Sri Lanka G. C. E. Advanced Level | A/L subjects list

Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level (A / L), aka GCE (AL) is qualification exam to academic studies / entrance to Sri Lankan universities as per respective steam and result. The examination conducts by the Department of Examinations of the Ministry of Education. It is similar to the Advanced Level in the UK.

After successfully passing the GCE O / L, students (usually at the age of 18-19) in government schools must complete two years GCE AL studies which is generally known as Grade 11 and 12 and then sit for the test. External candidates (non-school) are also able to sit for the exam. Pupils sit for the examination through their respective schools. The exams are held in Sinhala, Tamil and English languages.

G.C.E (A-level) studies and examination are diversified into 5 major streams (fields of study). They are as follows:

Physical Science

• Combined mathematics
• Physics and Chemistry or information technology

Biological Science

• Biology (Botany and Zoology) 
• Physics or Agricultural science and Chemistry

Commerce 

• Business Studies 
• Business Statistics 
• Accounting & Economics or Information Technology 

Arts - Multiple choices

Technology

• Engineering Technology 
• Bio-system Technology 
• Science for Technology and a category subject 

Students should select three subjects in the specific stream. Additionally, General English and a Common General will be tested. General English is not taken into account for the entrance criteria of university. However, students should obtain a pass mark form the Common General. 

Each year in August, the exam conducted in selected schools across the country. Candidates are allowed to attend the exam 3 attempts to qualify for a state university. Also, candidates have to meet the requirements for university admission.