Based on the pass mark, AQA and Edexcel, and AQA are the hardest exam boards for foundation and higher GCSE Maths respectively.
GCSE Exam Boards Grade Boundaries
OCR has been known for their slightly more difficult examinations (they had to rewrite their GCSE Maths paper and withdraw their new language A-levels), and in 2016, Greenhead College students left an OCR Maths exam in tears due to the paper's challenges.
AQA. AQA stands for Assessment and Qualifications Alliance and is one of the main exam boards that offer GCSE qualifications in the UK. AQA is arguably the most important exam board when considering GCSEs. This is because the AQA exam board covers more than half of the GCSE and A-Level qualifications taken each year.
Which Exam Board is the Easiest for GCSEs? It is difficult to determine an overall easiest exam board for GCSEs as it may vary depending on the subject. However, some sources suggest that Edexcel iGCSE is considered the easiest board to take English Language and Literature under.
The only difference between AQA, Edexcel and OCR is the amount you can be awarded. Edexcel and AQA exams will be out of 240 marks, while OCR will be out of 300 marks. Don't worry though! Regardless of the exam board and the number of marks available, you'll still be marked within the same grading systems of 1-9.
When you prepare for your IGCSE or A-Level examinations, you tend to be in the dilemma of choosing between the Edexcel or the Cambridge Board. Both examinations have a similar level of difficulty, although individual students sometimes state that one exam is more difficult than the other.
Both Cambridge and Edexcel are highly-regarded high school qualifications that are universally accepted by prestigious universities. Traditionally, CIE is considered to be harder, the main reason is due to the structured- high-order questions that are presented in your papers.
Based on the pass mark, WJEC Edquas and Pearson Edexcel are the hardest exam boards for GCSE English Literature and English Language respectively. OCR is the easiest exam board for both GCSE English Literature and English Language.
GCSE Maths, GCSE Sciences, Modern Foreign Languages, GCSE English Literature, and History often rank among the hardest GCSE subjects. This is due to their concepts' need for critical thinking.
IGCSE qualifications have traditionally been perceived by some people as “harder” than GCSEs because the final results were solely based on the end-of-course examinations, rather than offering the opportunity for students to complete coursework to contribute towards their final grades.
AQA: This is the most popular board in the UK, accounting for more than half of the total GCSE English Language exams. It is an independent board that has been around for nearly 30 years.
Cambridge IGCSE
The exams are set by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), which is part of Cambridge Assessment that also includes OCR, a UK GCSE examination board.
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Key differences
The AQA papers are equally weighted, putting less pressure on students to do better in one than the other. Edexcel's two papers are split 40%/60% and have a greater emphasis on persuasive and instructional writing. Edexcel offer students a choice of writing questions on both papers.
What is the toughest board in India? The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) are often considered the toughest boards in India.
Edexcel began as an awarding organisation following the merger of London Examinations and BTEC in 1996. After Pearson became our awarding organisation in April 2013, Edexcel became a qualification brand, now standing as one of Pearson's leading brands.
The hardest GCSE in 2023 is Film Studies. Nationwide it only scored a 0.46 E:F ratio. This means you are over twice as likely to fail as you are to score an 8 or 9 on your Film Studies GCSE.
Are American SATs harder than GCSEs? SAT subject tests are harder than GCSE tests because they're used to get into American universities and colleges. However, many argue that the SATs are too easy because they're only one hour long and made up of multiple-choice questions.
Recent Update: IIT-JEE, UPSC CSE, and GATE are among the world's most difficult exams. In the ranking, the IIT JEE test is ranked first in India and second in the globe.
Key differences
The AQA Papers are equally weighted, putting less pressure on students to do better in one than the other. Eduqas' two papers are split 60%/40% and have a greater emphasis on persuasive/ instructional writing. AQA's Paper 1 and 2 are 1 hr 45 mins. Eduqas' Paper 1 is 1 hr 45, Paper 2 is 2 hrs.
edexcel iALs are widely recognised by universities both in the UK and worldwide. All russell group universities in the UK (including oxford and cambridge) and the group of 8 universities (go8) in Australia accept edexcel iALs.
The likes of Oxbridge universities (Cambridge and Oxford), Ivy League universities (Harvard, Princeton, Yale and many more) are a few of the many global powerhouses in education who accept Edexcel for admissions applications.
Curriculum & Subject Offerings
Edexcel tends to offer a more modular approach, allowing students to choose individual subjects and tailor their curriculum based on their interests. Cambridge, on the other hand, offers a more standardized curriculum with pre-determined subject combinations.