O level

[ oh lev-uhl ]

noun

, British.

1. a public examination for secondary-school students, usually 15 to 16 years old, testing basic knowledge in various subjects, required before advancing to more specialized courses of study.
2. a pass in this examination.

O level

noun

1. 1. the basic level of the General Certificate of Education, now replaced by GCSE
   2. ( as modifier )

      O level maths

2. a pass in a particular subject at O level

   he has eight O levels

Word History and Origins

Origin of O level¹

O(rdinary) level