Grades and study results

How do educational institutions assess study results in Sri Lanka? And what documents do students receive when they have completed a study programme?

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Secondary education study results

Since 2001, secondary education schools have been assessing study results with the letters A through E, with an A as the highest score and E as the lowest possible passing grade.

For the GCE O/L and GCE A/L, the Department of Examinations uses the following system to assess study results:

Percentage Result Letter grade Meaning
100-75 Distinction A Outstanding
74-65 Very Good Pass B Very good
64-50 Credit Pass C Good
49-35 Ordinary Pass S Satisfactory
34-00 Weak (Failure) W/F Fail

Secondary education documents

The Department of Examinations is responsible for the national examinations that students take at the end of key stage 1 (grades 10-11) and key stage 2 (grades 12- 13). The Department of Examinations also awards the official diplomas:

  • General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level); and
  • General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level).

Please note: documents from secondary schools are therefore not official.

Higher education study results

Higher education institutions use a number of grading systems in conjunction. One system uses a 100-point scale. Sometimes, the points are therefore given as percentages, with 100% (100 points) as the highest score. In addition, institutions also use letters (grades) and a Grade Point Average (GPA).

For example, the University of Colombo uses the following 3 systems to assess study results:

Score (marks) Grade Grade Point Average (GPA)
80-100 A+ 4.00
75-79 A 3.75
70-74 A- 3.50
65-69 B+ 3.25
60-64 B 3.00
55-59 B- 2.75
50-54 C+ 2.50
45-49 C 2.25
40-44 C- 2.00
30-39 D 0.00 (Fail)
0-29 E 0.00 (Fail)
Incomplete I -
No Credit NC -
Audit AU -
Withdrawn W -
Withdrawn-failing WF -
Repeat completed RC -

Some institutions award students with good study results with an honours classification (1st/2nd class), denoted on their diploma. Institutions use the GPA system to calculate who is eligible for an honours classification.

Higher education documents

Students can prove that they have completed a higher education study programme with the following documents:

  • a diploma; and
  • an official transcript (official transcript of record).

Please note: there are different types of bachelor's and master's degrees in Sri Lanka (we describe them on our Higher education webpage). To determine the level of a bachelor's or master's degree, you need to check what type of bachelor's or master's degree it concerns. This is often not mentioned on the diploma and transcript. You then have to check other things to determine the type of bachelor's or master's degree. Use our tips below.

Tips: how to determine the type of bachelor's or master's degree

How can you determine the type of bachelor's or master's degree? Use these tips:

  • Compare the diploma and grade list with the information we give on our webpage on Sri Lankan higher education. For example, we describe how many credits students have to complete for each type of degree. Examples of how to use that information:
    • If a bachelor transcript shows 90 credits, you can conclude that this concerns a general bachelor's degree or (in the case of an honours bachelor's degree) that the transcript is incomplete.
    • A master's degree by course work and a research component consists of at least 60 credits, of which 15 credits are for a research component. If you see fewer credits or no research component, it is probably a different kind of master's degree or the transcript is incomplete.
  • Search the website of the Sri Lankan educational institution for information about the programme. You can compare this information with what you see on the diploma and transcript. The website often also says something about the goal of the programme, the and a description of the subjects. You can use this information to determine if it is a HBO or WO programme.
  • Check if you can find the SLQF level of the diploma, for example on the diploma or transcript or on the website of the educational institution. This will also tell you something about the level of the diploma. The SLQF is the Sri Lankan Qualifications Framework.