Maths GCSE Boards Explained: A Comprehensive Guide for Students

Let’s dive into the world of GCSE Maths exam boards.

As you gear up for GCSE exams, you might wonder which exam board you’re studying with. But for that matter, what are the different Maths GCSE exam boards? Is one easier than another, and what sets them apart?

Well, fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about GCSE exam boards, listing the main providers, how you can tell which exam board you’re with, and where to find past papers.

Ready? Let’s get started.

What are GCSE exam boards?

Before we talk about GCSE Maths exam boards, it’s worth explaining what exam boards are. 

Essentially, exam boards are the companies or charities that create and administer tests students take. They create exams in a whole variety of subjects (not just core subjects like Maths and English) for schools and colleges across the country. 

It’s up to individual schools which exam boards they go with, and they normally choose different exam boards for different subjects. For instance, your school might pick AQA for GCSE English Language and English Literature, but Edexcel for French and Maths.

While schools help students prepare for GCSEs and A Levels, exam boards are responsible for setting the questions, providing past papers and learning materials for teachers, as well as mark schemes and grading decisions. 

What are the different Maths GCSE exam boards?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, students may encounter a few different exam boards for Maths GCSE. AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC Eduqas are some of the most common exam boards. In Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) administers GCSE exams, including Maths. 

Here are the most common Maths GCSE exam boards in England:

Across the UK, you might also encounter:

  • WJEC/CBAC: Welsh Joint Education Committee – popular in Wales.
  • SQA: Scottish Qualifications Authority – used in Scotland.
  • CCEA: Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment – popular in Northern Ireland.

But what difference does this make to students?

Hopefully, not a lot. 

We’ll go into more detail on the specifics of each exam board, but in England they’re overseen by Ofqual – to ensure fairness no matter which GCSE exam board your school chooses. 

To do this, Ofqual conducts regular reviews of exam board procedures, scrutinises question papers for bias or inconsistency, and provides guidance on grading methodologies to maintain consistency 

So are all GCSE Maths boards the same? 

Well, not exactly. Here’s why.

Are all GCSE Maths boards the same?

In some ways, yes. Regardless of what GCSE exam board you’re with, you’ll always be tested fairly. 

So even if one school picks OCR and another chooses AQA – the exam papers will be different, but they’ll both offer the same opportunity to reach top grades. 

In terms of content, each exam board follows the national curriculum. Your teachers will also ensure you’ve covered the entire syllabus before exam time rolls around. So as long as you’ve paid attention in class and structured your GCSE Maths revision appropriately, you’ll be all set whatever exam board you’re with.

If you’re getting started with revision, don’t miss our guides to time-blocking and how to create a revision timetable that works.

The only ways that Maths GCSE exam boards differ are the exact questions in each paper (although the topics will be the same), the number of points available, how long exams take and the overall structure of exams. 

Regardless of the number of papers and marks available, you’re still graded on the same 9-1 system.

Here’s a summary of the main exam boards and their Maths GCSE exams:

AQA

  • Total duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
  • Total number of papers: 3
  • Total number of marks available: 240 (80 per paper)
  • Paper breakdown: Paper 1: Non-calculator. Paper 2 and 3: Calculator.

OCR

  • Total duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
  • Total number of papers: 3
  • Total number of marks available: 300 (100 per paper)
  • Paper breakdown: Paper 1: Calculator. Paper 2: Non-Calculator. Paper 3: Calculator.

Pearson Edexcel

  • Total duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
  • Total number of papers: 3
  • Total number of marks available: 240 (80 per paper)
  • Paper breakdown: Paper 1: Non-calculator. Paper 2 and 3: Calculator.

WJEC Eduqas

  • Total duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
  • Total number of papers: 2
  • Total number of marks available: 240 (120 per paper)
  • Paper breakdown: Paper 1: Non-calculator. Paper 2: Calculator.

How do I know what GCSE exam board I am?

To figure out which GCSE exam board you’re with, just ask your teacher. They’ll know and can tell you right away. 

Knowing which exam board you’re with is crucial for exam preparation. It helps you understand mark schemes, time-keeping, question types and the structure of each paper – so there aren’t any surprises in final exams.

And if you ever need to know after you’ve left school (perhaps for a job application) just get in touch with your school. They’ll have all the records for your year group. 

You should also have your GCSE certificates, which state which exam board you studied with.

Which exam board is the easiest for GCSE Maths?

In theory, no exam board should be easier or harder than another.

However as we’ve seen, there are slight differences in how each exam board structures their exams. 

So if you struggle concentrating for long periods at a stretch, you’ll find Eduqas (with the longest exams at two hours, fifteen minutes) tricky. Equally, if jumping between topics isn’t your strong point, you might find OCR’s shift from a calculator paper, to non-calc, then back to calculator challenging.

Which exam board is easiest for GCSE Maths will come down to the way you study. Ultimately, success in GCSE Maths is more likely to hinge on your preparation and mastery of key concepts, rather than your exam board.

But in terms of pass rates, here’s the cumulative percentage of students who achieved each grade (in June 2023 Maths GCSEs), for the main exam boards in England.

Grade 9 Grade 8 Grade 7 Grade 6 Grade 5 Grade 4 Grade 3 Grade 2 Grade 1
AQA 3.0 9.4 16.3 25.8 41.3 58.0 76.0 89.4 97.3
Pearson Edexcel 3.5 9.9 18.0 28.7 44.6 62.7 78.3 90.4 97.6
OCR 3.57 9.16 17.67 26.09 43.70 64.75 79.12 90.43 98.09
WJEC Eduqas 0.3 0.9 1.8 2.7 12.1 28.4 51.6 75.9 94.9

So the “easiest” exam board to achieve a pass is OCR. It has the highest percentage of pupils (64.75%) who achieved a Grade 4 or higher. However, if you’re aiming for the very top grades, Pearson Edexcel boasts the highest number of students (9.9%) achieving Grade 8 or Grade 9 results.

Which exam board is the hardest for GCSE Maths?

On the flip side of the data we’ve just looked at, WJEC Eduqas is by far the hardest exam board. Only 0.9% of pupils achieve Grade 8 or higher. Equally, only 28.4% of students achieve a Grade 4 pass.

If you’re struggling with Maths, you should also know that students can choose Foundation or Higher Tier Maths papers at GCSE. 

A student aiming for Grade 5 or above might opt for the Higher Tier, which presents more challenging questions requiring deeper understanding and problem-solving skills. On the other hand, a student targeting Grade 4 might choose the Foundation Tier, which covers essential concepts at a more accessible level. 

Not sure about the right fit for you? Have a chat with your teacher. They’ll advise on the most appropriate tier for your abilities and goals.

What is the difference between AQA and Edexcel Maths GCSE?

The Department of Education is responsible for setting national curriculum content at GCSE. 

This means the topics covered in Maths GCSE exams are the same, whether you’re studying with AQA, Edexcel or any other exam board. The Department of Education also decides on “content weighting” for each topic (i.e. the percentage of marks for each section), so this is the same too.

To understand the Maths GCSE syllabus in more detail, including explanations of all the key topics, read our in-depth guide.

AQA and Edexcel each set three papers. All papers are an hour and a half long, worth 80 marks in total. This is the same for both Foundation and Higher Tiers.

The only difference between AQA and Edexcel is that 10% of AQA papers are multiple-choice. Edexcel focuses less on multiple-choice options.

To compare AQA with more exam boards, AQA publishes a handy comparison table for Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas.

Overall, while both AQA and Edexcel adhere to the same curriculum, differences in question style and format may influence how hard or easy you find the exam. It’s essential students work with past papers to make informed decisions and tailor preparation accordingly.

So, how can you get your hands on past papers?

How can I find past papers for Maths GCSE?

Past papers are an invaluable part of GCSE preparation, not just for Maths but every other subject too! 

By understanding the format and style of past exams, students can hone their problem-solving skills, build confidence and identify areas for improvement. Studying with past papers also means you’ll understand question-types and practice working under timed conditions – alleviating exam nerves and enhancing your performance.

Each exam board publishes a selection of past papers, offering students plenty of practice materials. They also offer mark schemes and examiner reports, giving valuable insights into areas students commonly struggle with.

Here’s where to find past papers for the main exam boards.

Are you preparing for GCSE Maths exams?

Whether your child is still deciding on GCSE options or getting closer to final exams, our expert Maths tutors are here to help. With a personalised approach and excellent track record, we’ll help your child reach their full academic potential and ace their exams. Get in touch today to find out more.

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