Claim: This year’s G.C.E. Ordinary Level Science examination paper was leaked and restructured, and all candidates will be awarded 08 extra marks, with grading thresholds reduced by 10 marks.
Fact: The Ministry of Education has issued an official statement stating that these claims of the paper restructuring and the grace marks are fake and that the Ministry of Education has not announced any such decisions.
The General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level Examination (G.C.E. O/L), conducted by the Department of Examinations under the Ministry of Education, is a key public exam that students take to complete their secondary education. The 2024-25 G.C.E. O/L exam began on March 17, 2025, and is currently taking place across the island.
In this context, a news item recently shared on social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Facebook, regarding the Science subject examination paper held on Friday, March 21, has sparked controversy.
This post, which appeared to be an announcement from both the Ministry of Education and the Department of Examinations, stated that the structure of this year’s G.C.E. Ordinary Level Science examination paper had been altered from the approved curriculum.
The post also claimed that as a compensatory measure for the alleged restructuring, all candidates who appeared for the science exam would be granted an additional eight (08) marks. Furthermore, it stated that the grade boundaries would be reduced by ten (10) marks, meaning that:
An S pass would be awarded for 25 points,
A C pass would require 40 points,
A B pass would require 55 points, and
A Distinction would be awarded to any student scoring over 65 marks.
This post, designed to look like an announcement from the Ministry of Education, was widely shared on WhatsApp and Facebook, especially within study groups on Facebook. It has caused confusion and concern among students and parents alike. The posts can be seen here, here, and here.
Factcheck / Verification
We first checked mainstream media channels to verify the authenticity of this news, and we found that the reports in the major media outlets indicated that the news circulating on social media was false.
Next, we checked the official website of the Ministry of Education to confirm the authenticity of this information, where we found a statement urging the public to be cautious about the false news spreading on social media.
The statement read, “Disinformation circulating on social media claims that the structure of this year’s G.C.E. Ordinary Level Science examination paper has been altered from the approved curriculum. Furthermore, it falsely claims that, as a compensatory measure, all candidates who sat for the Science paper will receive an additional eight (08) marks, the grade boundaries will be lowered by ten (10) marks, and a Distinction will be awarded to any student scoring more than sixty-five (65) marks.
“These claims are entirely false. No such announcement has been issued by any official government body, and no such decision has been made by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, or the Department of Examinations of Sri Lanka.
“Any official statement or press release from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, or the Department of Examinations is communicated solely through reputable media outlets and official government websites. All such announcements are issued only after thorough verification by the Media Division of the Ministry of Education, under the official letterhead of the relevant authority, and bearing the signature of an authorised official.”
The Ministry of Education also posted this on their official Facebook page. The post can be seen here.
Conclusion
The news claiming that the 2024-2025 G.C.E.Ordinary Level Science examination paper was leaked and restructured, and that all candidates would be awarded grace marks, is false. The Ministry of Education has issued an official statement declaring that these claims are fake and that no such decisions have been made. The Ministry has also urged the general public to be cautious of disinformation circulating on social media and to avoid being misled by unofficial sources.
Result: False
Our Sources
An official Statement from the Ministry of Education.
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