A Level, Senior 5 and Senior 6
Two years of deeper study in three main subjects, ending with the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), set and marked by UNEB. The combination a student takes decides which university courses they can apply for.
Applications are open for students who have just sat UCE.
About A Level at Jonahs
At A Level students stop taking every subject and go deep into three main subjects, called principal subjects. They choose a combination from the science stream or the arts stream, based on their UCE results, their strengths and what they want to study after school.
The right combination is the start of a student's university path. Our academic team sits with every new Senior 5 student to agree on the combination that fits their results and their plans.
What every student takes
Each A Level student takes three principal subjects, General Paper and one subsidiary subject.
Three principal subjects
- Chosen from the science or arts stream
- Studied in depth for two years
- Each one is graded A to F
General Paper
- Thinking, reasoning and writing
- Current affairs, politics, science and culture
- Counts as a subsidiary subject
One subsidiary subject
- Subsidiary ICT when Mathematics is a principal subject
- Subsidiary Mathematics when Mathematics is not a principal subject
Economics
- Money, trade, banking, taxes and markets. Uses graphs and figures, so students without Mathematics as a principal take Subsidiary Mathematics.
Agriculture
- Crops, soil, animals, farm management and agribusiness. Both practical and analytical.
Entrepreneurship
- Starting and running a business, money skills and marketing. Good for students thinking of business or self-employment.
Combinations at Jonahs
Each student takes one combination of three principal subjects. The subsidiary subject is shown beside each one.
Science subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Agriculture, Geography and Economics, with Entrepreneurship, Art and Design, and Physical Education also available.
With Mathematics
| PCM | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics | Sub ICT |
| BCM | Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics | Sub ICT |
| PEM | Physics, Economics, Mathematics | Sub ICT |
| PAM | Physics, Agriculture, Mathematics | Sub ICT |
| MEG | Mathematics, Economics, Geography | Sub ICT |
| MEE | Mathematics, Economics, Entrepreneurship | Sub ICT |
| MEA | Mathematics, Economics, Agriculture | Sub ICT |
Without Mathematics
| BCA | Biology, Chemistry, Agriculture | Sub Maths |
| GEA | Geography, Economics, Agriculture | Sub Maths |
Arts subjects: History, Geography, Economics, Divinity, Literature in English, Kiswahili, French and Luganda, with Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Art and Design, and Physical Education also available.
With History
| HEG | History, Economics, Geography | Sub Maths or ICT |
| HED | History, Economics, Divinity | Sub Maths or ICT |
| HEL | History, Economics, Literature | Sub Maths |
| HEK | History, Economics, Kiswahili | Sub Maths |
| HLD | History, Literature, Divinity | Sub ICT |
| HLG | History, Literature, Geography | Sub ICT |
| HDG | History, Divinity, Geography | Sub ICT |
| HDF | History, Divinity, French | Sub ICT |
Literature, Divinity and Geography
| LED | Literature, Economics, Divinity | Sub Maths |
| DEG | Divinity, Economics, Geography | Sub Maths |
| DEA | Divinity, Economics, Agriculture | Sub Maths |
| GEA | Geography, Economics, Agriculture | Sub Maths |
| GEE | Geography, Economics, Entrepreneurship | Sub Maths |
How students are assessed
Students are tested at school throughout the two years, then sit UACE with UNEB at the end of Senior 6.
Work at school
- Class tests and assignments
- Laboratory practicals and write-ups
- Projects and research tasks
- Feedback from subject teachers
School examinations
- Beginning, middle and end of term tests
- End of year examinations
- A full mock UACE in Senior 6
- A revision plan for each student
UACE examination
- Set and marked by UNEB
- Points decide university entry
- Results also used for government sponsorship
Each principal subject earns points from its grade. General Paper and the subsidiary subject earn 1 point each when passed. The highest possible total is 20 points: 18 from the three principal subjects and 1 each from General Paper and the subsidiary.
| Grade | Points | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| A | 6 | The highest principal pass |
| B | 5 | Principal pass |
| C | 4 | Principal pass |
| D | 3 | Principal pass |
| E | 2 | The lowest principal pass |
| O | 1 | Subsidiary pass only |
| F | 0 | Fail |
UNEB has said the UACE grading will change once the A Level curriculum review is finished, expected in 2028. We will update this page when the new system is published.
After A Level
Universities set the A Level subjects each course needs, and the cut-off points change every year. Check the university's current requirements before choosing a combination.
From science combinations
- Medicine and Surgery
- Engineering
- Pharmacy and Medical Laboratory Science
- Computer Science and Information Technology
- Agriculture and Environmental Science
- Veterinary Medicine
- Architecture and Quantity Surveying
From arts combinations
- Law
- Commerce and Business Administration
- Education
- Public Administration
- Social Sciences
- Mass Communication and Journalism
- Development Studies and International Relations
| If the student is aiming for | Combinations at Jonahs to consider |
|---|---|
| Medicine | BCM |
| Engineering | PCM |
| Business and finance | MEG, PEM or HEG |
| Agriculture | BCA or PAM |
| Law | HEL or HED |
| Economics and statistics | MEG or HEG |
For parents
What to pack, common questions, how to apply, the two years at a glance, and how to find us.
Jonahs is a boarding school. Please label every item with the student's name.
- 20 exercise books
- 2 graph books
- Pens, calculator and mathematical set
- Oxford English Dictionary
- English and Kiswahili dictionary
- Good News Bible (for Christians)
- A4 art book, drawing pencils and coloured pencils
- A box file
- Mattress, bedding, towel and mosquito net
- Basin, bucket and jerrycan
- Sugar and a small bowl
- Small plastic food container
- Washing soap, bathing soap and sponge
- A dozen toilet paper rolls
- Water bottle
- Night wear
- Electric flat iron with a 3 pin plug
- 2 pairs of black closed shoes
- Sports shoes and sandals
- Gumboots
- Girls: 2 long black skirts, not tight
- Boys: 2 black trousers, not jeans, not tight
- Girls: sanitary towels and 3 petticoats
- Provided by the school: 2 shirts or blouses, 2 trousers or skirts, 1 sweater, 3 T-shirts, 1 tie and 1 sportswear
- No other clothes are worn at school, including at weekends
- 1 ream of Double A paper
- 2 big toilet paper rolls
- School requirements for haircut, medical care, blanket and uniform labelling. The amounts are on the fees list in the student portal.
- Medicines kept by the student. Prescribed medicine goes to the sick bay.
- Super glue
- Alcohol
- Electronic gadgets without permission
- Phones during class time
- Sweaters that are not school uniform
What is the difference between science and arts combinations?
Science combinations use Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Agriculture, and lead to courses like medicine, engineering and technology. Arts combinations use History, Literature, Geography, Economics and languages, and lead to courses like law, business and education. Choose the stream where the student has both interest and good UCE grades.
Which combination leads to medicine?
Medicine needs Biology and Chemistry at A Level. At Jonahs that means BCM. Each university sets its own requirements and cut-off points every year, so check with the university as well.
What UCE grades does a student need for a subject?
Choose A Level subjects where the student did well at UCE. A Level is much harder than O Level, and a weak UCE grade in a subject usually means a hard time with it at A Level. Our admissions team reads every UCE transcript and advises.
Can a student change combination after starting Senior 5?
It is very hard once the year starts, especially for subjects with laboratory work. That is why we take time with every student at the start. If you are worried, talk to the academic team early in Term 1.
How are university cut-off points decided?
Each university sets cut-off points for each course every year, and they change from year to year. Check the latest figures on the university's own website before applying.
Does the combination decide which courses a student can apply for?
Yes. Most university courses ask for particular A Level subjects. Without them a student cannot apply, however many points they have. Check the course requirements before choosing a combination.
Can arts students study business or economics?
Yes. HEG, MEG and PEM are widely accepted for commerce, business administration, accounting and economics courses.
Who can apply for Senior 5?
Students who have sat UCE. We look at the UCE results to confirm the student can take the combination they want. Call the admissions office to talk through your child's results.
Do A Level students board?
Yes. All Senior 5 and Senior 6 students live at school.
How do I apply?
Apply online through Student Admissions, pick up a paper form at the school, or email admissions@jonahs.ac.ug. Have the UCE results ready.
What is General Paper?
A compulsory subject for every A Level student. It builds thinking, general knowledge and writing on topics such as politics, economics, science and culture. It is examined by UNEB as a subsidiary subject and earns 1 point when passed.
Where can I see how Jonahs students did in UACE?
Our results are on the UNEB performance page.
- 1Have the UCE results readyYou will also need a recent passport photo of the student and the national IDs of the parents or guardian.
- 2Fill in the Senior 5 formOnline through Student Admissions, or on paper at the school office. You get an application reference by email.
- 3We look at the results and the combinationThe academic team reads the UCE results and advises on the best combination.
- 4Check the decision onlineUse the reference or the UCE index number with the student's date of birth. If a place is offered you will see the School Pay code.
- 5Confirm the place and get readyPay the registration fee with the School Pay code. The student portal then gives you the admission letter, the fees list and the reporting date.
- 1Choosing the combinationOn joining Senior 5, each student agrees a combination with the academic team, based on UCE results, strengths and university plans.
- 2Senior 5: getting used to A LevelStudents meet A Level work for the first time in their three principal subjects and General Paper. The focus is on study habits, research and longer writing.
- 3Senior 6: going deeper and revisingStudents revise everything, sit a full mock UACE and get a revision plan from each subject teacher.
- 4UACE with UNEBStudents sit UACE at the end of Senior 6. The points they get decide university entry.
- 5Help with university applicationsAfter results come out, we help each student understand cut-off points, choose courses and complete their applications.
- AddressSt. Joseph of Nazareth High School
Kavule-Katende, 16 miles on the Kampala to Masaka road
Mpigi District, Uganda - Phone+256 788 262 797
+256 752 123 390 - Admissionsadmissions@jonahs.ac.ug
- Generalinfo@jonahs.ac.ug
- Office hoursMonday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM
The admissions office welcomes walk-in visits during office hours, and can talk through combination choices in person.
If you are coming from outside Kampala, please call ahead so an admissions officer is there to meet you.
Get directionsSenior 5 places for 2027
Applications are open. The academic team will help choose the right combination.