The 2025 G.C.E. O/L Science question paper is labelled “2025(2026)” on the exam paper. Choose the language you studied in, open the PDF, and check the instructions on its first page before you begin. This page brings the three available media together and gives you a practical way to revise with them.
Download the Science question paper
- English medium Science paper (PDF)
- Sinhala medium Science paper (PDF)
- Tamil medium Science paper (PDF)
Use the paper for a useful practice session
Start by reading the time limit, paper number, and instructions printed on your chosen PDF. Attempt the questions without notes and record your answers separately. Mark any question you guessed or could not finish. When you review, separate mistakes caused by a missing concept from mistakes caused by reading too quickly.
For Science, pay particular attention to units, diagrams, graphs, and information in tables. If you change an answer during review, write down the observation or principle that led you there. This makes your revision more useful than simply memorising a letter or short response. Return to the questions you missed after revising the relevant textbook topic.
What is included
These links are for question paper PDFs. A marking scheme is not included here, so check uncertain answers with your teacher or a reliable marking scheme. You can find the other available subject and medium in our O/L past papers library. For the official collection, visit the Department of Examinations past papers page.
How to use the Science paper effectively
O/L Science brings together physics, chemistry and biology, so a practice paper is a good way to see which of the three needs the most attention. Try this approach:
- Attempt it timed: sit the paper in one session and note where you ran short of time.
- Sort your mistakes: list each wrong answer under physics, chemistry or biology. The longest list is your revision priority.
- Learn the definitions: many marks come from precise scientific terms, units and labelled diagrams — practise writing them exactly.
- Practise calculations: for physics and chemistry questions, write the formula first, substitute values, and include units in the final answer.
- Draw clearly: for biology and apparatus diagrams, use a pencil, label with straight lines and keep labels outside the drawing.
Common mistakes in O/L Science answers
- Giving an everyday explanation instead of the scientific reason the question asks for.
- Mixing up similar terms (for example mass and weight, or evaporation and boiling).
- Leaving out units or using the wrong unit in calculations.
- Not reading command words carefully — “state”, “explain” and “compare” need different lengths of answer.
For parents and teachers
A useful home routine is to pick five questions from one topic each evening instead of attempting the full paper every time. Teachers can compare the same question across the English, Sinhala and Tamil versions to support students learning technical terms in two languages.
More O/L papers
Find other 2025 O/L subjects in our past papers library. These papers are official Department of Examinations documents shared for study purposes only.
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