October 11, 2021

A-Level Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry & Physics Exam Boards in Slough Secondary Schools

Following their GCSE tests, AS and A levels are the next major step in a child's educational journey. AS and A-Levels (short for Advanced Level) are a step up from GCSEs in that they provide your child with the ability to specialise in subjects that they are particularly passionate about.

Each school or education provider has the ability to choose the best exam board for their needs and requirements, and the awarding body (examination board)they choose will determine the type of exam and pass mark they will receive. While there is a nationally recognised standard set by OFQUAL (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) to help identify the qualifying criteria for scoring and assessments, each examination board can choose the layout and content of each exam paper, providing it fits within the legal guidelines to ensure fairness.

There has been talk over the years of A-Levels getting easier. However, this can be traced back to the differences in the scoring and marking of each test by the appropriate exam board. There are five main awarding bodies for schools to choose from in the UK when it comes to the type of exam pupils will sit.

AQA

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance is a non-profit organisation. AQA is the largest test board in the United Kingdom, with over 3.5 million exams taken by students every year. AQA awards 42 per cent of A-levels and 49 per cent of full GCSE programmes. AQA is also a charitable organisation that united several examination boards in 2000. It is taught in 44 countries across the world.

OCR

The non-profit group was formed in 1998 when Cambridge Assessment Group (formerly known as The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) amalgamated with the RSA Examinations Board. Students take ten per cent of OCR's tests from private schools.

Edexcel

The Edexcel name is taken from the phrase "educational excellence." Edexcel is the only privately owned exam board in the United Kingdom, and it was created in 1996 as a result of the merger of the University of London Examinations and Assessment Council (ULEAC) and the Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) (BTEC). Pearson acquired control of Edexcel in 2005, and the company's examinations are appropriate for students between the ages of 14 and 19, with 8.2 million exam scripts managed in more than 85 countries.

WJEC

Welsh Joint Education Committee (Welsh Joint Education Committee). The Welsh exam board is a non-profit organisation that was established in 1948. WJEC was previously taught in Welsh schools, although their syllabus is now being studied by a growing number of English schools (more than 5,000 compared to less than 500 in Wales).

CCEA

The Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment Council (CCEA) is a body that oversees the development of educational programmes. CCEA is the awarding exam body for Northern Ireland, and it was established in 1994. The CCEA is officially recognised as a state entity, and it advises the government on the content that should be taught in Northern Ireland's schools.

Can The Exam Board Affect A-Level Results?

The scoring process for each exam board indeed varies; however it isn't as simple as finding a school using an exam board with the lowest pass rate. Pass rates and qualifying criteria are assessed with every paper and determined upon the questions and the difficulty level set.

So when it comes to finding which exam board is the easiest, the answer is it is all relative. The marks obtained will be based solely on your participant's ability to answer the questions, complete assessments as per the given direction, and meet the criteria set. It might appear that other boards are offering higher or different marks, but you need to remember that they too are using the same system for marking and awarding grades based on what their exams include.

Finding Your A-Level Exam Board for Secondary Schools in Slough

Now your child is looking at their A-Level options; it is important to fully understand what exam board your chosen dedication provider uses so you can help your child prepare for taking their exams and be aware of what exactly they can expect upon sitting the exam.

For further information, you can always consult your sixth form education provider to ask about their choice of the exam board and any pass rate statistic you might want to know.

Baylis Court School

Maths - Edexcel

English - Edexcel

Biology - OCR

Chemistry - AQA

Physics - OCR

Beechwood School

Maths - Edexcel

English - AQA

Biology - Edexcel

Chemistry - Edexcel

Physics - AQA

Ditton Park Academy

Maths - Edexcel 9FM0

English - OCR H470 (Lang)/OCR H472 (Lit)

Biology - AQA 7401/7402

Chemistry - OCR A H032 / H432

Physics - AQA 7407/7408

Eden Girls' School

Maths - n/a

English - n/a

Biology - n/a

Chemistry - n/a

Physics - n/a

Herschel Grammar School

Maths - Edexcel

English - OCR

Biology - OCR

Chemistry - OCR

Physics - OCR

Langley Grammar School

Maths - OCR B Specification AS Level H630, A-Level H640/ Further Maths OCR B Specification AS Level H635,

A Level H645

English - OCR AS Level H070, A-Level H470 (Lang)/Edexcel Specification AS Level 8ETO, A-Level 9ETO

Biology - OCR Biology A AS Level H020,

A Level H420

Chemistry - OCR Specification A AS Level H032, A-Level H432

Physics - OCR A Specification AS Level H156, A-Level H556

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School

Maths - Edexcel

English - n/a

Biology - n/a

Chemistry - n/a

Physics - n/a

St Joseph's Catholic High School

Maths - AQA 1350 (Core)/ AS: 8MA0/01, 8MA0/02, A: 9MA0/01, 9MA0/02, 9MA0/03

English - OCR H470 (Lang)/OCR H7472 (Lit)

Biology - AQA 7402

Chemistry - AQA 7405

Physics - AQA 7407

The Langley Academy

Maths - Edexcel

English - Edexcel

Biology - AQA

Chemistry - AQA

Physics - AQA

The Westgate School

Maths - Edexcel

English - OCR (Lit)

Biology - Edexcel

Chemistry - AQA

Physics - m/a

Upton Court Grammar School

Maths - n/a

English - n/a

Biology - n/a

Chemistry - n/a

Physics - n/a

Wexham School

Maths - AQA 1350 (Advanced Maths Edexcel 2210)

English - Edexcel

Biology - AQA 7402

Chemistry - AQA 7405

Physics - AQA 7408



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