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Find out how different GCSE exam boards differ
Writer： admin Time：2025-04-09 10:47 Browse：℃
This blog contains the details of the GCSE exam boards UK. Find out how the boards are distinct from each other and which qualifications they offer.
(AQA Examinations Authority GCSE certificate)
(AQA Examinations Authority GCSE certificate)
GCSE Exam Boards UK
AQA
CCEA
Pearson
OCR
WJEC
History of the Exam Boards GCSE in the UK
AQA
OCR
Pearson
CCEA
WJEC
FAQs
What are the main exam boards in the UK?
What does an awarding body mean?
How do the UK exam boards work?
What does the awarding body mean on the application form?
Conclusion
What to Read Next:
GCSE Exam Boards UK
Some of the most popular GCSE exam boards UK include AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC. Each board offers a unique set of qualifications and assessments, so it’s important to research your options carefully before making a decision. With the right exam board and qualifications under your belt, you’ll be well on your way to success in your chosen field.
AQA
AQA stands for Assessment and Qualifications Alliance. This board is considered to be one of the main examination boards in England.
AQA was formed from a merger between the Associated Examining Board (AEB) and the Northern Examinations and Assessment Board (NEAB) in April 2000. It is a registered charity and is independent of the government.
At present, AQA accounts for taking and marking more than half of the GCSE and A-level qualifications in the UK each year. In total, it offers qualifications in around 60 subjects, which have a variety of specifications and qualification levels.
The subjects that AQA covers are Maths, English and science, numerous languages, humanities, ICT-related areas, PE and creative subjects. AQA also offers Applied General and Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications in skill-based subjects like science, business, catering, and general skills, as well as independent extended projects.
（2020 AQA Examinations Authority GCSE Certificates Sample）
(2023 version of AQA Examinations Authority GCSE Certificate Sample)
CCEA
The full form of CCEA is The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment. CCEA is the examination board of Northern Ireland which also acts as the regulator of qualifications and awarding body of Northern Ireland. It is the only Northern Ireland based examination board that awards GCSE and A Level qualifications.CCEA offers qualifications like GCSEs, Entry Level Qualifications, Essential Skills, and Graded Objectives in Modern Languages.
Pearson
Pearson is another largest awarding bodies of the UK alongside AQA. It offers qualification in the name of “Edexcel.” Pearson is the only private exam board among the UK exam boards.
Pearson offers qualifications in around 50 subject areas that include the core subjects of Maths, English and science. But, it is mostly popular for offering GCSE and A-level qualifications along with some vocational qualifications including NVQs and Functional Skills.
There are more than 300 choices of topics attached to the various work-based and NVQ competency qualifications, and Pearson is a popular choice for BTEC and NVQ qualifications.
（2019 Pearson Edexcel GCSE Certificate Sample）
(Back of Pearson Edexcel GCSE certificate)
OCR
OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA) is again one of the main examination bodies in the UK and also a part of Europe’s largest assessment agency. This board sets and assesses GCSEs, A levels and a number of vocational courses.
Just like the previous exam boards, OCR offers GCSEs and A levels in more than 40 subjects that include the core subjects of Maths, English, Science, and a range of languages, humanities and creative arts subjects.
It also offers more than 450 vocational qualifications in areas like ICT, health and social care, business and media.
(OCR GCSE Certificate Sample)
WJEC
WJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee), under its own name and the Eduqas brand, provides examinations, professional development and educational resources to schools and colleges in Wales, England and Northern Ireland.
It offers qualifications in traditional academic and work-related subjects at Entry Level, GCSE, AS/A Level. It also provides other level 3 qualifications, such as a Level 3 Diploma/Certificate in Medical Science or Level 3 Diploma/Certificate in Criminology, as well as Functional Skills and Key Skills.
(2012 WJEC Report Card test scores)
(WJEC and AQA certificates Sample)
AQA
The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) was formed in 1997 by the Northern Examining Association (NEAB), the Associated Examining Board (AEB) and the vocational City & Guilds. Later on, in 2000, AEB and NEAB formally merged into AQA, while City & Guilds chose to remain independent.
OCR
In 1995, the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) took over the Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examination Board (OCSEB). UCLES merged all its A Level boards to form the Oxford and Cambridge Examinations and Assessment Council (OCEAC). In 1998, UCLES took over the vocational Royal Society of Arts Examinations Board. Then it chose to use the name Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR) for all its UK qualifications. OCR is the only major exam board owned by a university and is still run by the University of Cambridge.
Pearson
The London Examinations merged with the vocational BTEC to form the Edexcel Foundation in 1996. It originally ran as an educational charity like AQA, but the Foundation was taken over by Pearson in 2003. It is the only British exam board to be run by a profit-making company.
CCEA
The Northern Ireland School Examinations and Assessment Council was replaced by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in 1994. ICAAE, a division of ICAA, began offering GCSEs in 1997 in partnership with CCEA. In 2009, it began offering exams independently of CCEA, though it stopped offering such exams a few years later.
WJEC
The Welsh local authorities own this awarding body, but it operates independently.4 WJEC launched a new brand, namely Eduqas. Eduqas offers the new Ofqual-accredited qualifications while WJEC offers Welsh Government-regulated qualifications.
(GCSE Certificate Sample)
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