What are the GCSE Exam Boards in England?

All GCSEs in England are regulated by Ofqual, but each exam board creates its own course structure, resources, and exam papers. That’s why your school might use different boards for different subjects.

Knowing your exam board helps you revise with the right materials, giving you more confidence going into the exam.

The main GCSE exam boards in England

1. AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance)

One of the biggest and most widely-used exam boards. AQA offers a wide range of subjects and is known for clear specifications.

2. Edexcel (Pearson Edexcel)

Run by Pearson, a global leader in education. Edexcel provides a mix of academic and vocational subjects with a strong focus on real-world learning.

3. OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations)

Part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. OCR offers flexible assessment styles and is especially well known for Maths, Sciences, and Computer Science.

4. WJEC Eduqas

The England-focused branch of WJEC. Eduqas creates GCSE qualifications for English schools. It's often picked for subjects like Religious Studies, Drama, and English.

Do exam boards matter?

Yes, but not in terms of how your GCSEs are valued. Every exam board is recognised equally.

The differences come down to:

how the course is structured
which topics are included
the style of exam questions
whether coursework is involved
the type of resources and past papers available

That’s why it’s important to know your board; it helps you revise smarter, not harder.

How to find out your exam board

You can check your exam board by:

asking your teacher or exams officer
checking your school’s online portal
looking at the front page of any past papers or course materials

Knowing your board is the first step to focused, confident revision. Atom is tailored to each exam board, and can guide you through every topic that matters.