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GCE O-Level 2024 Timetable

*All information is accurate as of 8 March 2024.

GCE O-Level Examination 2024 Dates

It is important for students and parents both to take note of the various examination dates, ensuring that there is enough revision time allocated for each subject and that the student is on track.

Here is the timetable (arranged by subject) for GCE O-Level Examination 2024.

O-level registration dates

4 April 2024 (Thursday) - 17 April 2024 (Wednesday)

O-level oral exam dates

Subject Date Time
Mother Tongue Language (Chinese, Malay, Tamil) 4 July 2024 (Thursday) - 12 July 2024 (Friday) Afternoon sessions only
English Language  22 July 2024 (Monday) Afternoon sessions only
English Language  23 July 2024 (Tuesday) - 25 July 2024 (Thursday) Full days
English Language  26 July 2024 (Friday) Afternoon sessions only
Mother Tongue B subjects (Chinese, Malay, Tamil) Mid-year exam 23 July 2024 (Tuesday) - 25 July 2024 (Thursday) Afternoon sessions only
Third language - Arabic 30 July 2024 (Tuesday) - 31 July 2024 (Wednesday) MOE has not released a confirmed time yet.
Third language - Bahasa Indonesia 30 July 2024 (Tuesday) - 1 August (Thursday) Afternoon sessions only
Special programme - Chinese language and Malay language 31 July 2024 (Wednesday) Afternoon sessions only
Mother Tongue B subjects (Chinese, Malay, Tamil) Year-end exam 25 September 2024 (Wednesday) Afternoon sessions only

O-level listening comprehension exam dates

Subject Date Time
Mother Tongue Language (Chinese, Malay, Tamil) 3 July 2024 (Wednesday) Afternoon sessions only
Mother Tongue B subjects (Chinese, Malay, Tamil) Mid-year exam 3 July 2024 (Wednesday) Afternoon sessions only
English Language  16 October 2024 (Wednesday) Afternoon sessions only
Mother Tongue B subjects (Chinese, Malay, Tamil) Year-end exam 25 September 2024 (Wednesday) Afternoon sessions only

O-level practical exam dates

Subject Date Time
Higher Music / Performing Music 24 September 2024 (Tuesday) - 27 September 2024 (Friday) MOE has not released a confirmed time yet
Computing 11 October 2024 (Wednesday) Morning sessions only
Science 2 October 2024 (Wednesday) - 15 October 2024 (Tuesday) MOE has not released a confirmed time yet

O-level practical exam dates

Subject Date Time
Mother Tongue Language (Chinese, Malay, Tamil) Mid-year exam 27 May 2024 (Monday) Morning sessions only
Mother Tongue B subjects (Chinese, Malay, Tamil) Mid-year exam 27 May 2024 (Monday) Afternoon sessions only
End-of-year exam 17 October 2024 (Thursday) - 11 November 2024 (Monday) Exams will start on the 17th of November during the afternoon session.

Marking days

Unlike the PSLE, there are no marking days for the O Level examination as the majority of the exam scripts (with the exception of Mother Tongue languages) will be shipped off to the Cambridge examiners for marking. Nevertheless, students and parents can heave a big sigh of relief when the O Levels examination period comes to a close and reward themselves for their hard work for the past year.

O-level result date

The 2023 GCE O-Levels results will be released on Thursday, 11 January 2024. 

MOE has not yet announced the result date for the 2024 exam. Make sure to bookmark this page for future updates on the results.

Days leading up to the O Level result day will always be one of anticipation. Students and parents alike wait expectantly for the examination results that can determine their next path in education. On the result day, the results will be given to the students in their respective classrooms. Usually, the collection of results begins at 2 pm.

Private candidates will be notified of their individual results by post. The results will be mailed on the results day to the address provided to SEAB. Private candidates can also view their results online via the SEAB Candidates Portal.

Understanding GCE O-Level

Taking the O Level examination is probably one of the most important academic milestones for a student. Getting good scores in this particular examination is something many hope to achieve, as it determines a student’s academic journey for the next two to three years.

The O Level examination is offered to students from mainstream secondary schools taking the Secondary 4 Express or Secondary 5 Normal Academic course. Meanwhile, private candidates who have met the eligibility criteria can also sit for the examination. Upon completion of the O Level examinations, candidates will receive an O Level certificate.

The joint examining authorities for the O Level are The University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), the Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).

According to the SEAB website, the O Level is based on Singapore’s curriculum and syllabus, designed by the MOE. Below are the roles each examining authority plays in the O Level examination:

Examining Authorities Roles
The University of Cambridge International Examinations
(CIE)
  • Set and mark the examination papers (except Mother Tongue language papers), curriculum standards and learning objectives

Ministry of Education
(MOE) 
 
  • Determine the assessment standards of the subjects and determine the grades that should be awarded PSLE scores
     
  • Set, mark and grade Mother Tongue languages
     

Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board
(SEAB)
 

After the O Level examination, some students might choose to undergo a path that takes them to Junior College, others will opt for Polytechnics or the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). Each education path has its merits and serves to prepare the students well for the future.

Throughout Secondary School, which lasts for 4 to 5 years, teachers and parents work towards preparing the student for this annual national examination. It is important for both parents and students to know everything there is to know about the examination, starting with the scoring system, exam format, syllabus and exam dates.

About the examination

The GCE O-Level Examination is typically segregated into four to five parts.

  • Oral Examination (language subjects only)
  • Listening Comprehension Examination (language subjects only)
  • Written Examination
  • Coursework (selected subjects only)
  • Practical Assessment (selected subjects only)

Depending on the subject combination that is taken, some students may sit for additional papers, or have to be evaluated based on their coursework through the final year of study. Coursework assessments are typically meant for subjects where students are expected to produce an output after a period of time, such as Art, Exercise and Sports Science and Music.

For Science subjects, practical assessments are also part of the overall examination. The practical assessments seek to assess students in several skill areas such as planning, measurement and observation, presentation of data and observation as well as analysis and evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is O-level 2024?

According to recent updates from the Ministry of Education (MOE), O-level orals are expected to commence on July 4th, listening comprehension on July 3rd, practical exams on September 24th, and year-end written exams on October 17th.

When will O-level 2024 end?

The written O-level exams for 2024 are expected to conclude by November 11, 2024.

What is the GCE O-level examination? 

The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) examination is an annual national examination open to both school and private candidates. It is an internationally recognized qualification that assesses a student's knowledge and understanding of various subjects, including mathematics, science, languages, and humanities. The examination is offered to students from mainstream schools who are taking the Secondary Four Express course or Secondary Five Normal (Academic) course. Private candidates who meet the eligibility criteria may apply.

What is the equivalence of the GCE O-level examination?

The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and International General Certificate of Secondary education) IGCSE are two notable examinations often considered the equivalence of the GCE O-level examination. However, it's important to note that the equivalence of the GCE O-level examination varies by country and educational system. In some countries, it's equivalent to a high school diploma, while in others, it may be equivalent to the completion of lower secondary education. 

How is the GCE O-level score calculated?

The GCE O-level score is calculated by adding up the numeral grade of each subject. For example, if a student achieves a grade of A2 in the English Language and B3 in Mathematics, the numeral grade of each subject would be 2 and 3 respectively. The final score is the sum of the numeral grade of each O-level subject the student has undertaken. Depending on the choice of Post-Secondary Education Institution (PSEI), the entry requirement will differ. The available options for students to choose from include Junior College (JC), Polytechnic,  Millennia Institute, and institute of technical education (ITE).

What are the entry requirements for Junior College, Polytechnic, Millennia Institute, and ITE?

Junior College (JC)
Students are assessed based on their L1R5 (First language and 5 relevant subjects) score.

Polytechnic
Students are assessed based on their ELR2B2 (English language, 2 relevant subjects, and best 2 other subjects) score.

Millennia Institute (MI)
Students are assessed based on their L1R4 (First language and 4 relevant subjects) score.

Institute of Technical Education (ITE)
Students are assessed based on either their ELB4 (English language, 4 best subjects), ELR1B3 (English language, 1 relevant subject, best 3 other subjects), or ELR2B2 (English subject, 2 relevant subjects, and best 2 other subjects) score. For more information, check out our article on the GCE O-level scoring system

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