Which exam board is your child on — and why it changes everything
AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas each set different papers, ask different questions, and reward answers differently. Most parents don't know which one their child is on — and tutors who don't either are teaching the wrong things. This guide fixes that.
Four boards. One country. Very different papers.
Every GCSE paper in England is set by one of these four organisations. They cover the same national curriculum, but their question styles, mark schemes and topic weighting differ significantly — especially in core subjects.
AQA
~55% of schools
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
The UK's largest GCSE provider. Known for clear, predictable question structures and explicit mark schemes. Dominant in Maths, English and Sciences. Students and tutors find its papers the most consistently structured.
- Most past papers available
- Explicit mark scheme — rewrites every accepted answer
- Strong in Maths, English, all Sciences
Edexcel
~30% of schools
Edexcel (Pearson)
The second largest provider, owned by Pearson. Generally considered to have slightly trickier phrasing in Maths and Sciences. Stronger presence in History, Business and MFL. Mark schemes tend to be less prescriptive — markers use more judgement.
- Slightly more complex question wording
- Mark schemes allow more marker discretion
- Strong in History, Business, MFL
OCR
~10% of schools
Oxford, Cambridge and RSA
Associated with Oxford and Cambridge universities. Tends toward more analytical, contextual questions. Strong in Computer Science and Humanities. Offers alternative specifications in some subjects — OCR Gateway vs 21st Century Science, for instance.
- Multiple specification routes in some subjects
- More analytical, less formulaic questions
- Leading board for Computer Science
Eduqas
~5% of schools
Eduqas (WJEC in Wales)
The Welsh board, operating as Eduqas in England. Less common but found in some English schools, particularly in the South West and border regions. Content is very similar to AQA in structure. Known for straightforward English Literature questions.
- Very similar structure to AQA
- Strong in English Language and Literature
- Primarily found in Wales and some English regions
Pick a subject. See exactly what each board demands.
These aren't vague summaries — they're the specific differences that change how students should revise. Select a subject below.
AQA
3 papers — 1 non-calculator, 2 calculator (1h30 each)
- No formula sheet — all formulae must be memorised
- Method marks awarded for correct working, even with wrong answer
- Higher tier regularly tests vectors, functions, iteration and circle theorems
- Questions build from 1-mark to 5-mark within the same paper
Revision focus: Practise showing every step clearly. A wrong answer with correct method still scores marks. Build a formula list and test yourself without it.
Edexcel
3 papers — 1 non-calculator, 2 calculator (1h30 each)
- No formula sheet — same as AQA
- Question phrasing often more complex — "show that" and proof questions appear more
- Surds, algebraic fractions and proof are high-frequency Higher topics
- Mark schemes slightly less prescriptive — presentation matters more
Revision focus: Spend extra time on algebraic proof and "show that" question types. Read each question twice — the phrasing is denser than AQA.
OCR
3 papers — 1 non-calculator, 2 calculator (1h30 each)
- Two specifications: OCR GCSE and OCR MEI (with formula booklet)
- OCR MEI provides a formula booklet — significant advantage if your school uses it
- More problem-solving questions in context ("a builder needs to tile…")
- Fewer "pure drill" questions than AQA or Edexcel
Revision focus: First confirm which OCR specification your school uses. If MEI, practise using the formula booklet efficiently. Either way, focus on multi-step problem solving.
Eduqas
3 papers — 1 non-calculator, 2 calculator (similar to AQA)
- Very similar structure and content to AQA
- No formula sheet provided
- Past paper volume is lower — fewer available for practice
- Mark scheme closely mirrors AQA in style and marking
Revision focus: AQA past papers are safe to use for extra practice — the question style and difficulty are closely matched.
AQA
Paper 1: Fiction reading + Creative writing | Paper 2: Non-fiction + Viewpoints
- Paper 1 Q5: 40-mark creative writing — the single biggest question in any GCSE
- Language analysis questions ask "how does the writer use language to…" — effect must be analysed, not just identified
- Paper 2 uses two linked non-fiction texts from different centuries
- Markers look for ambitious vocabulary, structural techniques, and sophisticated punctuation
Revision focus: The creative writing question is worth 40 marks — students who win here win the paper. Practise planning and executing creative pieces with deliberate structural choices.
Edexcel
Paper 1: Fiction texts (19th & 21st century) | Paper 2: Non-fiction + transactional writing
- Both papers require comparison between two texts — more source-analysis heavy than AQA
- Paper 1 reading extracts include a 19th century text and a modern text — comparing across centuries is key
- Transactional writing (letters, speeches, articles) is tested, not purely creative writing
- Specific focus on writer's craft — structure, tone, and purpose carry equal weight to language
Revision focus: Master the comparison essay — spotting the difference in how two writers approach the same theme. Practise transactional writing formats (formal letter, speech, newspaper article).
OCR
Component 1: Fiction reading + Descriptive/narrative writing | Component 2: Non-fiction reading + Persuasive/argumentative writing
- Uses the term "Component" not "Paper" — same concept, different naming
- Component 1 writing task: descriptive or narrative — similar territory to AQA
- Component 2 writing: persuasion and argument — letters, speeches, essays
- Mark schemes emphasise purpose and audience awareness particularly strongly
Revision focus: Clearly signal your intended audience in every writing task. OCR markers look explicitly for audience awareness — opening directly with a technique that shows this scores well.
Eduqas
Component 1: 20th/21st century literary prose | Component 2: 19th century non-fiction | Component 3: Writing
- Uniquely splits reading and writing into separate components
- Component 3 is writing only — 2 tasks, more time to focus purely on craft
- Reading components have a stronger focus on inference and implied meaning
- Question wording is generally more direct and less layered than Edexcel
Revision focus: The dedicated writing component means more time and marks on writing alone — treat it like an English essay exam and plan carefully before writing.
AQA
Paper 1: Shakespeare + 19th century novel (closed book) | Paper 2: Modern text + Poetry anthology + Unseen poem
- Closed book exam — no texts provided. Students must memorise quotations
- Shakespeare question: 30 marks for an extract + whole play essay
- Poetry: compare one named poem with one other poem from the anthology (15 poems to know)
- Paper 2 also includes an unseen poem — analytical skills matter here, not memory
Revision focus: Quotation learning is non-negotiable for AQA. Build a bank of 8–10 quotes per text and practise embedding them fluidly. Clusters (quotes grouped by theme) work better than sequential memorising.
Edexcel
Paper 1: Shakespeare + Post-1914 prose | Paper 2: 19th century novel + Poetry anthology + Unseen
- Texts are provided in the exam for some components — extract given for the novel question
- Poetry anthology is different from AQA — different poems, different themes
- Questions frequently ask students to consider the "significance" of a moment — more evaluative
- Grade descriptors explicitly reward confident evaluation over descriptive analysis
Revision focus: Practise evaluative language — "Shakespeare presents Macbeth as…" is too descriptive. Try "Shakespeare deliberately undermines…" or "Edexcel rewards verbs of authorial intention strongly."
OCR
Component 1: Shakespeare + 19th century novel | Component 2: Post-1914 texts + Poetry anthology
- Open book exam for some components — texts are provided
- Stronger emphasis on reading for context — historical and social background rewarded
- Fewer prescribed poems in the anthology — students have more choice
- Questions often include "in light of its context" framing — context is marked explicitly
Revision focus: Context knowledge is a separate mark band for OCR — build a contextual fact bank (dates, social attitudes, author biography) for each text. Link context explicitly to quotation analysis.
Eduqas
Component 1: Shakespeare (extract + essay) | Component 2: Post-1914 prose | Component 3: Poetry + Unseen
- Three separate components — more opportunity to recover if one goes poorly
- Shakespeare extract is provided — partial open book advantage
- Poetry component separates anthology from unseen — clearer to prepare for
- Questions tend to be more directly worded with clear focus statements
Revision focus: Because Shakespeare extract is provided, spend less time on quote memorisation and more on developing sophisticated analysis of the themes you know will appear.
Applies to both Combined Science (Trilogy/Double) and Separate Sciences (Triple). All boards cover the same required practicals framework, but question style and topic weighting differ.
AQA
6 papers (Combined) / 6 papers (Triple) — Biology, Chemistry, Physics × 2 each
- Most widely used science board — most past papers, most tutors familiar with it
- Strong emphasis on data analysis and graph interpretation in all three sciences
- Required practicals are specifically listed — 8 Biology, 8 Chemistry, 8 Physics
- Calculation questions are stepped — first sub-question guides you into the harder ones
- Triple Science Higher regularly includes synoptic questions across all three sciences
Revision focus: Know every required practical inside out — method, variables, results, and evaluation. These questions appear every year and are predictable. Practice graph plotting and data interpretation as a separate skill.
Edexcel
6 papers (Combined) / 6 papers (Triple) — same structure as AQA
- More calculation-heavy than AQA, especially in Physics
- Questions use more specific, technical vocabulary — reading comprehension matters more
- Required practicals tested with slightly different scenarios than AQA's — same principle, different context
- Some topics appear on different papers than AQA — check the specification carefully
- Core Practicals booklet is provided in the exam — a minor advantage AQA students don't have
Revision focus: Practise Edexcel-specific calculation chains in Physics (P = IV → E = Pt → unit conversions in one question). Read question stems carefully — Edexcel frequently embeds the answer method within the question text.
OCR
Two routes: Gateway Science or 21st Century Science — very different papers
- Important: OCR offers two completely different specifications — confirm which one your school uses
- Gateway Science: closer in style to AQA, more traditional question format
- 21st Century Science: more contextual, narrative-based questions — uses real-world scenarios extensively
- Both routes place more emphasis on "how science works" — scientific methodology is explicitly tested
- Lower overall uptake means fewer unofficial resources and tutor familiarity
Revision focus: Start by confirming Gateway or 21st Century. For 21st Century, practise reading science passages quickly and extracting data — the questions are longer and more reading-intensive than AQA.
Eduqas
6 papers (Combined) / 6 papers (Triple) — similar structure to AQA
- Closest to AQA in terms of question style and content coverage
- Required practicals list is similar — good overlap with AQA revision materials
- Fewer past papers available — AQA papers are reasonable supplementary practice
- Primarily used in Wales — English schools using Eduqas Science are uncommon
Revision focus: Use AQA past papers for extra practice — content and question style are closely matched. Focus on Eduqas-specific spec differences for the final 2–3 weeks.
AQA
Paper 1: Period study + British depth study | Paper 2: Wider world depth study + Historic environment
- Most questions follow a 4-part structure: 4 marks → 8 marks → 12 marks → 16 marks
- The 16-mark essay is the highest-value question — requires a balanced argument with a clear judgement
- Historic environment question: detailed knowledge of a specific site required (changes each year)
- Closed book — no sources provided in Paper 1. Paper 2 includes sources for evaluation
Revision focus: The 16-mark essay requires a clear three-paragraph structure: two contrasting arguments then a conclusion that directly answers the question. Practise writing the conclusion first — it forces you to know your argument before you write.
Edexcel
Paper 1: Thematic study + Historic environment | Paper 2: British depth study | Paper 3: Modern depth study
- Three separate papers — more opportunity to recover between exam days
- Source evaluation is more prominent than AQA — utility and reliability questions appear in multiple papers
- Thematic study spans a 1,000-year period — requires a much broader chronological sweep
- 12-mark and 16-mark answers reward sustained argument more than factual density
Revision focus: Source evaluation skills are tested heavily — practise the HCAP framework (How it was created, Context, Audience, Purpose). For the thematic study, build a timeline of examples across the centuries for your chosen themes.
OCR
Component 1: British depth study | Component 2: Period study | Component 3: World depth study
- Strong emphasis on historical source skills throughout all components
- Questions often ask students to evaluate the "usefulness" of a source — different framing from Edexcel's "utility"
- More emphasis on historical interpretations — why do historians disagree?
- Extended writing (20 marks) rewards synthesis across sources and own knowledge
Revision focus: Practise writing about historical interpretations — not just "what happened" but "why historians argue about what happened." OCR rewards students who show awareness of contested history.
Eduqas
Component 1: Changes in Health and Medicine in Britain | Component 2: Depth studies | Component 3: Investigation
- Unique thematic component (Health & Medicine) that requires cross-period comparison
- Component 3 includes a historical site/investigation element — similar to AQA's historic environment
- Questions require students to explain change and continuity across time — not just cause and consequence
- More direct question language — less ambiguous than Edexcel or OCR phrasing
Revision focus: The Health & Medicine thematic component rewards students who can identify patterns across centuries. Build a table comparing Medieval, Renaissance, Industrial and Modern periods for each key theme.
AQA
Paper 1: Physical geography | Paper 2: Human geography | Paper 3: Geographical skills + Fieldwork
- Specific case studies required — two contrasting locations per topic (e.g. rich vs poor country for development)
- Paper 3 assesses fieldwork — students describe and evaluate their own investigation
- 9-mark extended writing answers required in Papers 1 and 2 — three clear points with evidence
- OS map skills, graph interpretation and statistical analysis are tested in Paper 3
Revision focus: Case study detail is what separates grades. Students need specific facts (place names, dates, statistics) — not "a city in an LEDC." Build a case study flashcard for every required place and practise using it under timed conditions.
Edexcel A
Paper 1: Physical geography | Paper 2: Human geography | Paper 3: Physical and human interactions
- Paper 3 is unique — looks at the interaction between physical and human processes (e.g. flood management)
- More focus on "place" as a concept — students must reference specific, named places in extended answers
- Questions use more evaluative language ("assess", "evaluate", "to what extent") than AQA
- Fieldwork is assessed within the papers as a "geographical investigation" element
Revision focus: Practise evaluative question structures — always include a counterargument before your conclusion. Edexcel rewards nuance: "On the other hand…" followed by a "However, overall…" structure is explicitly rewarded in mark schemes.
OCR A
Component 1: Our Natural World | Component 2: People and Society | Component 3: Geographical Exploration
- Component 3 includes unseen resources (maps, graphs, photographs) — analytical skills tested cold
- More emphasis on sustainability as a thread through all topics
- Questions often provide a scenario or stimulus rather than asking purely from memory
- Mark schemes credit quality of geographical reasoning over factual density
Revision focus: Practise interpreting unfamiliar data in Component 3. OCR rewards students who can apply geographic principles to new contexts — not just recall. Do timed practice with past Component 3 resources under exam conditions.
Eduqas
Component 1: Changing Physical and Human Landscapes | Component 2: Environmental and Development Issues | Component 3: Fieldwork
- Development issues (global inequality, sustainability) feature more prominently than AQA
- Fieldwork component is written up as a separate report — more like a mini coursework piece
- Strong emphasis on linking human and physical processes together within answers
- Question phrasing is direct — "Describe and explain" is the most common command word
Revision focus: The "describe and explain" command word is the key pattern for Eduqas Geography. Practise giving a clear descriptive statement then immediately linking it with a cause or consequence.
Not sure which board your child is on? Here's how to find out in 2 minutes.
1
Look at the textbook
The exam board name is printed on the cover of every GCSE textbook. "AQA GCSE Maths Higher" tells you everything. Most schools issue textbooks — if your child has one, check the spine or cover first.
2
Check school letters or the school website
Most schools list their exam board choices in the Year 9 options booklet, on the school website under "Curriculum" or "Exams," or in any letters about GCSE choices. Search for "AQA" or "Edexcel" on the school website — it's almost always there.
3
Ask the subject teacher
A quick email to the class teacher will always get you a definitive answer. Worth asking at the start of Year 10 for every subject — schools occasionally switch boards between cohorts, so it's worth confirming even if you think you know.
4
Ask us — we'll find out and match accordingly
When you book a free call with Ariston, we ask about exam boards as part of our matching process. We only assign tutors who know the specific board your child is on — it's one of the reasons our students make faster progress.
We match students with tutors who know their exact exam board.
Every Ariston tutor is matched on subject, board, and teaching style. No guessing. No teaching the wrong paper.
Book a free call →We usually respond within one working day.