Toggle Side Panel

Shopping Cart

No products in the cart.

Shopping Cart

No products in the cart.

Close search
Guest

GCE O/L Sri Lanka (English Medium) – A Study Guide

By chandi Categories: School Subjects
Wishlist Share

About Course

A complete, exam-focused study guide for students sitting the GCE Ordinary Level examination in Sri Lanka in English medium. Notes are built around the NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus and the Department of Examinations paper formats, with original worked examples and practice in the style of past papers.

What’s inside

  • Start Here – how the O/L works (subjects, grades, A/L entry, reforms) and how to study with past papers
  • Core subjects – Mathematics, Science, English Language, History
  • First Language & Literature – Sinhala, Tamil (bilingual guides: English explanations with Sinhala/Tamil examples and model answers)
  • Religion – Buddhism, Saivaneri (Hinduism), Christianity, Catholicism, Islam
  • Category I basket – Business & Accounting Studies, Geography, Civic Education, Entrepreneurship Studies, Sinhala as a Second Language, Tamil as a Second Language
  • Category II basket (aesthetic) – Art, Western Music, Oriental Music, Dancing (Oriental), Drama & Theatre, Appreciation of English Literary Texts
  • Category III basket – ICT, Communication & Media Studies, Agriculture & Food Technology, Health & Physical Education, Home Economics, Design & Construction Technology

How each subject works

  • Every subject opens with Exam at a glance: paper structure, marks and the most-tested topics
  • Each lesson ends with Practice Questions followed by a full Answers section
  • Each subject finishes with a graded Mock Quiz; after submitting, open your attempt to review the correct answers and explanations

Note: First Language (Sinhala/Tamil) papers must be answered in Sinhala or Tamil, and some subjects (for example Dancing and Oriental Music) are mainly examined in Sinhala medium. Always confirm your medium, the latest paper format and the timetable on doenets.lk and with your teacher.

Show More

Course Content

Start Here: About the O/L Exam
What the GCE O/L (English medium) involves: subjects, grades, A/L entry, the latest reform news and where to find official papers. Also covers a proven study and past-paper strategy.

  • Start Here 1: About the GCE O/L (English Medium)
  • Start Here 2: How to Study & Use Past Papers
  • Start Here – Mock Quiz

Mathematics
The complete Grade 10–11 O/L Mathematics syllabus with many worked examples. Covers number and logarithms, financial maths, algebra, sequences, matrices, graphs, mensuration, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, sets and probability.

Science
Integrated O/L Science for English-medium candidates: biology, chemistry and physics from the NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus, with worked calculations and Paper II structured-question technique.

English Language
Complete preparation for the compulsory O/L English Language Papers I and II – grammar, vocabulary and cloze, reading comprehension, guided writing and long writing, with original practice passages and model answers.

History
Compulsory O/L subject covering the NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus: sources and ancient Sri Lanka, the Kandyan Kingdom and Western powers, British rule and resistance, the plantation economy and national revival, constitutional reforms to independence (1948) and after, plus world history from the Industrial Revolution to the UN.

Sinhala Language & Literature (First Language)
Compulsory core (mother-tongue) O/L subject for Sinhala-medium students, examined in Sinhala through three papers (MCQ, language use and writing, literature). The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers the Sinhala script and spelling, grammar (sandhi, samasa, cases, verbs, voice, written vs spoken Sinhala), comprehension, summary and functional writing, and prescribed classical and modern literature.

Tamil Language & Literature (First Language)
Tamil Language and Literature is the core first-language subject for Tamil-medium O/L candidates, and it is examined and answered entirely in Tamil. The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers grammar (letters, words, sentences, prosody, figures of speech), comprehension and précis, creative and functional writing, and selected classical, medieval, modern and Sri Lankan Tamil literature.

Buddhism
Buddhism is a core religion subject at GCE O/L (Paper I: 40 MCQs; Paper II: structured/essay), taken by Buddhist candidates. The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers the life of the Buddha, the Triple Gem, the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Tilakkhana, Paticcasamuppada, kamma, ethics, meditation, prescribed suttas, Jatakas and Dhammapada, and the history, culture and art of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the world.

Saivaneri (Hinduism)
Saivaneri is the core O/L religion subject for Hindu students (one religion is compulsory), examined through a multiple-choice Paper I and a written Paper II. The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers Saiva Siddhanta (Pathi, Pasu, Pasam), Siva and forms of worship, temples, rituals, festivals and vratams, the Nayanmars and Thirumurai, Puranas and Ithihasas, Thirukkural ethics and the history of Saivism in Sri Lanka.

Christianity
The Bible, the Old Testament, the life and teaching of Jesus in Luke, Acts and the early Church, Christian living and ethics, worship, and Christianity in Sri Lanka, following the NIE Grade 10–11 Christianity syllabus (English medium).

Catholicism
Sacred Scripture and Genesis, the seven sacraments, liturgy and the liturgical year, the Commandments, the Church and Catholic social teaching, saints, and the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, following the NIE Grade 10–11 Catholicism syllabus (English medium).

Islam
Islam is a core religion subject at GCE O/L (Paper I: 40 MCQs; Paper II: structured/essay), taken by Muslim candidates. The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers Aqeedah, Qur'an and Hadith studies, sources of Shari'ah, Fiqh of worship and transactions, family life, Akhlaq, the Seerah, the Khulafa ar-Rashidun and the history of Muslims in Sri Lanka.

Business & Accounting Studies
The business and its environment, forms of ownership, banking, insurance, transport, warehousing, trade and marketing, plus bookkeeping from the accounting equation and double entry to trial balance and financial statements with worked LKR examples.

Geography
Physical geography of the Earth and Sri Lanka, agriculture and industry, resources, population and development, natural hazards, climate change and 1:50,000 map skills for the GCE O/L (English medium).

Civic Education
O/L Category I subject covering the NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus: democracy and the state, levels of government, law and the courts, human rights and duties, multicultural society, conflict resolution, economic systems and productivity, sustainable development and international relations.

Entrepreneurship Studies
The entrepreneur, creativity and innovation, the business environment and business ideas, preparing a business plan with LKR sales, cost, investment and cash-flow estimates, forms of organisation, franchising and entrepreneurial culture in Sri Lanka.

Sinhala as a Second Language
Optional Category I (first basket) O/L subject for students whose first language is Tamil, including many English-medium students, examined through an MCQ paper and a written paper in Sinhala. The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers the Sinhala script and pronunciation, everyday vocabulary and dialogues, core grammar (tenses, cases, questions, polite forms, spoken vs written Sinhala), reading comprehension and short practical writing.

Tamil as a Second Language
Second Language – Tamil is an optional Category I basket subject for students whose first language is Sinhala (and English-medium students choosing Sri Lanka's second national language), examined in Paper I (MCQ) and Paper II (written). The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers the Tamil script and pronunciation, everyday vocabulary, core grammar (tenses, case suffixes, negatives, questions, polite forms), reading comprehension, short writing and everyday dialogues.

Art
Art is a Category II (aesthetic) basket subject at the GCE O/L, available in Sinhala, Tamil and English medium and examined through a theory paper and a practical drawing/painting paper. The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers the elements and principles of art, media and techniques, still life, figure, landscape, imaginative composition and design, Sri Lankan, Indian and world art history, and art appreciation.

Western Music
Western Music is an optional Category II (aesthetic) basket subject at the GCE O/L, examined through written papers (MCQ plus structured/essay) and a DoE practical with a listening test. Based on the NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus, this section covers rudiments, scales and intervals, harmony and cadences, melody writing, form, music history from Baroque to the 20th century, orchestral instruments, Sri Lankan forms such as Nadagam and Nurthi, and aural and practical exam skills.

Oriental Music
Oriental Music is an optional Category II (aesthetic) basket subject at the GCE O/L, examined mostly in Sinhala medium through written papers (MCQ plus structured/essay) and a DoE practical test. Following the NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus, this section covers swara, saptaka and the thaat system, prescribed ragas, talas and Bhatkhande notation, Indian and Sri Lankan instruments, Sinhala folk songs and drama traditions, Indian music history, Sri Lankan pioneers and practical exam tips.

Dancing (Oriental)
Dancing (Oriental) is a Category II (aesthetic) basket subject at the GCE O/L, examined through written papers plus a separate DoE practical test (papers are issued mainly in Sinhala medium). The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers the Kandyan, Low-country and Sabaragamuwa traditions, vannams and the ves tradition, rituals, folk dance and drama, rhythm and instruments, dance pioneers and Indian classical dance.

Drama & Theatre
Drama and Theatre is an optional Category II (aesthetic) basket subject, offered in Sinhala, Tamil and English medium and assessed through written papers (MCQ and structured/essay) plus a DoE practical test. The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers the elements of drama, world, Asian and Sri Lankan theatre history, prescribed plays, acting skills, stagecraft, directing and production.

Appreciation of English Literary Texts
Revision of the O/L English Literature (subject 46) prescribed poems, short stories, plays and novels, with themes, characters and techniques, plus frameworks for context questions, essays and unseen texts.

Information & Communication Technology
O/L ICT (English medium): computer fundamentals, number systems and logic, office applications, databases, networks, the Internet and HTML, plus algorithms, Pascal programming and ICT in society.

Communication & Media Studies
The communication process and models, types of mass media, folk media and the history of media in Sri Lanka, news writing and radio/TV production basics, new and social media, media ethics and law, and media literacy.

Agriculture & Food Technology
Climate and irrigation, soil and plant nutrition, crop propagation and protection, protected agriculture, animal production, post-harvest handling and food preservation for the GCE O/L (English medium).

Health & Physical Education
Health concepts, growth and adolescence, nutrition and food safety, body systems, fitness and first aid, plus athletics, team-game rules and sports management for the GCE O/L (English medium).

Home Economics
Home Economics is an optional Category III (technical/practical) basket subject at the GCE O/L, offered in English, Sinhala and Tamil. The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers food and nutrition, meal planning and food management, textiles and clothing, housing and home management, and family and child development.

Design & Construction Technology
Design & Construction Technology is an optional Category III (technical/practical) basket subject at the GCE O/L, available in English as well as Sinhala and Tamil. The NIE Grade 10–11 syllabus covers the design process, technical drawing, building materials and concrete, building elements from foundation to roof, surveying, water supply, sanitation, electrical installation, cost estimation and sustainable building.

Student Ratings & Reviews

No Review Yet
No Review Yet

Want to receive push notifications for all major on-site activities?

✕

Report

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

  • See blocked member's posts
  • Mention this member in posts
  • Invite this member to groups
  • Message this member
  • Add this member as a connection

Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

Report

You have already reported this .