Physical Science cut-off marks 2025/2026, by university and district
Physical Science is the broadest science degree for maths-stream students: its median cut-off is higher than only 33% of courses in the 2025/2026 table. Eight universities offered it, and the district matters a great deal: the lowest Z-score that won a place ranged from 0.1745 in Mannar to 1.1895 in Matara.
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 Physical 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 | 1.0483 | University of Jaffna |
| Gampaha | 0.9189 | Eastern University |
| Kalutara | 1.0254 | University of Jaffna |
| Matale | 0.8323 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Kandy | 0.9922 | Eastern University |
| Nuwara Eliya | 0.4966 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Galle | 1.0420 | University of Jaffna |
| Matara | 1.1895 | University of Ruhuna |
| Hambantota | 1.0940 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Jaffna | 1.0262 | University of Jaffna |
| Kilinochchi | 0.4478 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Mannar | 0.1745 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Mullaitivu | 0.1981 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Vavuniya | 0.3789 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Trincomalee | 0.4772 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Batticaloa | 0.7298 | Eastern University |
| Ampara | 0.8573 | Eastern University |
| Puttalam | 0.6483 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Kurunegala | 1.0412 | University of Jaffna |
| Anuradhapura | 0.7150 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Polonnaruwa | 0.5699 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
| Badulla | 0.9636 | University of Jaffna |
| Monaragala | 0.8225 | Eastern University |
| Kegalle | 0.9801 | University of Jaffna |
| Ratnapura | 0.9321 | South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |
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 | 1.4350 | 1.4401 | 1.6879 | 8 | |
| University of Peradeniya | 1.3333 | 1.3393 | 1.4847 | 6 | |
| University of Sri Jayewardenepura | 1.2856 | 1.2870 | 1.3140 | 9 | |
| University of Kelaniya | 1.2087 | 1.2126 | 1.2555 | 9 | |
| University of Ruhuna | 1.1360 | 1.1384 | 1.1895 | 8 | |
| University of Jaffna | 0.9516 | 0.9777 | 1.0966 | 5 | |
| Eastern University | 0.6721 | 0.8885 | 1.2061 | 3 | |
| South Eastern University of Sri Lanka | 0.1745 | 0.8294 | 1.1322 | 3 |
What the numbers say
- Among districts with a qualified candidate, the lowest selected Z-score for Physical Science was 0.1745 (Mannar, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka) and the highest 1.6879 (Anuradhapura, University of Colombo).
- By median across districts, University of Colombo was the hardest to enter (1.4401) and South Eastern University of Sri Lanka the most reachable (0.8294).
- The cut-off moved most with the district at South Eastern University of Sri Lanka: from Mannar at the low end to Jaffna at the high end, a spread of 0.9577, wider than the median spread of 0.3319 across every course and university in the table.
- 51 of the 200 district places (26%) had no qualified candidates (NQC), but every district had at least one university that admitted someone.
- By median cut-off, Physical Science was harder to enter than 33% 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 Physical 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 | 1.4390 | 1.3408 | 1.2857 | 1.2092 | 1.1371 | 1.0483 | 1.0561 | 1.1022 |
| Gampaha | 1.4402 | 1.3359 | 1.2862 | 1.2094 | 1.1369 | 0.9578 | 0.9189 | 0.9532 |
| Kalutara | 1.4351 | 1.3350 | 1.2863 | 1.2090 | 1.1367 | 1.0254 | 1.0614 | 1.0686 |
| Matale | 1.4369 | 1.3856 | NQC | 1.2189 | 1.1442 | 0.9541 | 0.8582 | 0.8323 |
| Kandy | 1.4374 | 1.3391 | 1.2856 | 1.2093 | 1.1383 | 0.9931 | 0.9922 | 1.0107 |
| Nuwara Eliya | 1.4497 | 1.4847 | NQC | NQC | NQC | 0.9638 | 0.6770 | 0.4966 |
| Galle | 1.4377 | 1.3415 | 1.2881 | 1.2122 | 1.1360 | 1.0420 | 1.1702 | NQC |
| Matara | 1.4393 | 1.3425 | 1.2869 | 1.2097 | 1.1895 | NQC | NQC | NQC |
| Hambantota | 1.4401 | 1.3345 | 1.2874 | 1.2133 | 1.1384 | 1.0966 | 1.0961 | 1.0940 |
| Jaffna | 1.6286 | 1.3457 | 1.2869 | 1.2555 | 1.1361 | 1.0262 | 1.2061 | 1.1322 |
| Kilinochchi | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 0.6721 | 0.4478 |
| Mannar | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 0.1745 |
| Mullaitivu | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 0.7247 | 0.1981 |
| Vavuniya | 1.6434 | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 0.3789 |
| Trincomalee | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | NQC | 0.9794 | 0.6835 | 0.4772 |
| Batticaloa | NQC | 1.4124 | NQC | NQC | NQC | 0.9536 | 0.7298 | 0.7361 |
| Ampara | NQC | 1.3335 | NQC | NQC | 1.1498 | 0.9752 | 0.8573 | 0.8697 |
| Puttalam | 1.4417 | 1.3548 | 1.2857 | 1.2130 | 1.1408 | 0.9858 | 0.6777 | 0.6483 |
| Kurunegala | 1.4350 | 1.3333 | 1.2983 | 1.2223 | 1.1375 | 1.0412 | 1.0444 | 1.0697 |
| Anuradhapura | 1.6879 | 1.3376 | 1.2863 | 1.2182 | 1.1393 | 0.9656 | 0.7196 | 0.7150 |
| Polonnaruwa | NQC | NQC | 1.3140 | NQC | NQC | 0.9759 | 0.7279 | 0.5699 |
| Badulla | 1.4488 | 1.3424 | 1.2920 | 1.2262 | 1.1467 | 0.9636 | 0.9825 | 0.9743 |
| Monaragala | NQC | 1.3342 | 1.2879 | 1.2182 | 1.1490 | 0.9516 | 0.8225 | 0.8264 |
| Kegalle | 1.4383 | 1.3393 | 1.2871 | 1.2087 | 1.1362 | 0.9801 | 1.0143 | NQC |
| Ratnapura | 1.4527 | 1.3392 | 1.2881 | 1.2102 | 1.1384 | 0.9573 | 0.9514 | 0.9321 |
Who can apply
Physical Science admits from the Physical 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 Physical Science?
- In 2025/2026, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka had the lowest median cut-off for Physical Science (0.8294) and University of Colombo the highest (1.4401). 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 Physical Science?
- It depends on your district and the university. The lowest Z-score that won a place anywhere was 0.1745 (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 Physical Science?
- Physical Science admits from the Physical 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
- Biological 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.