Exam Boards Introduction
Learn about the GCSE exam boards and how they run exams.
All exam boards follow Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) guidelines to regulate standards. However, exam format and content varies between boards, making each GCSE exam board distinct.
Schools have to choose which exam board they will use for each subject. Decisions can be based on the number of papers. Other factors include weightings of units and ratios of written exams to non-exam assessment, as determined by the GCSE exam boards they decide on.
The GCSE Exam Boards
AQA
AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) currently accounts for more than half of the GCSEs taken each year. It operates as a registered charity, independent of the government, and is managed by a board of trustees. The board reinvests all revenue into the charity. It funds educational research and supports various charitable initiatives.
The name AQA officially came about in April 2000 as the result of a merger between the Associated Examining Board (formed in 1953 to provide the new General Certificate of Education qualification to all secondary schools) and the Northern Examinations and Assessment Board (NEAB). This merger created the largest of the GCSE exam boards in England.
AQA offers qualifications in over 60 different subjects. Within these subject areas, there are a variety of specifications and qualification levels. The core subjects of Maths, English and Science are offered. Also offered are numerous languages, humanities subjects, ICT-related areas of study, and PE and arts-based 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. Additionally, it offers independent extended projects.
Edexcel
Edexcel – its name being a portmanteau of “education” and “excellence” – is one of the largest awarding bodies in the UK alongside AQA. It is the qualification brand name for publishing and education company Pearson. Edexcel was originally formed in 1996. This followed the merger of the Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) and the University of London Examinations and Assessment Council (ULEAC). The ULEAC 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.
Edexcel provides a variety of courses and qualifications for 14- to 19-year-olds. However, it is largely used for GCSE and A level qualifications in the UK. It also offers some vocational qualifications, including NVQs and Functional Skills.
The board also 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. Edexcel is a popular choice for BTEC and NVQ qualifications.
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 exam boards used in the UK. It 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, which had been offering vocational qualifications since the 1850s.
Operating as a charity, OCR is governed by an executive team, which ensures the management and day-to-day running of assessment, operations, products and sales and marketing.
OCR provides GCSEs and A-levels in over 40 subjects, including core areas such as Maths, English, and Science. Students may also select from a variety of languages, humanities, and creative arts subjects. Beyond these, the board offers more than 450 vocational qualifications, covering industries like business, ICT, health and social care, and media. This diversity reflects its role as a major GCSE exam board.
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