GCSE Exam Boards Explained - A Guide For Parents

GCSE Exam Boards Explained

If you’re keen to choose the best support for your child’s GCSE journey, a great place to start is understanding how exam boards work. There are several different boards, and knowing which one your child’s school is using can make a real difference to their GCSE outcomes.

By getting to grips with exam boards, you can help your child feel calmer, more prepared, and more in control of the topics, texts, and exam styles they’ll face. 

Although this can feel confusing at first, you’re not on your own – we’re here to guide you through everything you need to know.

Read on for how exam boards work, what makes them different, and how to make sure your child gets the right support.

Find out more about LessonWise GCSE tutoring.

What Are GCSE Exam Boards?

GCSE exam boards are organisations that set and mark the official qualifications typically taken by students in Years 10 and 11 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland uses different qualifications (National 5 and Highers) through the SQA.

Each board offers its own specifications (syllabuses). Your child’s school chooses the board for each subject, unless they are home-educated.

The main exam boards offering GCSE qualifications are:

• AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) – One of the largest exam boards, known for a wide range of subjects and accessible resources.
• Edexcel (Pearson Edexcel) – Part of Pearson, an international education company, Edexcel offers both GCSEs and International GCSEs (IGCSEs).
• OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations) – Linked to the University of Cambridge, OCR offers a broad range of subjects and innovative assessment styles.
• WJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee) – Mainly used in Wales, but WJEC also offers some qualifications in England, where some of these are branded as Eduqas.
• CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment) – The main board for schools in Northern Ireland.

Each board sets its own specifications, but GCSEs are regulated to maintain fairness, consistency and national recognition across the UK. So, whatever board your child is with, their qualification holds the same value.

Why Are There Different GCSE Exam Boards?

Having different exam boards gives schools more choice and flexibility in how subjects are taught and assessed. Each of the main boards offers its own set of specifications, resources, and exam styles, which means schools can shape GCSE courses around their students rather than being limited to a ‘one‑size‑fits‑all’ approach.

Many schools use more than one board, choosing the best fit for each subject. For example, a school might use AQA for English, Pearson Edexcel for maths, and OCR for science. This approach allows teachers to select the course content and assessment methods that best support their students’ learning and give them the strongest chance of success.

Subjects the Main Exam Boards Cover

The main exam boards all offer GCSEs in core subjects such as:

• English Language
• English Literature
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Combined Science
• History
• Geography
• French
• Spanish
• German
• Religious Studies

However, the exact GCSE subject titles and options can vary slightly between AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas and CCEA.

Find out more about:

• GCSE Maths tutoring
• GCSE English tutoring

Other popular subjects

Most boards also offer Computer Science, Business Studies, Art and Design, Design and Technology, Drama, Music, Physical Education (PE), and Food Preparation and Nutrition.

Additional options can include Economics, Further Mathematics, Statistics, Latin, Classical Civilisation, community languages such as Urdu, Arabic, and Mandarin, as well as Greek. Availability depends on the board and your child’s school.

How Do Schools Choose Exam Boards?

Schools select exam boards for each subject by considering factors such as exam structure, the quality of resources, course content, and staff expertise. They look carefully at how each course is assessed and which options can allow their teachers to teach with confidence and clarity.

From a parent’s point of view, the key thing to know is that whichever exam board your child is with, their teachers will have chosen it because they believe it will suit their students and support strong GCSE outcomes.

How Are the Exam Boards Regulated?

Despite these differences, all exam boards are regulated to ensure fairness, consistency, and high standards across the UK.

In England, Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) regulates AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas GCSEs, with grading on the 9–1 scale.

Qualifications Wales regulates GCSEs, primarily delivered by WJEC; Wales is introducing new ‘Made-for-Wales’ GCSEs with first teaching from 2025, and grading is typically A*-G.

In Northern Ireland, the CCEA Regulation oversees standards, and CCEA awards use the A*–G grading scale; some Northern Ireland schools also use English boards and the 9–1 scale.

Regulators establish detailed rules for subject content, exam design and grade awarding. This means that, no matter which exam board or school your child attends, their GCSEs are nationally recognised.

What Are the Differences Between Exam Boards?

All GCSE exam boards follow the same national subject content set by the government, so you can be confident that the core knowledge and skills your child learns will be consistent wherever they study.

However, specifications differ in set texts (for example, English Literature choices), assessment style (the balance of short and extended response, data questions, practical or fieldwork requirements, non-exam assessment where applicable), paper structure and command words, and support materials such as sample papers and examiners’ reports. 

Therefore, although the curriculum remains the same, the details can vary between exam boards. This is why tailored support is crucial when sourcing GCSE exam tutoring.

Here are some of the main differences between boards – remember, things can always change, so it’s best to check the official exam board website when your child chooses their GCSEs:

AQA

• Exams: A clear layout with a mix of short and extended questions.
• Question types: Direct command words (‘describe’, ‘explain’, ‘calculate’, and so on) and real-life applications, especially in sciences and maths.
• Texts studied: A wide choice, including books such as An Inspector Calls for English Literature and a poetry anthology.
• Marking: Detailed, transparent mark schemes and annually published grade boundaries.

Edexcel (Pearson)

• Exams: Often split into more, shorter papers.
• Question types: A variety, including multiple choice and data response, with structured calculations in maths and science.
• Texts studied: English Literature options such as Animal Farm, Macbeth and Edexcel’s poetry set.
• Marking: Clear, accessible criteria and detailed examiner feedback.

OCR

• Exams: a range of written and non-written exam assessments.
• Question types: Source-based, analytical and problem-solving questions.
• Texts studied: English Literature selections such as Jekyll and Hyde and Journey’s End.
• Marking: Evidence-focused marking, with structured feedback and published grade boundaries.

WJEC/Eduqas

• Exams: Designed for Wales and England (Eduqas), often including oral or practical assessments.
• Question types: A mix of short answers, essays and case studies.
• Texts studied: Texts reflect both the Welsh and UK-wide curriculum.
• Marking: Specification-led marking and annual grade boundaries.

CCEA

• Exams: Tailored for Northern Ireland, with clear, manageable sections.
• Question types: A combination of concise and extended responses.
• Texts studied: A blend of classic and contemporary works chosen with schools in Northern Ireland in mind.
• Marking: Detailed mark schemes and published grade boundaries.

How Can I Help My Child With Their GCSEs?

Do...

• Be smart about revision requirements – Find out the exact exam board and specification for each subject and make a simple list of the texts, topics, and papers your child will actually be examined on.
• Practise one question type at a time – Choose a common question type for your child’s exam board – such as a 6-mark science or 12-mark history questions – and focus on practising that particular style, so they get really confident with the structure.
• Set one small goal each week – After a mock or test, choose just one clear improvement per subject (for example, adding quotes in English or showing full working in maths) and make this the main focus of your child’s revision session.

Don’t...

• Don’t overhaul your child’s routine just before exams – In the last month, keep a steady pattern for homework, revision, and sleep instead of adding new late nights or activities.
• Don’t revise without the real paper in mind – Begin each revision session by naming the exact paper or question you will focus on – for example, AQA English Language Paper 1, Q5. This way, every session is linked to a real exam task.
• Don’t let weak topics drift – If a topic keeps being avoided, write it at the top of a specific revision session’s plan and make sure that one short slot happens before anything else.

Choosing the right tutor can make a real difference. Our expert GCSE tutoring [LINK TO PAGE] is tailored to each exam board, with practical strategies and regular feedback to help your child reach their potential.

Find your perfect LessonWise tutor.

Exam Board FAQs

How do I know which exam board my child is using?

You can confirm your GCSE exam board in a few different places. To start with, check what you already have access to – your school’s online platform may offer mock papers or revision booklets that detail the exam board on the front page. You could also ask a member of staff who will know the details, such as your subject teacher, form tutor, or the school’s exams officer – they should be happy to point you in the right direction. 

Students who are home-educated or entered privately should contact their exam centre and ask which board and specification they’ve been registered for in each subject.

If your child is nearing exam time, check their Statement of Entry, which usually shows the board name and course code for each subject, so you know exactly what they’re sitting.

Which is the best exam board – and which is the hardest?

There is no single answer when it comes to GCSE exam boards. They are all regulated to the same national standard, so colleges, universities and employers equally respect qualifications from any of the main boards.

As each board structures its courses and exams slightly differently, this means some students may find the style of one board suits them better than another. However, the overall level of challenge is designed to be the same for all boards.

What matters most is that your child is familiar with their specific exam board’s requirements and exam style so they can go into their GCSEs feeling confident and well prepared.

Are they academically different?

All UK exam boards are required to meet the same rigorous standards set by national regulators. This means the academic level, content and grading of GCSEs are designed to be consistent, wherever your child studies.

While each board offers a slightly different approach to teaching and assessment, the knowledge needed and the challenge remain the same – the differences are more about style than difficulty.

Which exam board do universities prefer?

Universities do not prefer one GCSE exam board over another. All primary UK exam board qualifications are recognised equally by colleges, sixth forms and universities across the UK.

Can I choose my child’s exam board?

In most cases, no. Your child’s school makes the decision based on what best fits their teaching approach and resources.

However, there are exceptions to this – if your child is home-educated, you have more flexibility and can select the exam board and specification that suits your child’s needs. For private candidates, it’s important to check which exam boards are accepted by local exam centres before you begin preparing in detail.

What support do the various exam boards offer students?

Exam boards can provide helpful resources such as:

• Specification documents – Clear outlines of what to study.
• Past papers and mark schemes – Real exam questions and answers for practice.
• Examiner reports – Tips on common mistakes and how to improve.
• Revision guides and sample materials – Extra practice and revision support.
• Guidance for private candidates – Information on exam entry and requirements.

At LessonWise, we use these official resources to help your child prepare effectively and build exam confidence. If you need help finding the right materials, we’re here to guide you.

How can I find past exam papers?

You can find a selection of free past GCSE exam papers and mark schemes on each exam board’s official website. Search for ‘past papers’ or ‘assessment resources’ sections to find downloadable papers, mark schemes and – occasionally – examiner reports for each subject and year.

At LessonWise, we regularly use a large selection of official past papers in our tutoring sessions, helping your child practise real exam questions and build confidence for their assessments. If you need help finding the proper papers for your child’s subject or exam board, your tutor can help.

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