A-level maths exam boards: Key features and differences to know

Selecting an exam board for A-level maths courses is a hugely consequential decision for schools. Many schools may stick to the same board for years, but it’s a good idea to conduct regular reviews within maths departments to ensure the selected option is still working for students and teachers alike.

However, once selected, the likelihood is that schools will stick with them, as teachers will build familiarity with the unique style and topics of their chosen board. This can make switching to a new syllabus challenging. Therefore, it’s important to make a decision that all teachers within the school are comfortable with.

As such, it pays for all teachers and heads of subject to understand what each board has to offer and where any key differences lie.

The role of exam boards in A-level maths

When it comes to A-level maths, there are three major exam boards that teachers can select from. These are:

• AQA
• Edexcel
• OCR

As well as publishing and marking exams, the boards set grade boundaries, define recommended teaching and assessment methods, and offer a range of additional resources for use in the classroom and for independent student revision.

For example, past papers are an invaluable aid for exam prep. These don’t just help students understand the topics they can expect to be covered in their exams, but importantly, they also get them used to the types of questions they’ll face in the real thing, including the language used and the way papers are structured. This is vital in helping students manage their time and ensure there are no surprises on exam day.

Meanwhile, grade boundaries – which determine what marks students will need to achieve a certain grade – need to be carefully and frequently reviewed to ensure fairness and give a reliable indicator of student abilities.

Elsewhere, exam structure and tone can vary between boards, so it’s important to stick to past papers from only your chosen board.

In addition, published mark schemes and guidance documentation for teachers help ensure you can prepare students effectively for their exams.

Key factors to consider when considering exam boards include:

• Syllabus content: Look at how the boards balance pure maths with applied modules.
• Exam style: Ask how the different boards phrase questions and structure papers. Do they favour direct questions and responses or longer, written answers?
• Support materials: Explore what documentation and guidance is available for teachers, and what volume and variety of past papers are on offer to aid in exam prep.
• Teacher and student feedback: Hearing first-hand from fellow professionals who have experience with multiple boards, as well as how students found their course, can offer a fresh perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of a certain approach.

What are the similarities between the main boards?

All exam boards are expected to cover the same core topics, so much of the content and structure will be broadly similar across the various options.

For example, AQA, Edexcel and OCR all follow the same basic structure for their syllabuses based on guidance and criteria from the Department of Education. The content breakdown for each of them remains as follows:

• Pure mathematics: Two-thirds of the course
• Statistics and mechanics: One-third, split equally between the two

In practice, this means that the majority of content (around 95 per cent) is roughly the same across the various boards. However, there may be some curriculum differences in how the same topics are approached.

All boards are well-regarded by higher education institutions, so there should be no disadvantage to students when applying for university, for example, depending on the exam they have taken.

An insight into A-level maths exam boards

Understanding some of the key strengths and focus areas for the different exam boards will be key to making an informed decision as a school. Here are some things all teachers should be aware of.

AQA

The largest exam board in the UK by the number of students overall, the board claims 92% of UK schools take its qualifications. AQA A-level maths is known for a traditional, structured approach to assessment, with exam questions that tend to be more direct and less context-based than other boards. This can make it a good choice for students who prefer a clear, straightforward approach to the subject.

Its approach to statistics uses large data sets that analyse real-world data, while it takes a standard approach to mechanics, with less focus on applied modelling.

AQA’s clarity and accessibility has led some students to suggest that its papers are ‘easier’ than Edexcel or OCR. However, this is a highly subjective measure that will depend greatly on students’ preferred learned styles, while all exam boards work carefully with their marking schemes and grade boundaries to ensure fairness in results.

Pearson Edexcel

Another highly popular choice for A-level maths, Edexcel is noted for its predictable, formulaic approach to questions, with papers that do not change significantly from year to year. This can make it simpler to prepare students for their exams through the use of past papers, ensuring they go into the exam hall confident in what they can expect.

Clear mark schemes also ensure students and teachers understand what they need to do to get full marks for every question. In statistics, like AQA, it uses large data sets that ask students to interpret real-world information.

However, its approach to mechanics is more applied than AQA, with Edexcel A-level maths having a greater focus on modelling. Meanwhile, compared with OCR, there is less of an emphasis on complex algebra.

OCR

Unlike the above boards, OCR A-level maths offers two courses – A and B, with the latter developed in collaboration with Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI). Although much of the content is similar across the two options, there are some differences in structure, emphasis and the approach to assessment.

OCR A generally takes a more demanding approach to algebra than the alternatives. Exams are often heavily-focused on this branch of maths, with students expected to showcase problem-solving abilities and demonstrate how to test hypotheses.

The OCR B specification, meanwhile, offers a more unique approach, with mathematical thinking and problem-solving the key priorities in order to improve understanding of real-world applications. Unlike other options, this course also features a paper with a dedicated comprehension section that will ask students to analyse and interpret unfamiliar mathematical content.

Pure maths has a greater focus on numerical methods of solving questions in OCR B, while mechanics has more modelling and interpretation and statistics features a broader range of techniques than the A specification.

What about other exam boards?

The above boards are responsible for the majority of A-level maths exams in England and Wales. However, they are not the only choices on offer. For example, despite its name, the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) is available to schools in England, while CCEA is common in Northern Ireland.

Leveraging technology for A-level maths success

Regardless of the exam board you feel is best-suited to your students and the teaching style your school favours, it pays to understand how having the right technology can help in exams. Knowing how the use of tools like calculators can be applied to the unique exam approaches and question types students may encounter from the different A-level maths exam boards gives the best chance of strong student performance.

For example, advanced graphical calculators like the Casio fx-CG50 offer students a range of approaches for answering many of the questions they will encounter, including using graphical, numerical or algebraic methods.

Understanding the various functionality and how it can be applied to the differing question styles used by each exam board helps ensure that no matter which paper your students are sitting, they can go into the exam with the confidence and support they need to succeed.

Check out the resources available on Casio Education and you’ll see how the right calculator can help students navigate the various demands of the exam boards and make sure all students know how their tools can work for them.