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[[File:OLevel.svg|thumb|right|150px|O Level logo]] |
[[File:OLevel.svg|thumb|right|150px|O Level logo]] |
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The '''O Level''' ('''Ordinary Level''') is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the [[General Certificate of Education]] (GCE). It was introduced as part of British educational reform in the 1950s alongside the more in-depth and academically rigorous [[A-level]] (Advanced Level) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. [[England]], [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]] replaced O Levels with [[GCSE]] and [[IGCSE]] exams in 1988. The [[Scotland|Scottish]] equivalent was the [[O-grade]] (replaced, following a separate process, by the [[Standard Grade]]). The O Level qualification is still awarded by [[Cambridge International Examinations]] in select locations, instead of or alongside the [[International General Certificate of Secondary Education]] qualifications. However, the Cambridge O Level has already been phased out and is no longer available in certain administrative regions, although it continues to be available in others.<ref name="CambridgeOLevelSubjects">{{cite web |url=http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-secondary-2/cambridge-o-level/subjects/ |title=Cambridge O Level subjects}}</ref> |
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==Current usage== |
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===Brunei=== |
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In [[Brunei]], the O Level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by [[Cambridge International Examinations]] (CIE). |
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A number of subjects, including English Language, Bahasa Melayu, Malay Literature, Islamic Religious Knowledge, Ulum al-Quran, Hafaz al-Quran, Tafsir al-Quran (Asas), History, Geography, Arabic, Art and Design, offer exam papers and syllabuses unique to Brunei. Additionally, the Mathematics (Syllabus E) subject previously offered an exam paper and a syllabus unique to Brunei, but this has since been retired and the regular syllabus used worldwide is offered. This is equivalent to secondary education now. |
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===Malaysia=== |
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In [[Malaysia and India]], the O Level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by [[Cambridge International Examinations]] (CIE). The English Language subject was previously offered with an exam paper and a syllabus unique to Malaysia, but this Malaysia-specific qualification has since expired, and the regular English Language exam paper and syllabus used worldwide is now used within the country. |
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===Mauritius=== |
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{{main|School Certificate (Mauritius)}} |
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In [[Mauritius]], the O Level qualification is awarded as part of the [[School Certificate (Mauritius)|School Certificate]], which is awarded upon successful completion of Form V in [[Secondary education in Mauritius|secondary school]]. The O Level examinations are jointly conducted by the [[Mauritius Examinations Syndicate]] and the [[University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate]] (UCLES). The [[International General Certificate of Secondary Education]] from [[Edexcel]] is also offered as an equivalent alternative qualification, for which exam registration may be done through the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate. |
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A number of subjects, including English Language, English Language (Syllabus B), History, Mathematics (Syllabus A), Mathematics (Syllabus D), offer exam papers and syllabuses unique to Mauritius. Additionally, the subject of Art and Design, the offering of which is restricted to a limited geographic region, is available in Mauritius. |
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===Seychelles=== |
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In [[Seychelles]], the O Level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by [[Cambridge International Examinations]] (CIE). Some subjects are unique to Seychelles or have a format, curriculum, or syllabus that is unique to Seychelles. |
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===Singapore=== |
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{{main|Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level}} |
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In [[Singapore]], the [[Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level|O Level]] qualification is offered jointly by [[Cambridge International Examinations]] (CIE) and the [[Singapore Ministry of Education]]. The examinations are mainly conducted by CIE, with select subject examinations conducted by the Singapore Ministry of Education, including select [[first language|mother tongue]] subjects, such as Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, and also the Combined Humanities (Social Studies) subject. |
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A number of subjects, including Arabic, Arabic as a Third Language, Art, Art (with Coursework), Bahasa Indonesia as a Third Language, Bengali, Burmese, Business Studies, Combined Humanities, Design and Technology, Drama, English Language, Food and Nutrition, German, Gujarati, Higher Art, Higher Music, Hindi, Japanese, Mathematics, Music, Panjabi, Physical Education, Principles of Accounts, Religious Studies (Bible Knowledge), Thai, and Urdu, offer exam papers and syllabuses unique to Singapore. Additionally a number of subjects, including Additional Mathematics, Biology, Biology (with Coursework), Chemistry, Chemistry (with Coursework), Commerce, Computer Studies, Economics, Geography, History, History (World Affairs 1917 - 1991), Literature in English, Physics, Physics (with Coursework), Science (Chemistry, Biology), Science (Physics, Biology), Science (Physics, Chemistry), previously offered exam papers and syllabuses unique to Singapore, but these have since been retired or planned to be phased out. |
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===Pakistan=== |
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The GCE O Level qualification is offered in Pakistan by the CIE and conducted by the [[British Council]]. O Level qualification has become a replacement for the matriculation qualification offered by the Government boards of education. Due to the high costs associated with O Level qualifications, their reach is limited to middle to elite class families. It is common knowledge that the CIE qualification are more rigorous than their alternatives that exist in the country. |
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==Former usage== |
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===United Kingdom=== |
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{{main|GCE Ordinary Level (United Kingdom)}} |
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The [[GCE Ordinary Level (United Kingdom)|GCE O Level]] qualification originated in the [[United Kingdom]], where it was awarded as the primary school-leaving qualification. It was primarily an examinations-based qualification, with a grading system that changed over the years. The O Level qualifications were replaced with the [[General Certificate of Secondary Education]] (GCSE) and the [[International General Certificate of Secondary Education]] (IGCSE) in 1988. |
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===Caribbean=== |
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The O Level qualification was previously awarded in the Caribbean. However, many Caribbean countries have now switched to awarding Caribbean Secondary Education Certification (CSEC) qualifications based on successful completion of examinations administered by the [[Caribbean Examinations Council]] (CXC). |
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===Hong Kong=== |
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The O Level qualification was previously awarded in Hong Kong, along with the [[Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination|Hong Kong version]] of the [[GCE Advanced Level|A Level]] qualification. However, this was replaced with the [[Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination]] (HKCEE) in 1974, which was then replaced with the [[Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education]] (HKDSE) in 2012. The HKCEE was previously benchmarked against the O Levels for comparable subjects, but with the introduction of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) qualification the Hong Kong equivalent qualification was then benchmarked against the IGCSE. |
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==See also== |
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* [[List of CIE Ordinary Level subjects]] |
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* [[Certificate of Secondary Education]] (CSE), an alternative qualification for those who did not take the O Level |
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* [[General National Vocational Qualification]], another abolished qualification in the United Kingdom |
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* [[General Certificate of Secondary Education]], which replaced the O Levels and CSE |
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* [[International General Certificate of Secondary Education]], which is offered with or instead of O Levels internationally |
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* [[General Certificate of Education]], which comprises O Levels and A-levels |
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* [[Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level|GCE O Levels]] in [[Singapore]] |
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* [[School Certificate]], the qualification which comprises O Levels in [[Mauritius]] |
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== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{Education in England}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2011}} |
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[[Category:Educational qualifications in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Secondary school qualifications]] |
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[[Category:Secondary education in England]] |
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[[Category:Secondary education in Wales]] |
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[[Category:Secondary education in Northern Ireland]] |
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Revision as of 11:35, 4 July 2014
