O-Level is the final certification for secondary school, to be taken at fifth form or year 11 at approximately age 17 (or age group 14-16). Students that have completed O-Level are considered to have completed formal education. They can further their studies to A-Level (at their schools’ sixth form or private colleges), Foundation Courses or diploma courses, or simply leaving school.
There are a few exam bodies offer O-Level, for example CAIE board, American Council for Higher Education and Edexcel International. Though schools in the UK had replaced O-Level with GCSE in 1988, it is still used in many Commonwealth countries, such as Bangladesh, Brunei, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and also in Trinidad and Tobago. (Some schools in the UK have reverted back to exams based on O-Level at the later stage.)
O-levels are predominantly exam-based. Therefore, this is advantages for students in part-time or evening education. Some commentators criticised this mainly exam-based approach as offering only partial proof of the student’s overall ability in comparison with other methods (e.g., coursework-based assessment). There was no summative “school certificate”: each subject was a separate O-level in its own right.
(Below are the information for O Level from the CAIE exam board only.)
Cambridge O Level is an internationally recognised qualification equivalent to Cambridge IGCSE and the UK GCSE. It provides learners with excellent preparation for academic progression to Cambridge Advanced as well as other progression routes.
Cambridge O Levels has been designed especially for an international audience. They are sensitive to the needs of different countries and for learners whose first language may not be English. The curriculum also enables teaching to be placed in a localised context, making it relevant wherever you teach it.
In some parts of the world, schools use Cambridge O Level as an international alternative to the local national examination.
You can choose from more than 40 subjects in any combination to provide the building blocks to create your own curriculum. Students normally take 7-9 subjects in the O-Level exam, with maximum allowable 14 subjects.
Many schools allocate a total of about 130 hours for each Cambridge O Level subject, but how much time a school devotes to each subject will depend on a variety of factors. Though Cambridge sets the syllabus, but the school decides on the method of teaching. Candidates must enter for Cambridge O Levels through a registered school or exam centre. Your school or exam centre will be able to give you more details about how candidates work towards these assessments.
At school, more able candidates may study six or seven subjects at Cambridge O Level, but less able candidates may have a much more modest programme. In order to follow a broad and balanced curriculum, most candidates take courses from each of the five Cambridge O Level groups (Languages; Humanities and Social Sciences; Sciences; Mathematics; and Business, Creative, Technical and Vocational). However, it is also possible to study individual Cambridge O Level subjects if this better suits the candidate’s needs.
Cambridge O Level courses usually take two years to complete and exams are taken at the end of that period.
Assessment takes place at the end of the course and includes written, practical and oral assessment. This broadens opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning, particularly when their first language is not English.
Grades are benchmarked using six internationally recognised grades, from A* to E. Therefore, it has clear guidelines to explain the standard of achievement.
Grade A* is awarded for the highest level of achievement, and grade E indicates minimum satisfactory performance. Grade U (Ungraded) is commonly regarded as fail.
Cambridge O Level examination series occur twice a year, in June and November. Results release is in August and January.
Many universities worldwide require a combination of Cambridge International A Levels and Cambridge O Levels to meet their entry requirements. Leading US and Canadian universities require Cambridge International AS & A Levels, but some US and Canadian colleges and universities will accept learners with five Cambridge O Levels at grade C
or above.
In the UK, Cambridge O Level is accepted as equivalent to the GCSE. Many UK universities look at Cambridge O Level grades, as well as predicted grades for Cambridge International A Level, when making admissions decisions.
Universities in many countries, including Canada and the USA, will admit students on the basis of their Cambridge O-Level performances alone. Grade C in Cambridge O-Level English Language satisfies the English proficiency requirements of many universities in the UK and other English-speaking countries.
Although IGCSE and O Level are equivalent qualifications grade for grade, they are two different qualifications. IGCSE sets international standards, on the other hand, O Level syllabus meets specific local needs in each country. Other notable differences are the grading scale, assessment techniques, and coursework options.
| IGCSE | O Level | |
| Grading | Grades are awarded from A* (highest grade) to G (lowest) | Grades are awarded from A* to E |
| Assessment techniques | Tests oral and practical skills | Focuses on writing and reading skills in language subjects Restricted practical test options in sciences |
| Coursework options | Available in many syllabuses | Fewer coursework options |
Our valuable A* resources had produced thousands of A* scorers around the world. Check them out below.
Our internationally loved exam model answers had helped thousands of students in scoring A/A*. Schools and teachers worldwide have used these resources to aid in their teachings. Learn what an A* answer like, copy the style and score A* in your exam.
Our word-renowned IGCSE and AS/A Level courses had produced more than 1100 A/A* scorers worldwide. They are suitable for schooled or home-schooled candidates, and as full course or revision course.
We have the most complete past exam papers library on earth (no kidding!). Choose your exam board and download everything with one click.
Get the latest exam syllabus and plan your study accordingly.
Find out the exam registration and results released key dates for IGCSE and AS/A Level.
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Please kindly read the O Level FAQs here.
Note: CIE (Cambridge International Examination board) has its name changed to CAIE (Cambridge Assessment International Education) since October 2017.
In October 2023, CAIE updated its name, logo, look, and messaging. Cambridge International Education is the new name of the awarding body of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. This name will be used on materials related to administering exams and awarding qualifications.
Note: All relevant info taken from CIE.
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Lanja Omer
United Arab Emirates
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572 responses
I have forgotten password of results plus direct so I have changed my email address and password of results plus direct . so does this means my email address have changed which I had used for registering igcse exam or just changed the email of result plus direct .
Hi Arnob,
Please kindly consult this issue with your exam centre. They can confirm this for you.
Thank you so much for being so understanding.
I have forgotten password of results plus direct so I have changed my email address and password of results plus direct . so does this means my email address have changed which I had used for registering igcse exam or just changed the email of result plus direct
Hi Arnob,
Please kindly consult this issue with your exam centre. They can confirm this for you.
Thank you so much for being so understanding.
I have one UCI number in Edexcel IGCSE and another UCI number in IAS . will that create problem in future
Hi Arnob,
If you have different UCI numbers across multiple sessions, you will need to merge them and ensure that the original UCI is used at all times. You must only have one UCI number.
We strongly urge you to inform your exam centre about this issue. Your exam centre will create a new case to request a UCI merge.
I have forgot the password of results plus direct.and I can’t access to it ,how will I access to it .
Hi Arnob,
Please get in touch with your exam centre for your password. Thank you!
Can I register Edexcel IAS accounting and business studies in android device because I don’t have PC or laptop
Hi Arnob,
We believe that there won’t be any problem. But we also suggest that you contact your exam centre to ask about their registration process. Thank you.
If I pass in accounting and business studies in AS Edexcel but failed in accounting A2 but pass in business studies A2 . so should I retake accounting A2 only or again start from AS accounting to A2
Hi Arnob,
We would like to confirm if you are taking Edexcel International AS/A Level or Edexcel AS/A Level? These two qualifications use different assessment structures.
Thank you.
International Advanced subsidiary and International advanced level
Hi Arnob,
Thank you for your reply.
For Edexcel International AS/A Level, you can choose to take the unit exam only. If you only score poorly in one unit of the A2 Accounting exam, you do not have to repeat the entire A2 level exam.
Then only the highest mark scored in any attempt will automatically be taken into account when you “cash-in” your completed unit exam results to receive an overall Edexcel International A Level qualification grade.
You do not need to retake if you got good grades for Business after completing all the required unit exams. You can already “cash-in”, so all your individual unit results are added together to get the overall subject grade.
But you are free to retake it if you want to improve your grade further or if the university you are applying to has a grade requirement. We suggest that you check the entry requirement of your preferred university to confirm.
We hope this helps!
What is the difference between 4EB1, 4EB1E and 4EB1ET in English language B in Edexcel IGCSE
Hi Arnob,
As far as we know, here are the codes used in Edexcel iGCSE English Language B:
4EB1 – subject code
4EB1/01 – Paper 1
4EB1/01R – Paper 1 (Regional)
We hope this helps! Thank you.
I have failed in maths in edexcel igcse so I want to take IAS accounting and business studies first in Jan and retake maths igcse in may June and take IAL accounting and business studies in October November is it OK or it is against the rules of Pearson and British council
Hi Arnob,
That will be okay. It is not against the rules of Pearson and the British Council.
I have completed igcse exam now i will register for advanced level in edexcel but
now I want to change my signature because of my passport renewal. Will this create any problem for collecting certificate if I change my signature
Hi Arnob,
We don’t think it will create any problems when you receive your certificate. But if you want, you can also confirm this with your exam centre so you will not be worried.
We hope this helps. Thank you.
I have completed igcse edexcel 5 subjects excluding maths now I want to register for maths igcse but before that I need to renew passport and change my signature . so is changing the signature is against the rules of pearson edexcel and British council or I can change the signature
Hi Arnob,
Please do not worry. It will not create any problems with your exam registration.