Differences Between A-Level and O-Level

What is O-Level?

O-Level, or Ordinary Level, is typically the culmination of 11 years of formal education, marking the final certification for secondary school students. Upon completion, students are considered to have finished their formal education. It is part of the General Certificate of Education (GCE) framework, with the first part being the O-Level, followed by the A-Level once the student progresses beyond the O-Level. This qualification is internationally recognized and is considered equivalent to the Cambridge IGCSE and the UK's GCSE qualifications.

O-Level Subjects

There are 40 subjects available for students to choose from, which can be mixed and matched according to their interests and future academic goals. Students usually take 7 to 9 subjects for their O-Level exams. The curriculum is set by Cambridge, though teachers have the flexibility to decide how they teach the subjects. The grading system ranges from A* to E, with A* representing the highest level of achievement and E being the lowest satisfactory performance.

Singapore O-Level

In Singapore, the GCE O-Level, also known as the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level), is a national-level assessment organized by the Cambridge Assessment International Education, the Ministry of Education in Singapore, and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).

Students who complete the GCE O-Level program can directly progress to polytechnic institutions, which include schools such as Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, and Republic Polytechnic. However, to enter a university, students must first complete a two-year preparatory course (often referred to as the A-Level course) before they can apply to university.

What is A-Level?

A-Level is typically a two-year program that is used as a standard assessment to determine whether students are eligible to apply for university. Students need to have passed at least five subjects at the GCSE or O-Level with grades between A* and C, including English and Mathematics, to be eligible for the A-Level course.

A-Level is considered a highly challenging course, widely accepted by universities around the world. Students generally choose three to four subjects to study, which could include English Literature, French, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography, Psychology, Economics, Art, and more.

Most universities worldwide require O-Level and A-Level qualifications for entry. However, some universities in the United States and Canada may accept students with five O-Level subjects, provided the minimum grade in each subject is a C.

In Malaysia, like other pre-university courses, A-Level typically requires students to have at least five subjects at the SPM, O-Level, or equivalent level with a minimum grade of C. Some A-Level courses may have subject prerequisites, such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Advanced Mathematics. This means that to study these subjects, students must have already taken and passed the corresponding subjects in SPM or high school with the minimum required grades.

Key Differences Between A-Level and O-Level

The key difference between O-Level and A-Level is that O-Level is a public examination for secondary school students (typically aged 15-16), which tests the basic knowledge of a variety of subjects before entering more specialized study. In contrast, A-Level is considered a post-secondary education course, focusing on more advanced studies. A-Level results are used to assess academic achievements in the subjects studied, and the grades range from A* to E.

While both qualifications are British, A-Level courses are offered in schools around the world. Most universities and higher education institutions accept A-Level qualifications as valid entry qualifications. If you enjoy academic learning and wish to study a wide range of subjects, A-Level may be the best option for you.

AS-Level vs A2-Level

AS-Level is essentially the first half of A-Level; it provides a broad understanding of the subjects, but not with the depth that A-Level offers. Until recently, AS-Level was used as part of the complete A-Level qualification, contributing to the final grade. A2-Level, on the other hand, is the second half of the A-Level course, and when combined with the AS-Level, it forms the full A-Level qualification. The AS-Level and A2-Level are often studied in separate years, with AS-Level completed in the first year and A2-Level in the second year of study.