O Level Study Guide

Cambridge O Level is an internationally recognised qualification for 14 to 16 year olds. Cambridge describes it as equivalent to Cambridge IGCSE and the UK GCSE, and states that Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge O Level are equivalent qualifications grade for grade. On certificates it appears as GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (GCE O LEVEL).

Who it is designed for

Cambridge says O Level was designed especially for an international market, is sensitive to the needs of different countries, and is designed for learners whose first language may not be English, which is acknowledged throughout the examination process. Schools choose from more than 40 O Level subjects in any combination.

Where it is taken

O Level is not offered everywhere. Cambridge O Levels are available to schools in administrative zones 3, 4 and 5, and are not available for examination in zones 1, 2 and 6. Cambridge's own results reports show where the biggest O Level cohorts are:

• In the June 2026 series there were almost 231,000 O Level entries. English Language was the most popular O Level subject, followed by Mathematics, Pakistan Studies, Islamiyat and Urdu as a Second Language.
• In the November 2025 series, students in 803 schools sat O Level exams, with over 33,000 entries. Cambridge noted that the most popular subjects were taken particularly in Pakistan and Sub-Saharan Africa.

That mix of subjects, with Pakistan Studies, Islamiyat and Urdu near the top, is a big part of what makes O Level different from IGCSE in practice: the qualification includes nationally focused subjects that many O Level schools rely on.

O Level and IGCSE side by side

	Cambridge O Level	Cambridge IGCSE
Level	Same level; equivalent grade for grade
Grades	A* to E	A* to G (9 to 1 option in zone 3)
Tiers	Single tier in subjects like Mathematics 4024 and Chemistry 5070	Core and Extended in many subjects
Series	June and November	June and November, plus March in India
Availability	Zones 3, 4 and 5 only	All zones

This is the most important thing to know about O Level in 2026. Cambridge has announced that from June 2028 it will begin transitioning schools in administrative zones 3 and 5 from Cambridge O Levels to equivalent Cambridge IGCSE qualifications, in phases. Cambridge says it will continue to run O Levels in zone 4.

What Cambridge has said about specific subjects

• Additional Mathematics 4037: available in zones 3, 4 and 5 in 2026 and 2027; from 2028, zone 4 only. Cambridge suggests centres in zones 3 and 5 consider IGCSE Additional Mathematics 0606.
• Mathematics (Syllabus D) 4024: available in zones 3, 4 and 5 in 2026, 2027 and 2028; from 2029, zone 4 only. Cambridge suggests centres in zones 3 and 5 consider IGCSE Mathematics 0580.
• Cambridge's transition page lists a first phase (Accounting, Additional Mathematics, Business, Economics and Literature in English) assessed as IGCSE only from 2028, and a second phase (Environmental Management, Food and Nutrition, and Mathematics D) from June 2029.

Cambridge's transition page is not fully consistent: its FAQ says the first phase applies from the June 2029 series, while the subject list says 2028. The individual syllabus pages for 4037 and 4024 give the clearest dates, so check the page for each of your subjects.

What it means for you

• If you sit O Level in 2026 or 2027, nothing changes for your exams. Your grades keep their value.
• If you are starting a two-year course now in zone 3 or 5, ask your school whether each subject will still be offered as O Level when you sit it, or whether you will sit the IGCSE equivalent.
• If you switch to IGCSE, the content is often similar, but the papers can differ (for example, IGCSE Mathematics 0580 has Core and Extended tiers, while O Level 4024 does not). Use the IGCSE syllabus and IGCSE past papers from that point.

As with IGCSE, each O Level subject has its own syllabus with its own papers. The Assessment overview page of the syllabus is where you find the papers, durations, marks and weightings. Two of the most popular subjects show the typical O Level pattern: everyone sits the same papers.

Mathematics (Syllabus D) 4024, exams in 2025 to 2027

• Paper 1: Non-calculator. 2 hours, 100 marks, 50%. Calculators are not allowed.
• Paper 2: Calculator. 2 hours, 100 marks, 50%. A scientific calculator is required.
• All candidates take both papers and are eligible for grades A* to E. Both papers have structured and unstructured questions on any part of the content.
• Content covers nine topic areas: Number; Algebra and graphs; Coordinate geometry; Geometry; Mensuration; Trigonometry; Transformations and vectors; Probability; Statistics.
• Non-exact answers should be given to 3 significant figures, or 1 decimal place for angles in degrees, unless the question says otherwise. Do not round until the final answer.

Compare that with IGCSE Mathematics 0580, where Extended candidates sit two 2-hour papers and Core candidates sit two 1 hour 30 minute papers on narrower content. At O Level there is no Core option, so every student needs the full syllabus.

Chemistry 5070, exams in 2026 to 2028

• Paper 1: Multiple Choice. 1 hour, 40 four-option questions, 40 marks, 30%.
• Paper 2: Theory. 1 hour 45 minutes, 80 marks, 50%, short-answer and structured questions.
• Practical, one of: Paper 3 Practical Test (1 hour 30 minutes) or Paper 4 Alternative to Practical (1 hour), both 40 marks, 20%.
• All candidates take three components and are eligible for grades A* to E.

Assessment objectives

In O Level Chemistry, the assessment objectives are weighted AO1 Knowledge with understanding 50%, AO2 Handling information and problem-solving 30%, and AO3 Experimental skills and investigations 20%. Papers 1 and 2 are 63% AO1 and 37% AO2, while the practical paper is entirely AO3. That tells you how to revise: about a third of your theory marks need you to apply ideas to unfamiliar data, not just recall them.

This weighted estimate is a planning tool only. Cambridge publishes grade thresholds after each series, so you need the threshold table for a particular series to turn a practice score into a grade.

The A* to E scale

Cambridge O Level grades are A*, A, B, C, D and E. A* is the highest and E is the lowest. "Ungraded" means a candidate's performance did not meet the standard required for grade E; it is reported on the statement of results but not on the certificate. In specific circumstances you may see Q (pending) or X (no result) on your statement of results; these do not appear on the certificate.

There are no F or G grades at O Level. Cambridge's 9 to 1 grading option is offered for IGCSE syllabuses, each with its own code, so if you see a 9 to 1 Cambridge syllabus it is an IGCSE (9 to 1), not an O Level.

What the grades are used for

Cambridge says O Level assessment has two purposes: to measure learning and achievement, and to show likely future success, helping predict which students are well prepared for a particular course or career. For Chemistry, Cambridge says candidates who achieve grades A* to C are well prepared to follow a wide range of courses including Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry. Many universities require a combination of AS and A Levels and O Levels (or equivalent) to meet their entry requirements.

Grade thresholds

Cambridge sets grade thresholds after each series. Thresholds are the minimum marks needed for each grade and can change between series, so treat any fixed "you need 80% for an A" rule with suspicion. Download past threshold tables for your syllabus to see the typical range.

When you can sit O Level

Candidates can be entered in the June and November exam series. Unlike IGCSE, there is no March series for O Level. Each administrative zone has its own timetable, published on cambridgeinternational.org; use your own zone's timetable, which your exams officer can confirm.

Entries and retakes

• Your school's exams officer submits entries, including your practical option (for example 5070 Paper 3 or Paper 4).
• Private candidates can enter O Level syllabuses such as 4024 and 5070.
• Candidates can retake the whole qualification as many times as they want.
• The 5070 syllabus and its assessment materials are available in English only; check the language note in your own syllabus.

Combination rules

You can take O Level syllabuses alongside other Cambridge syllabuses in a single series, with exceptions. Cambridge does not allow you to combine a syllabus with another at the same level covering the same subject. For example:

• O Level Chemistry 5070 cannot be taken in the same series as IGCSE Chemistry 0620, IGCSE (9 to 1) Chemistry 0971, IGCSE Physical Science 0652, IGCSE Combined Science 0653, IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences 0654 or 0973, or O Level Combined Science 5129.
• IGCSE Mathematics 0580 cannot be taken in the same series as O Level Mathematics 4024.

This matters during the transition: a school moving from O Level to IGCSE will enter you for one or the other in a given series, not both as a safety net.

Official resources

Every O Level syllabus page on cambridgeinternational.org has a Past papers, examiner reports and specimen papers section. The 4024 Mathematics page, for example, offers a selection of past papers with mark schemes, specimen papers and mark schemes for 2018 and 2025, and the June 2024 examiner report. Cambridge notes that past papers may not reflect the content of the current syllabus. Registered schools get a wider range through the School Support Hub, including example candidate responses and specimen paper answers, so ask your teacher.

Which papers to use first

• For 4024, Cambridge reviewed and revised the syllabus for first examination in 2025. Start with the 2025 specimen papers, then use older past papers while checking each question against the current content list and the syllabus's changes section.
• For 5070, Cambridge says there are no significant changes affecting teaching in the 2026 to 2028 syllabus, so recent past papers are a good match.

An O Level revision routine

1. Know the command words. The syllabus defines each one. "State" means express in clear terms; "Explain" means set out reasons and make the relationships clear; "Suggest" means apply knowledge to a situation where several answers are valid. Many lost marks come from describing when the question says explain.
2. Practise without a calculator. 4024 Paper 1 is a full 2-hour non-calculator paper worth half the grade. Fraction, ratio and standard form skills need to be fast.
3. Practise unfamiliar contexts. AO2 questions in sciences use data you have not seen before. After each past paper, note which marks needed application rather than recall.
4. Read the examiner report for every series you practise. It tells you exactly where candidates lost marks on each question.
5. Mark with the official mark scheme, then convert your score using that series' grade threshold table.