What is an O level?

O Levels, or Ordinary Levels, are subject-based academic qualifications that were originally offered by educational boards in the United Kingdom and are now primarily administered by Cambridge Assessment International Education. They are typically taken by students in secondary education, around the ages of 14 to 16, as part of their school-leaving exams. O Levels serve as a foundation for further study, such as A Levels or vocational qualifications, and are recognized internationally for their academic rigor.