General Certificate of Education (GCE) and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) are school leaving certificates in Britain comparable to the Sri Lankan GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ level examination certificates.
Do you want to study at a local or overseas institute for further or higher education? Are you planning to study for professional qualifications in the UK? The GCE, being one of the most internationally recognised qualifications, can help you.
GCE and IGCSE exams:
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are qualifications from Edexcel International and Cambridge International examinations available all over the world and recognised worldwide |
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consists of a wide range of subjects |
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are recognised by universities as evidence of solid academic achievement |
There are two UK examining boards, which offer GCEs in Sri Lanka:
An O-level is a standard UK qualification usually taken at the age of 16. O-levels provide a foundation for further study or employment, and are available in a wide range of subjects covering the whole curriculum. Within the subject areas there is often a choice of several syllabuses. You can take any number of O-levels, depending on the qualifications that your chosen institutions ask for. Most students take between seven and ten O-levels after studying for two to three years in their chosen subjects.
You need to take an exam at O-level before you can study at A-level. They are also valuable qualifications in their own right that help prepare you for adult employment.
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) has been designed for 14 to 16 year olds. It is a two-year curriculum programme that is equivalent in standard to the British GCSE and is the most modern and up-to-date series of school exams. IGCSEs are examined at the same standard as O levels and GCSEs, and provide the same progression to GCE AS and A level qualifications. IGCSEs provide students with an international perspective to their studies.
The IGCSE aims to prepare students for further academic success, including progression to A and AS level study, and equip them with skills for immediate employment. It is equivalent in standard to the British GCSE and is recognised as evidence of ability by academic institutions and employers worldwide.
The subject content of the new A Level syllabuses has been subdivided into two parts: the AS syllabus content, which is expected to be covered in the first half of the course, and the second part of the syllabus, commonly referred to as A2, taken at the end of the second year of study. In terms of the UCAS tariff, the Advanced Subsidiary is worth half the points of a GCE Advanced level qualification.
An A-level is an Advanced level GCE qualification used internationally as pre-university requirement and for employment. This exam is normally taken after two years of A-level study and is available in a broad range of subjects covering the whole curriculum. The new qualification comprises six units (in the case of Edexcel) or 2 units (in the case of Cambridge Examinations) and can be taken either in stages (see Advanced Subsidiary section) or as a final examination. Usually, A-level courses immediately follow on from O-level courses and most candidates enter between two and four subjects at the age of eighteen.
Good A-level results can give you access to undergraduate studies at some of the best higher education learning institutions in the world, give you access to professional and vocational courses, and prepare you for employment.
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