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Curriculum, Assessment and Policy

GCE Ordinary Level

Assessment Practice

The GCE Ordinary Level (O-Level) is a subject-based secondary school qualification originally developed in England as part of the General Certificate of Education before being phased out there in favor of the GCSE, but which remains in active use in Singapore, several Commonwealth countries and other territories that retained the older system. In Singapore, the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level examination is administered jointly with the Cambridge Assessment board and marks the completion of four to five years of secondary education.

Facts
Classification
Policy Type
Assessment or Standards Policy 1
Education Level
Upper Secondary Education (ISCED 3) 1
Key Provision
Meant as a pathway to the more rigorous A-level 1
Enacted / Adopted Year
1951 1
Policy Status
Policy Status (category)
Superseded 1
FAQs

What replaced the GCE Ordinary Level in the United Kingdom?

The GCSE replaced it in 1988.

The O-Level, AO-Level and CSE were replaced in the United Kingdom in 1988 by the GCSE and later complementary IGCSE exams. The Scottish equivalent was the O-grade, which was replaced by the National 5. An O-level branded qualification is still awarded by Cambridge International Examinations in select locations.
Connections

Superseded By

Sources
1. GCE Ordinary Level (United Kingdom) (Wikipedia)
  • Beginnings
    The GCE Ordinary level was introduced in 1951
  • Introductory section
    The O-level was meant to act as a pathway to the new, more in-depth and academically rigorous A-level
  • Lead section
    The O-Level, AO-Level and CSE were replaced in the United Kingdom in 1988 by the GCSE and later complementary IGCSE exams.
  • Description, education-level classification
    The GCE Ordinary Level (O-Level) is a subject-based secondary school qualification originally developed in England as part of the General Certificate of Education before being phased out there in favor of the GCSE, but which remains in active use in Singapore, several Commonwealth countries and other territories that retained the older system.
View the Source
Wikipedia: GCSE
Superseded By: General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), History section
Quote, Superseded By: General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), History section
They replaced the former CSE and O-Level qualifications, uniting the two qualifications to allow access to the full range of grades for more pupils.
View the Source
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