AQA vs Edexcel GCSE Maths: which board does my child sit, and does it matter?

Parents often ask us whether their child is doing "the hard board" or "the easy board". The honest answer is that AQA and Edexcel GCSE Maths are much more alike than different. But knowing which one your child sits still matters, because it decides which past papers to use.

How do I find out which exam board my child sits?

The quickest way is to ask the school's maths teacher or exams office. Most schools use one board for the whole year group.

Other ways to check:

• Look at mock papers or revision guides. AQA papers show the code 8300. Edexcel papers show 1MA1.
• Check the school website. Many schools list exam boards on their curriculum pages. For example, Barking Abbey School's maths page says it uses AQA for GCSE Maths and Edexcel for A-Level Maths.
• Check the statement of entry. In Year 11, schools give students a list of their exam entries before the summer exams. It shows the board and tier for each subject.

Do not assume your child sits the same board as a friend at another school, or even the same board for every subject.

What is the same in AQA and Edexcel GCSE Maths?

Almost everything about the content and format is the same. The Department for Education sets the maths content for all boards, and Ofqual sets how much weight each topic area gets (AQA specification).

Sources: AQA 8300 specification and Pearson Edexcel 1MA1 specification.

All three papers must be at the same tier and taken in the same exam season. Your child gets one grade from the total of all three papers.

Do both boards give a formulae sheet?

Yes. Ofqual requires every exam board to give students a formulae sheet in GCSE Maths for exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027. In 2026 Ofqual extended this to exams from 2028 onwards, for the life of the current qualifications.

Boards must publish the sheet by 1 September the year before the exams. Your child should practise with their own board's sheet so they know where everything is. The sheet does not mean they can skip learning how to use a formula.

So what are the real differences?

The real differences are in how questions are written, the past papers available, and the grade boundaries. The maths itself is the same.

Question style

Each board has its own team of question writers. Students who have done lots of one board's papers get used to its wording and layout. This is why practising the right board's past papers matters more than which board it is. We avoid saying one board is "harder", because the grade boundaries are set to balance out how hard the papers turn out to be.

Grade boundaries

Each board sets its own boundaries after marking. In June 2026 the numbers were quite different:

Sources: AQA June 2026 grade boundaries and Pearson Edexcel June 2026 grade boundaries.

Lower boundaries do not mean an easier grade. They usually mean students found that board's papers harder that year. If you mark a past paper at home, always use the boundaries for the same board, tier and year. Our guide to GCSE grade boundaries explains this in more detail.

Exam dates

GCSE Maths papers sit in common slots shared by all boards. In summer 2027 the three papers are on 14 May, 27 May and 14 June (Pearson Edexcel summer 2027 final timetable). Check your child's own timetable from school, as it is the one that counts.

Can my child switch exam board?

Usually no. The school chooses the board and enters every student in the year group. A private candidate can choose, but most students should stay with their school.

If your child moves school in Year 10 or 11, ask the new school which board it uses. The content is the same, so switching is mostly about getting used to a new style of paper.

Does the board matter for sixth form or university?

No. Sixth forms, colleges and universities treat a grade 7 from AQA and a grade 7 from Edexcel the same. What matters is the grade.

How should we revise for the right board?

Use your board's own materials first, then mix in others for extra practice.

• Past papers and mark schemes from the board's website, marked using that board's boundaries.
• The board's formulae sheet, printed and kept with revision notes.
• Topic practice from any source. Since the content is the same, good topic questions work for both boards.

For a step-by-step plan, see how to go from grade 4 to 7 in GCSE Maths and our Year 11 revision timetable.

How can LCB help?

We teach to your child's exam board, whether that is AQA, Edexcel or OCR. In the free 30-minute assessment, we check which board and tier your child is on and find the topics costing them marks.

Lessons are in small groups of 3 to 5, in Barking or online, with the same tutor every week. As one parent from Canning Town put it: "They actually teach to the exam board, not just general revision." See our maths tutoring and GCSE tutoring pages, or book a free assessment.