The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level Examinations (GCE ‘O’ Level) is a unified examination jointly organized by the Ministry of Education of Singapore and the Cambridge University Examinations Board of the United Kingdom. It is also the graduation examination for secondary school students in Singapore after completing 4-5 years of secondary education. The test results can be used to apply for admission to Junior College (JC), Polytechnic (Poly) or Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in Singapore; they can also be used to apply for junior colleges or university preparatory classes in overseas Commonwealth countries. GCE ‘O’Level is currently the most widely used basic education system in the world. Its results are highly recognized internationally. It has been adopted by the education departments of 150 countries as their national education curriculum and is the main body of Singapore’s education system.

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Main advantages:

The education system is highly flexible

Teaching students in accordance with their aptitude and a wide range of course choices

Subject results are internationally recognized, especially in Commonwealth countries

Results can be used to apply for studying abroad or immigration

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Examination content:

The test paper of the level is all in English, and candidates must answer in English. There are 12 examination subjects in total, with seven courses, including business, Chinese, basic mathematics, advanced mathematics, computer, accounting, chemistry and physics. English and mathematics are compulsory subjects.

 

Percentage of examination subjects:

English and Chinese: 70% written test, 20% oral test, 10% listening

Science: 85% written test, 15% experiment

Mathematics, advanced mathematics and accounting: 100% written test​

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Exam scoring method:

The O-level examination adopts a 9-point scoring method, which is divided into A1, A2, B3, B4, C5, C6, D7, E8, F9; and A1 is the best score. And the total score of the O-level is the sum of the grades of each subject, the smaller the total score, the better. If you apply for a local school, the unified English test must be at least D7, and the total score must be below 20 points to have the opportunity to be admitted to the five polytechnics. Students who score C6 or below in the English Unified Examination and 12 or below in total have the opportunity to be admitted to 14 government junior colleges (pre-university). The test results are valid for two years. If the first year's test is not ideal, you can retake it once, and finally choose the best 5 (or 6) scores in two years as the final score. Students with weak English foundation can study language courses first.

Subject and score requirements are as follows:

1. The score requirements for applying for Singapore Polytechnic through O-level:

English + the best scores of other 4 subjects.

2. The score requirements for applying for Singapore Junior College through O-level:

English/Advanced Chinese + Primary Mathematics/Advanced Mathematics + Humanities + the best scores of other 3 subjects.

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​Registration and examination time:

Registration for the O-level examination starts in March every year, and the examination time is between May and November every year.

The Chinese written examination is held in May.

English (oral examination) and Chinese (listening and oral examination) are held in July and August.

English (listening) and all other written examinations are held in October and November.

Results are announced around January of the following year.

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Exam fee:

Approximately 30 to 90 SGD / course.