There are 3 prominent GCSE exam boards in the UK
AQA
Edexcel
OCR.
These are the three biggest exam boards, so it's important for parents to know the differences between them. Schools will vary in what they offer, even subject to subject.
AQA, OCR, and Edexcel all have their own strengths; it depends on what you're looking for. Different GCSE exam boards have different styles of questions. Each one offers slightly different layouts and set-up questions and materials.
AQA
AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) is one of the main examination boards in England and currently accounts for more than half of the GCSE and A-level qualifications taken and marked in the UK each year.
AQA is a registered charity, independent of the government, and is managed by a board of trustees who have responsibility for the overall strategy and direction of the organisation.
The organisation has been around for almost 20 years, having been formed from a merger between the Associated Examining Board (the AEB) and Northern Examinations and Assessment Board (NEAB) in April 2000.
In total, AQA offers qualifications in around 60 subjects and within these subject areas there are a variety of specifications and qualification levels.
The core subjects of maths, English and science are covered, as well as numerous languages, humanities, ICT-related areas, PE and creative subjects. AQA also offers Applied General and Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications in a variety of skills-based subject areas such as business, science, catering, and general skills, as well as independent extended projects.
Exam Approach - AQA exams are best fit with people who are good at writing extended answer questions. They don’t have to be essays but structuring your answers in full sentences with linking words and paragraphs works in your favour for AQA exams.
Edexcel
Edexcel – its name being a portmanteau of “education” and “excellence” – is one of the largest awarding bodies in the UK alongside AQA and is the qualification brand name for publishing and education company Pearson. Edexcel was originally formed in 1996, following the merger of the Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) and the University of London Examinations and Assessment Council (ULEAC), which administered GCSEs and A levels.
Although it was initially established as a charitable organisation, Edexcel is now owned by Pearson and is the only privately owned exam board in the UK.The company is overseen by a board, which regulates standards and monitors the overall running of the company.
It offers a variety of courses and qualifications for 14- to 19-year-olds, but is largely used for GCSE and A-level qualifications in the UK (as well as some vocational qualifications, including NVQs and Functional Skills).
Edexcel offers qualifications in around 50 subject areas, including the core subjects of maths, English and science.
However, there are more than 300 choices of topics or subjects attached to the various work-based and NVQ competency qualifications, and Edexcel is a popular choice for BTEC and NVQ qualifications.
Exam Approach - Edexcel takes a very logical approach to the exam. Bullet pointing answers in a simple structure can allow you to gain all the marks very quickly and if you are somebody who learns well by answering exam style questions, then Edexcel is for you, as the website supplies stacks of past papers and exam questions for you to try.
OCR
OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA) sets and assesses GCSEs, A levels and a wide range of vocational courses. It is one of the main examination boards used in the UK but is also part of Europe’s largest assessment agency, operating in more than 150 different countries.
OCR was established in 1998 following the merger of UCLES (University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate) and RSA (an exam board offering vocational qualifications since the 1850s).
Operating as a charity, OCR is governed by an executive team (led by CEO Jill Duffy), which ensures the management and day-to-day running of assessment, operations, products and sales and marketing.
OCR offers GCSEs and A levels in more than 40 subjects, including the core subjects of maths, English and science, but also a range of languages, humanities and creative arts subjects.
It also offers more than 450 vocational qualifications, spanning fields of industry including business, ICT, health and social care, and media.
The teacher and the school can choose what exam board to follow based on the classes’ needs and the teacher’s interests. Conversely, teachers can overestimate the power of certain questions, as research portrays that teachers underestimate multiple choice questions' difficulty, while open-ended questions can be easier to tackle than first thought.
There is also evidence portraying that teachers have ‘played the system’ by selecting examination boards on the easiness of their questions. The board is perfect for people who find remembering facts difficult and prefer authoring critical essays, while it is much more difficult for people who find analysis hard.
Exam approach - OCR is the final board and is made for people who can answer evaluative questions on information provided. Unlike the other two, there aren’t as many facts to be learnt beforehand and instead, OCR tests candidates on their application of theories inside the exam.