For the GCE Advanced Level examination, you can select three (3) subjects from within five (5) main subject streams namely Arts, Commerce, Biological Science, Physical Science or Technology. You also have to sit for General English and Common General Test for their A/L examination, but the results of these papers are not considered for University entrance. But those results will also be included in the A/L exam results sheet.
Subjects available for A/L Arts Stream
Art stream is the most popular subject area among the Sri Lankan students. A/L arts stream has about sixty (60) subjects and these are categorized into four different subject areas
- Social Sciences/ Applied Social studies
- Religious and Civilization
- Aesthetics
- Languages
As an art student, you can select subjects from any one of the following areas.
Social Science Subjects
- You should select at least one subject from this subject area/
- If you want, you can select two or all three subjects within this category
- This statement is not valid for those who are following two or three language subjects.
Subjects – Economics, Geography, History (Sri Lankan history and Indian history or European history or World history), Home Economics, Political Sciences, Logic and Scientific method, Accounting or Business Statistics, Agriculture or mathematics (One subject from Technological studies – Civil/ Mechanical or Electrical/ Electronic and Information Technology or Food Technology or Agro technology or Bio-Resource Technology), Communication and Mass media, Information and Communication Technology)
Religious and Civilization Subjects
Buddhism or Buddhist Civilization, Christianity or Christian Culture, Hinduism or Hindu Civilization, Islam or Islam Civilization and Greek & Roman Civilization are the subjects available in this category.
- If you select one religious subject from this category, then you cannot select its civilization subject. For example, If f you select Buddhism, you cannot select Buddhist civilization
Aesthetic Subjects
This category offers art, dancing (Sri Lankan or Indian), music (Oriental music, Carnatic music, or Western music), and drama and theatre (Sinhala, English, or Tamil).
- From these aesthetic subjects you can select one or two subjects.
Language Subjects
The new Educational Reforms have encouraged the students to learn International Languages.
Language subjects are offered in three different categories.
- National languages (Sinhala, Tamil, English)
- Classical Languages (Arabic, Pali, Sanskrit)
- Foreign Languages (Chinese, Malay, French, Russian, Hindi, Japanese).
You can select one or two language subjects from above list
If you want to study three languages for your A/L, the selection should be as follows.
- Sinhala, Tamil, English
- Any three subjects representing National languages and Classical Languages
For example, you can select Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit
If you select two language subjects, you will be able to select one subject from Social Sciences /Religious and Civilization /Aesthetic as your third subject. For example you can select English, Japanese and Electronic and Information Technology.
However, some subjects may not be available at your school. Having a better understanding of available courses in national Universities will be an added advantage for selecting a subject combination. As a vast array of subjects are available, you can take up innovative and novel subject combinations in keeping with worldwide trends. For example you can select a combination with Mathematics, IT and Economics.
What are high Z Score subjects in the Arts Stream?
Many students ask about high Z-score subjects they should select in order to enter good university courses in this stream such as the Law Faculty. (For 2018/2019 Academic year you need a 1.7 to 1.9 Z Score to enter the Arts faculty)
It is difficult to comment on high Z score subjects as Z scores change from year to year. However many students who are doing subjects such as Logic, Geography, Economics, ICT to get high z scores.
Read more – How Z score is calculated?
Download the Ministry of Education Circular on A/L subject combinations:
Download relevant circular from the Ministry of Higher Education website – GCE Advanced Level Subject Options and Subject Combinations for Selection to University Degree Programs
http://www.moe.gov.lk/english/images/stories/circulars/2009-16s.pdf
You may also like to read:
Choosing A/L Subject Streams After O/Ls
Choosing A/L Subject Streams After O/Ls: A Complete 2023 Guide
I want to become a lawyer can u pls recommend the subjects which has a low z score for me to do for my al
Is it possible to do ICT, french and economics??
Sir/Ma’am,
I wish to do english literature, economics and statistics for my A/L.Is this combination possible and moreover good?
[email protected]
Dear sir,I did o/l exam in 2016.I like to be a lawyer.what are the subjects?sir,plz tell me about this and how I select for law college?
Dear sir, my younger brother wish to do political ,economics and Japanese.. I want to know about his choice? Are those subjects matching or not? What are the best clzes for them in gampaha..
Dear sir/ mam, now im 24 years old and im married can i do A/L now and im intrsted to do language subjects please i need your kind guidence.
can i do islam ict and English
good afternoon. .. please can someone tell me whether can i do ict islam and English
Dear Sir/Madam,
Can you please reccomend me some of the best English medium Arts stream A/L classes in Sri lanka?
And is English Literature not a subject in A/Ls?
Dear,sir/madam
I’d like to know what are the subjects i should do for my A/l’s if i want to be a lawyer???
Select any three subjects. You need to get higher Z score to get into law faculty.
My daughter is will to study Mass media, Chinese, Japanese, is it possible
My daughter is interested in Singing and drama and also likes cooking. Please can advise as to which subjects she should be taking for A/Long
Thanks
Dear sir…
I’m 2017 batch a.l arts stream students… I need paper classes and revision classes in colombo…. May I know where I could find the classes for bellow subjects in tamil medium.
Political Science
Tamil
Indian and Srilankan history
Dear sir my aim is to be a lawyer. I want to select the arts stream could u suggest me some subjects with low z score?
To get into Law faculty you need Higher Z score.
Dear sir,i want to be a software engineer.but i don’t know which subjects I do for my A/L.please tell me .
Dear sir/ Madam
I like to be an Architect .So what are the subjects should I follow ?For my A/L’S . (Art steam)
dear sir i want to become a lawyer but in our school there is no more subjects what i want to do and what are the subjects? i want to select?
Dear sir,
I want to become a music lecturer but I have no idea about the subjects that I should choose along with western music to achieve my target.so could you pleas help me in with this.
I do al in art stream. lawyer ,embasian and lecture one of job i do in future.i do it,french,geography.in do these subject i can reach my gole or diffult?plz can tell me my my subects are match or not matching?
Dear sir/madam,
What are the uses of doing advance level in Japanese ,english,French.what kind of job may I have ? If can I go to the sri Lankan university?
Dear sir/ma’am i would like to know that what subjects should i do to become a ambassador after A/L
Kanpperera @gmail.com
Dear sir, I need to become a lawyer.What are the subjects that are essential in A/l to become a lawyer
Dear sir, i want to know the courses that i can follow in university if i select sinhala, tamil and media as my a/l subjects…
dear sir , i want to become a lawyer…. but i haven’t a choice which subject i can choose …. i think to do logic , sinhala & ICT … can i enter to the law college doing that subjects ?