Sri Lanka Advanced Level (A/L) Examination Syllabus - Science Stream

The Sri Lanka Advanced Level (A/L) Examination is a pre-university examination in Sri Lanka, administered by the Department of Examinations of the Ministry of Education. Students typically sit for the exam after completing two years of study in grades 12 and 13. The A/L examination is highly competitive and plays a crucial role in university admissions.

The Science stream is one of the four main streams offered in the A/L examination, alongside Commerce, Arts, and Technology. Within the Science stream, students can choose between two main subject combinations: Biological Science and Physical Science.

Biological Science

The Biological Science stream requires students to study Biology and Chemistry as mandatory subjects. They can then choose between Physics and Agricultural Science as their third subject.

• Biology: The Biology syllabus aims to develop students' personal, interpersonal, and thinking skills. It covers a wide range of topics, from the introduction to biology and the chemical and cellular basis of life to more complex concepts like genetics, evolution, and biotechnology.
• Chemistry: The Chemistry syllabus provides a foundation for higher studies in various science-related fields. It covers topics such as atomic structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, chemical kinetics, and organic chemistry.
• Physics/Agricultural Science: Students can choose either Physics or Agricultural Science as their elective subject. Physics explores concepts like mechanics, waves, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism. Agricultural Science focuses on the principles and practices of agriculture.

Physical Science

The Physical Science stream requires students to study Combined Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.

• Combined Mathematics: This subject combines elements of pure mathematics and applied mathematics, covering topics such as calculus, algebra, trigonometry, and statistics.
• Physics: As described above, the Physics syllabus covers fundamental concepts in physics, including mechanics, waves, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism.
• Chemistry: As described above, the Chemistry syllabus provides a foundation in chemistry, covering topics like atomic structure, chemical bonding, and organic chemistry.

It is important to note that the A/L syllabus is regularly updated. Students are advised to refer to the official resources provided by the Department of Examinations for the most current information.