How to select A/L subjects?
After O/L examination, what are the subject options (choices) do you have for GCE A/L? First you have to decide on the stream you are going to study - Science, Mathematics, Commerce, Arts or Technology.
Science stream
Science stream consists of Biological science or Physical Science. In Biological Science stream you have to follow Biology, Chemistry and Physics (or Agriculture). Physical science stream includes Physics, Chemistry and Combined Mathematics.
Watch video on How to select subjects for A/L (in Sinhala)
Biology
Biology is the science that deals with living things. It includes zoology (the study of animal life), botany (the study of plant life), microbiology (the study of microorganisms), human biology, cytology (the study of cells), anatomy, physiology, genetics, evolution and diversity.
Pursuing a career in biology can be immensely rewarding and exciting. Popular career option is to become a Doctor. But the knowledge in biology, increases our understanding about the natural world in which we live and helps us address issues of personal well being and worldwide concern, such as environmental depletion, threats to human health, and maintaining viable and abundant food supplies.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions. It is not an isolated discipline, and it merges into physics and biology.
Understanding chemistry helps you to understand the world around you. Everything you can touch or taste or smell is a chemical. When you study chemistry, you come to understand a bit about how things work. If you know some chemistry, you can make educated choices about everyday products that you use.
Physics
Physics is the scientific study of matter and energy and how they interact with each other.
This energy can take the form of motion, light, electricity, radiation, gravity. Physics deals with matter on scales ranging from sub-atomic particles (i.e. the particles that make up the atom and the particles that make up those particles) to stars and even entire galaxies.
In a broader sense, physics can be seen as the most fundamental of the natural sciences. Chemistry, for example, can be viewed as a complex application of physics, as it focuses on the interaction of energy and matter in chemical systems. We also know that biology is, at its heart, an application of chemical properties in living things, which means that it is also, ultimately, ruled by the physical laws.
Because physics covers so much area, it is divided into several specific fields of study, such as electronics, quantum physics, astronomy, and biophysics.
Combined Mathematics
Mathematics (maths) a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement. The term Combined Mathematics is used to describe Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.
Today, mathematics is used throughout the world in many fields, including natural science, engineering, medicine, and the social sciences such as economics. Applied mathematics, the application of mathematics to such fields, inspires and makes use of new mathematical discoveries and sometimes leads to the development of entirely new disciplines.
Commerce stream
Popular subjects in commerce stream consist of Economics, Business Studies and Accounting. However you can select other subject combinations also in Commerce stream.
Economics
Economics is the study of the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services (wealth) in human society. Economics can analyze and predict individual behavior as well as the effects of institutions such as firms and governments, or clubs and religions.
Accounting
Accounting is the art of recording, summarizing, reporting, and analyzing financial transactions.
Accountants use the work done by bookkeepers to produce and analyze financial reports. Although accounting follows the same principles and rules as bookkeeping, an accountant can design a system that will capture all of the details necessary to satisfy the needs of the business — managerial, financial reporting, projection, analysis, and tax reporting. A good accountant will create a system of financial reporting that gives a complete picture of a business.
Business studies
Business studies is about the world of business and it explores important features such as environments, markets, processes and organizations while examining their inter-relationships. Business is the social science of managing people to organize and maintain collective productivity toward accomplishing particular creative and productive goals, usually to generate profit.
Read More on How to select Subject combinationsin Commerce stream.
Arts Stream
In Arts stream students follow various subjects: Sinhala, Logic, Political Science, Geography, Buddhist Civilization, English Literature, Japanese, History and Drama. Read more on subject combinations for A/L arts stream.
Technology stream
For Technology stream you need to follow three subjects as follows:
1. Science for Technology
2. Engineering Technology or Bio-system technology
3. Select the third subject from 10 subjects including English, Information Technology, Economics, Geography, Commerce, Accounting, and Arts etc.
Read More on Technology Stream subject combinations:
https://studentlanka.com/2013/12/18/al-technology-stream-subject-combinations-syllabuses-and-teacher-guides/
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Hi Hiram sir, I got 3A 4B 2S for o/l I got A for English, A for science and B for maths, I really wanted to do maths for A/l, can I do maths for Al in a government school, please answer
Yes
Hi Hiran Sir, I faced A / L in 2018 combined maths(1shy), but I couldn’t get a successful result from it. So I wrote the exam for the second time in 2019(2shy) and got 3 simple passes in the biology stream. And also I did A/L in the 2020(Old syllabus) biology stream. I got 3 C passes from it. I really want to go to medicine anyway. If I face the exam in 2021 for the 4th time(New Syllabus), can I apply for a government university?
You can site only three times.
I like to become an industrial engineer. What are the subjects sholud I follow for A/L in English medium?
Comb Maths, Physics, Chemistry
Can i do accounting business studies and geography
No
I prefer to do business studies accounting and ICT
Can i do managment digree in university
Iam fail in maths can I do commerce for als…… And iam taking maths this tym ols
Mama a/l walata agri, biology, chemistry follow karala biological science university aka karala chemistry, biology teacher kank wanne puluwanda sir
Puluwan.
It is very clear and very specific. Students can select their subjects for A/L.
By the way is it really necessary to have done commerce for O/L to select commerce stream for A/L ?.
No.
can I become a pilot by studying Combine Maths, Physics and Information Technology in Sinhala medium for A / L examination?
Can i do Maths ,ICT and English ? iam doing my alevels in private .And What are the jobs i can do with these subjects in srilanka ?
No.
I wanted to know whether i can select Biology, Chemistry & I.C.T (English Medium)
NO.
Combined Maths , Physics and ICT subject combination comes under others (stream). What are the other subject combinations that would come under this category?