Edexcel GCSE
Pearson Edexcel
Pearson Edexcel is the second-largest GCSE awarding body in England, operated by Pearson. Edexcel's specifications are widely used in independent and academy-trust schools, and its paper structure differs subtly from AQA's in question style and weighting.
Overview
Pearson Edexcel is the GCSE awarding body of Pearson, the world's largest education company. It is the second-most-used GCSE board in England after AQA, with particularly strong representation in academies, independent schools and international schools.
Edexcel's English Language specification is structurally similar to AQA's (two papers, fiction + non-fiction) but uses different question stems and a distinct mark scheme. Edexcel English Literature also has a two-paper structure but allocates papers differently: Paper 1 is Shakespeare + post-1914 literature; Paper 2 is the 19th-century novel + poetry.
Edexcel's Maths specification follows the same DfE national content as the other boards and uses the same three-paper structure, but historically Edexcel papers have leaned slightly more towards context-rich problem-solving questions in Higher tier.
Subjects on Edexcel
GCSE Maths
Subject guide| Paper | Duration | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (non-calculator) | 1h 30m | All topics. 80 marks. 33⅓%. |
| Paper 2 (calculator) | 1h 30m | All topics. 80 marks. 33⅓%. |
| Paper 3 (calculator) | 1h 30m | All topics. 80 marks. 33⅓%. |
Foundation tier (grades 1–5) and Higher tier (grades 4–9). Same three-paper structure for both tiers.
GCSE English Language
Subject guide| Paper | Duration | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 — Fiction and Imaginative Writing | 1h 45m | 20th/21st-century fiction extract, 4 reading questions, then extended imaginative writing. |
| Paper 2 — Non-fiction and Transactional Writing | 2h 5m | Two non-fiction texts (one 19th-century, one 20th/21st-century), reading questions including comparison, then extended transactional writing. |
Untiered. Spoken Language assessed separately and reported as Pass/Merit/Distinction.
GCSE English Literature
Subject guide| Paper | Duration | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 — Shakespeare and post-1914 literature | 1h 45m | Two sections: Shakespeare (extract + essay) and post-1914 British literature (essay). |
| Paper 2 — 19th-century novel and poetry since 1789 | 2h 15m | Three sections: 19th-century novel, poetry anthology comparison, unseen poetry. |
Closed-book on all texts. Edexcel's allocation of texts to papers differs from AQA — Shakespeare pairs with modern prose/drama on Paper 1 rather than with the 19th-century novel.
What's distinctive about Edexcel
- •Edexcel's mark schemes also use level descriptors, but Edexcel tends to provide more granular indicative content for examiners. For students, this often means clearer guidance in published mark schemes about what each level looks like.
- •Edexcel English Literature pairs Shakespeare with post-1914 literature on Paper 1, which is a notable difference from AQA. The 19th-century novel sits with poetry on Paper 2.
- •Pearson publishes the ResultsPlus tool for teachers, providing detailed candidate-level analytics. The student-facing equivalent is less developed than AQA's published Examiners' Reports.
Other exam boards
FAQ
- How does Edexcel differ from AQA for English Literature?
- The biggest difference is paper allocation. AQA pairs Shakespeare with the 19th-century novel on Paper 1; Edexcel pairs Shakespeare with post-1914 literature on Paper 1, putting the 19th-century novel on Paper 2 alongside poetry.
- Is Edexcel harder than AQA?
- There's no consistent evidence that one board is harder than another at the same grade boundary — Ofqual sets boundaries to align grades across boards. Edexcel and AQA differ in question style and emphasis, not in overall difficulty.
- Which set texts are most popular on Edexcel?
- Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet for Shakespeare; An Inspector Calls or Animal Farm for post-1914 prose/drama; A Christmas Carol or Jekyll and Hyde for the 19th-century novel. Schools choose from Edexcel's prescribed list.
- Does Edexcel use the same Maths formulae sheet as AQA?
- The formulae provided in the front of the exam booklet are similar but not identical across boards. The DfE specifies which formulae students must memorise and which can be given, but the exact layout differs by board.
- Can Revisio prepare me for Edexcel papers?
- Yes. Revisio supports the four major boards across all three subjects, including Edexcel's specific paper structure and question style. The diagnostic and mock papers are board-aware.