Biological Science cut-off marks 2025/2026, by university and district
Biological Science is the general science degree for biology-stream students. In 2025/2026, eight universities offered it, with the University of Colombo the most competitive (median 1.7188) and South Eastern University of Sri Lanka the most reachable (median 0.9423). Across districts the cut-offs ran from 0.6570 to 1.7664.
Lowest Z-score that won a place, by district
For each district, the lowest minimum Z-score at which any of the 8 universities selected a Biological Science student from that district in 2025/2026, and which university it was. Your own chances also depend on the order of your choices and the university you list.
| District | Lowest Z-score | University |
|---|---|---|
| Colombo | 1.3477 | University of Jaffna |
| Gampaha | 0.9708 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Kalutara | 1.3672 | University of Ruhuna |
| Matale | 1.2605 | University of Jaffna |
| Kandy | 1.2595 | University of Jaffna |
| Nuwara Eliya | 0.7189 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Galle | 1.3912 | University of Ruhuna |
| Matara | 1.1433 | Eastern University |
| Hambantota | 1.1928 | Eastern University |
| Jaffna | 1.3278 | University of Jaffna |
| Kilinochchi | 0.9423 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Mannar | 0.6570 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Mullaitivu | 0.7940 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Vavuniya | 0.6979 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Trincomalee | 0.9321 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Batticaloa | 1.0818 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Ampara | 1.1130 | Eastern University |
| Puttalam | 0.8613 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Kurunegala | 1.2805 | University of Jaffna |
| Anuradhapura | 0.8212 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Polonnaruwa | 0.7585 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Badulla | 1.0077 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Monaragala | 0.8626 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Kegalle | 1.2231 | University of Jaffna |
| Ratnapura | 1.1877 | Eastern University |
Universities compared
Lowest, median and highest minimum Z-score across the districts with a qualified candidate, and how many districts had none (NQC).
| University | Lowest | Median | Highest | NQC districts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colombo | 1.7141 | 1.7188 | 1.7664 | 13 | |
| University of Peradeniya | 1.5935 | 1.6023 | 1.7096 | 8 | |
| University of Sri Jayewardenepura | 1.5304 | 1.5324 | 1.5904 | 9 | |
| University of Kelaniya | 1.4679 | 1.4720 | 1.5242 | 8 | |
| University of Ruhuna | 1.3549 | 1.3605 | 1.4573 | 4 | |
| University of Jaffna | 1.2079 | 1.2426 | 1.4672 | 3 | |
| Eastern University | 1.0888 | 1.1364 | 1.3530 | 6 | |
| South Eastern University of Sri Lanka | 0.6570 | 0.9423 | 1.3078 | 6 |
What the numbers say
- Among districts with a qualified candidate, the lowest selected Z-score for Biological Science was 0.6570 (Mannar, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka) and the highest 1.7664 (Jaffna, University of Colombo).
- By median across districts, University of Colombo was the hardest to enter (1.7188) and South Eastern University of Sri Lanka the most reachable (0.9423).
- The cut-off moved most with the district at South Eastern University of Sri Lanka: from Mannar at the low end to Kandy at the high end, a spread of 0.6508, wider than the median spread of 0.3319 across every course and university in the table.
- 57 of the 200 district places (28%) had no qualified candidates (NQC), but every district had at least one university that admitted someone.
- By median cut-off, Biological Science was harder to enter than 54% of the course names in the 2025/2026 table.
- 16 of the 16 educationally disadvantaged districts (where the 5% EDD quota applies) had a place for this course at one university or more.
Every university, every district
The minimum Z-score selected for Biological Science at each university from each district, as the UGC published it. NQC means No Qualified Candidates and is not a Z-score of zero.
| District | University of Colombo | University of Peradeniya | University of Sri Jayewardenepura | University of Kelaniya | University of Ruhuna | University of Jaffna | Eastern University | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo | 1.7144 | 1.5936 | 1.5305 | 1.4681 | 1.3562 | 1.3477 | 1.3530 | NQC |
| Gampaha | NQC | 1.5935 | 1.5307 | 1.4730 | 1.3605 | 1.2166 | 1.0948 | 0.9708 |
| Kalutara | 1.7152 | 1.5984 | 1.5304 | 1.4679 | 1.3672 | NQC | NQC | NQC |
| Matale | NQC | 1.6060 | 1.5904 | 1.4689 | 1.3665 | 1.2605 | 1.3362 | NQC |
| Kandy | 1.7225 | 1.5965 | 1.5339 | 1.4739 | 1.3560 | 1.2595 | 1.2685 | 1.3078 |
| Nuwara Eliya | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 1.3549 | 1.2079 | 1.0891 | 0.7189 |
| Galle | 1.7143 | 1.6023 | 1.5319 | 1.4711 | 1.3912 | 1.4044 | NQC | NQC |
| Matara | 1.7195 | 1.5970 | 1.5382 | 1.4767 | 1.3624 | 1.2172 | 1.1433 | 1.1924 |
| Hambantota | 1.7141 | 1.5987 | 1.5329 | 1.4708 | 1.3552 | 1.2825 | 1.1928 | 1.2172 |
| Jaffna | 1.7664 | 1.5946 | 1.5356 | 1.4745 | 1.4110 | 1.3278 | NQC | NQC |
| Kilinochchi | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 1.3550 | 1.4672 | NQC | 0.9423 |
| Mannar | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 0.6570 |
| Mullaitivu | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 0.7940 |
| Vavuniya | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 1.2811 | 1.1997 | 0.6979 |
| Trincomalee | NQC | 1.6317 | NQC | NQC | 1.3728 | 1.2493 | 1.0930 | 0.9321 |
| Batticaloa | NQC | 1.7096 | 1.5636 | 1.5242 | NQC | 1.2252 | 1.0929 | 1.0818 |
| Ampara | 1.7404 | NQC | NQC | NQC | 1.3586 | 1.2358 | 1.1130 | 1.1269 |
| Puttalam | NQC | 1.6402 | 1.5516 | 1.5188 | 1.4573 | 1.2084 | 1.1128 | 0.8613 |
| Kurunegala | 1.7141 | 1.6046 | 1.5309 | 1.4691 | 1.3598 | 1.2805 | 1.3102 | 1.2807 |
| Anuradhapura | NQC | 1.5937 | 1.5411 | 1.4761 | 1.3694 | 1.2115 | 1.1151 | 0.8212 |
| Polonnaruwa | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 1.4405 | 1.3072 | 1.1364 | 0.7585 |
| Badulla | 1.7225 | 1.6098 | 1.5306 | 1.4687 | 1.3614 | 1.2212 | 1.0888 | 1.0077 |
| Monaragala | NQC | NQC | NQC | 1.4819 | 1.3580 | 1.2143 | 1.0952 | 0.8626 |
| Kegalle | 1.7310 | 1.6088 | 1.5306 | 1.4686 | 1.3574 | 1.2231 | 1.2450 | NQC |
| Ratnapura | 1.7182 | 1.6045 | 1.5304 | 1.4720 | 1.3564 | 1.2088 | 1.1877 | 1.2095 |
Who can apply
Biological Science admits from the Biological Science stream, according to Section 2 of the UGC Admissions Handbook. The handbook adds subject and grade conditions for some courses, so check it before you apply. Most places are filled by district quota; some go on all-island merit, and 5% are set aside for the educationally disadvantaged districts.
Want to check your own Z-score against every course at once? Use the cut-off finder.
Questions
- Which university has the lowest cut-off for Biological Science?
- In 2025/2026, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka had the lowest median cut-off for Biological Science (0.9423) and University of Colombo the highest (1.7188). The figure that applies to you is the one for your district, in the tables on this page.
- What Z-score do I need for Biological Science?
- It depends on your district and the university. The lowest Z-score that won a place anywhere was 0.6570 (Mannar). The district table on this page gives, for each district, the lowest Z-score that won a place at any university. Next year's cut-offs will differ: they come from the next exam's results.
- Which A/L stream can apply for Biological Science?
- Biological Science admits from the Biological Science stream, according to the UGC Admissions Handbook. The handbook adds subject and grade conditions for some courses, so check it before you apply.
- What does NQC mean?
- No Qualified Candidates: no student from that district was selected for that course at that university. Per the UGC, the district quota may already have been filled, the course may have filled from higher Z-scores in other districts, or nobody from that district met the requirements. It is not a Z-score of zero.
More courses
- Physical Science cut-off marks
- Medicine cut-off marks
- Agriculture cut-off marks
- Engineering cut-off marks
- Computer Science cut-off marks
- Management cut-off marks
- All 2025/2026 cut-offs
Source: University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka, G.C.E. (A/L) 2025, after re-scrutiny. Data last checked 2026-07-31. Spotted an error? Tell us.