A level maths past papers — Edexcel vs AQA vs OCR compared
Compare boards before you commit past-paper time. Numbers are directional — download official boundary PDFs each series.
| Dimension | Edexcel | AQA | OCR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper structure | Modular papers | Linear papers | Linear papers |
| Pure / applied balance | Even split options | Even split | Even split |
| Large dataset (Stats) | Required theme | Required theme | Required theme |
| Boundary volatility | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Best if you are… | Exam past-paper heavy | Structured support | Structured support |
| Year | Index |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 72 |
| 2019 | 74 |
| 2020 | 73 |
| 2021 | 75 |
| 2022 | 76 |
| 2023 | 77 |
| 2024 | 78 |
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Which A-Level Maths board is easiest?
Difficulty is subjective — boundaries adjust yearly. Choose based on teaching resources and university familiarity.
Is Edexcel or AQA A-Level Maths harder?
Both can produce demanding papers; Edexcel often emphasises extended problems while AQA balances strands differently year to year.
Does it matter which A-Level Maths board I take?
Universities treat A-Level Maths as comparable; focus on mastery and mock performance.
Can I switch A-Level Maths boards?
Possible mid-course but disruptive — confirm with your centre and entry rules.
Are OCR A-Level Maths grade boundaries lower?
Boundaries move each series to match paper difficulty — compare series-specific PDFs.
Practice the exact question style for your board.
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