The SSC exam tests student knowledge in six core subject areas: language, English language, religion, history, mathematics and science. The language test covers Sinhala and Tamil. The religion test evaluates the student's knowledge of Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. Optional tests are also available in French, Arabic, computer studies, business studies and English literature. Student may elect to take up to three optional subject tests.
Students who achieve a mark of 85 or higher receive an excellent grading, the equivalent of an "A" grade in the United States. Students who score in the range between 70 and 84 receive a good grade, as do students receiving scores between 55 and 69. A score between 35 and 64 is considered a satisfactory rating. Students who score between zero and 34 receive a weak passing grade.
In addition to a grade, students earn placement within a division. Students scoring above 85 qualify to the first division upper while students earning between 75 and 84 are assigned to first division lower. Second division upper placement applies to those students earning between 65 and 74. Students who earn between 55 and 64 are ranked second division lower. Third division includes those students earning bewteen 45 and 54. The pass division applies to scores ranging from 35 to 44. All students scoring below 34 are considered participants. Division placement is by schools used for career recommendations and place placement.
Children with certain physical or mental disabilities may be eligible for accomodations during their completion of the SSC examination. Physically challenged students are allowed to complete their examination within special facilities. Reasonable accommodations are also made for blind students and the hearing impared. In 2010, SSC officials allowed autistic students to take the test for the first time. The autistic students were granted special accomodations similar to those given to the physically challenged.