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

1. Social Sciences/ Applied Social studies 
2. Religious and Civilization
3. Aesthetics
4. 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.

1. National languages (Sinhala, Tamil, English)
2. Classical Languages (Arabic, Pali, Sanskrit)
3. 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

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