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You are here: Home / careers / How to select Subject Combinations for GCE Advanced Level?

How to select Subject Combinations for GCE Advanced Level?

December 10, 2007 By Hiran 112 Comments

උසස් පෙළට විෂය තේරීමට අත්වැලක්

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.

Select subject combinations wisely. Do not select combinations based on advertisements by tuition teachers, says Mr Sanath Gamage

 


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/

Related Posts

Subject combinations for Arts subjects
2019 A/L Tuition classes for students after O/L
Higher education choices after A/L
Higher education opportunities in Biological Science
Courses you can do after Advanced Level
A/L Syllabuses





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Filed Under: careers, Courses Tagged With: A/L, accounting, Biology, Chemistry, classes, economics, mathematics, O/L, physics, subjects

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Comments

  1. Shehan says

    December 10, 2023 at 8:32 am

    I was do subjects in Sinhala medium during O/L. Now I will do A/L in commerce subject. But when I choose the subject of commerce, I think,i want to do it in English medium because is that better for future. My English ability is normal.
    Is it okay to do that? Or don’t do it? Because there are difficult words in commerce subject, will I not be able to clear that subject?

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      December 16, 2023 at 10:06 pm

      The do it in Sinhala. For subjects like economics you need good english.

      Reply
  2. Shehan says

    December 10, 2023 at 8:31 am

    I was do subjects in Sinhala media during O/L. Now I will do A/L in commerce subject. But when I choose the subject of commerce, I think,i want to do it in English medium because is that better for future. My English ability is normal.
    Is it okay to do that? Or don’t do it? Because there are difficult words in commerce subject, will I not be able to clear that subject?

    Reply
  3. Rimaz says

    March 4, 2022 at 8:04 pm

    I am in a big confusion right now. I am having my o/l exams on this may 2022 and I have a future plan to become a software engineer and work for companies like Google, apple, Microsoft etc. But is it better to do A/L and then a degree or skipping A/L and doing a degree directly? And if doing A/L is better then what subs do I need to choose? And can I select maths stream and in that combined math, physics, ict? And if u know good university for getting a “bachelors of science in software engineering degree” pls leave it also in the reply. The answer for this will help me in my life so ur answers are appreciated.thnk u

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      March 14, 2022 at 9:02 pm

      How to become software engineer
      https://studentlanka.com/2016/04/03/how-to-become-a-software-engineer-in-sri-lanka/

      Reply
  4. Hansaja says

    December 28, 2021 at 8:58 am

    I’m going to choose Combine Maths , Physics along with IT. Will it reduce my Z-score?
    (In Sinhala medium) Is there is a large competition if I do ICT without chemistry in maths stream?

    Reply
  5. kavishi dimodya says

    November 6, 2021 at 12:09 pm

    Hiran Sir , I’d like to do Biology in A/ L .So what is the minimum O/L result required to do Biology?
    plz rply…

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      December 19, 2021 at 8:50 am

      Please ask the school.

      Reply
  6. Lucy says

    May 31, 2021 at 1:18 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      June 6, 2021 at 11:50 am

      Yes

      Reply
  7. Lakmal says

    May 16, 2021 at 10:44 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      May 20, 2021 at 10:42 am

      You can site only three times.

      Reply
  8. M. Abhinanth says

    May 15, 2021 at 1:46 pm

    I like to become an industrial engineer. What are the subjects sholud I follow for A/L in English medium?

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      May 20, 2021 at 10:43 am

      Comb Maths, Physics, Chemistry

      Reply
  9. Amreed says

    April 11, 2021 at 8:36 pm

    Can i do accounting business studies and geography

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      May 12, 2021 at 8:38 am

      No

      Reply
  10. Thisaga says

    July 20, 2020 at 9:04 pm

    I prefer to do business studies accounting and ICT
    Can i do managment digree in university

    Reply
    • Sharmi says

      August 22, 2020 at 10:36 am

      Iam fail in maths can I do commerce for als…… And iam taking maths this tym ols

      Reply
  11. Ajith says

    June 26, 2020 at 11:14 am

    Mama a/l walata agri, biology, chemistry follow karala biological science university aka karala chemistry, biology teacher kank wanne puluwanda sir

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      June 27, 2020 at 9:47 am

      Puluwan.

      Reply
  12. Joe Peiris says

    June 26, 2020 at 4:54 am

    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 ?.

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      June 27, 2020 at 9:47 am

      No.

      Reply
      • Anne says

        August 21, 2020 at 9:47 pm

        can I become a pilot by studying Combine Maths, Physics and Information Technology in Sinhala medium for A / L examination?

  13. Jetro says

    April 26, 2020 at 9:04 am

    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 ?

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      April 26, 2020 at 11:33 pm

      No.

      Reply
  14. Thiyashi says

    April 20, 2020 at 8:32 am

    I wanted to know whether i can select Biology, Chemistry & I.C.T (English Medium)

    Reply
    • Hiran says

      April 20, 2020 at 9:14 pm

      NO.

      Reply
  15. Farhath says

    March 21, 2020 at 7:22 pm

    Combined Maths , Physics and ICT subject combination comes under others (stream). What are the other subject combinations that would come under this category?

    Reply
    • Suhansa says

      June 24, 2024 at 7:30 am

      Sir, I did my Ols in English medium
      And I’m following bio stream for the Als but in Sinhala medium due to tuition clz problems and lack of resources

      And I’m feeling that biology is getting harder in Sinhala as I’m not well familiar with the words(I’m in 2026 Al batch)

      So what I want to do study one subject in English (biology) while doing other two in English medium
      Is it possible?? Will it interfere z score??

      Reply
      • Hiran says

        July 2, 2024 at 10:27 pm

        I think you have to do all in same medium. Please call 1919 for clarification or ask school.

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