What exactly are the differences between Edexcel, OCR and AQA in the science subjects
Discussion, revision, exam and homework help from KS3 to degree level including engineering, construction, design and technology, agriculture, PE and sports science.
-
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Location: East London
- Posts: 1,333
What exactly are the differences between Edexcel, OCR and AQA in the science subjectsI'm just curious as I've been doing AQA in the sciences from GCSE to A-levels and was wondering what the difference is in terms of what we learn and what kind of exams we take between the other boards.
-
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Location: East London
- Posts: 1,333
Re: What exactly are the differences between Edexcel, OCR and AQA in the science subjInteresting. What exactly made it rubbish?(Original post by fuzzybear)
OCR physics is utterly rubbish, at least for its B specification. I've heard good stuff about Edexcel though
. Have no idea about AQA 
.
-
- Reputation:
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Posts: 1,175
Re: What exactly are the differences between Edexcel, OCR and AQA in the science subjMainly the textbook, which is useless. A large part is devoted to learning about the history/story of how certain concepts were stumbled upon, which is irrelevant. The exam questions are phrased quite strangely sometimes as well.(Original post by Sadian)
Interesting. What exactly made it rubbish? -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Location: Plymouth
- Posts: 2,098
Re: What exactly are the differences between Edexcel, OCR and AQA in the science subjAre you doing all the sciences to A-Level? OCR spec B for Chemistry is a nightmare, I think it is the only spec that requires a written investigation.
Edexcel Biology has an article at A2 which is long and the coursework at A2 is marked very harshly because it had to be degree level.....
Edexcel Maths has high grade boundries even when the exam is really hard!!!
Never did Physics.
I have heard AQA is the easiest for all the sciences and Maths but I have no idea about whether or not it is true. -
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Location: East London
- Posts: 1,333
Re: What exactly are the differences between Edexcel, OCR and AQA in the science subjNope, just Chemistry and Biology.(Original post by chronic_fatigue)
Are you doing all the sciences to A-Level? OCR spec B for Chemistry is a nightmare, I think it is the only spec that requires a written investigation.
Edexcel Biology has an article at A2 which is long and the coursework at A2 is marked very harshly because it had to be degree level.....
Edexcel Maths has high grade boundries even when the exam is really hard!!!
Never did Physics.
I have heard AQA is the easiest for all the sciences and Maths but I have no idea about whether or not it is true.
And ah, guess I kinda lucked out that I've been doing AQA! -
- Reputation:
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Posts: 1,175
Re: What exactly are the differences between Edexcel, OCR and AQA in the science subjdid you also have a problem with the textbooks?(Original post by chronic_fatigue)
Are you doing all the sciences to A-Level? OCR spec B for Chemistry is a nightmare, I think it is the only spec that requires a written investigation.
Edexcel Biology has an article at A2 which is long and the coursework at A2 is marked very harshly because it had to be degree level.....
Edexcel Maths has high grade boundries even when the exam is really hard!!!
Never did Physics.
I have heard AQA is the easiest for all the sciences and Maths but I have no idea about whether or not it is true. -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Location: Plymouth
- Posts: 2,098
Re: What exactly are the differences between Edexcel, OCR and AQA in the science subjDid you do it? The Chemical Ideas had a lot of waffle and the Chemical Storylines were a waste of my life!!!!(Original post by fuzzybear)
did you also have a problem with the textbooks? -
- Reputation:
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Posts: 1,175
Re: What exactly are the differences between Edexcel, OCR and AQA in the science subjso which exam board did you take your alevel science in?(Original post by Oh my Ms. Coffey)
Hard mode: OCR
Medium mode: AQA
Easy mode: Edexcel
Neg me all you like but its true.
and how did you come to this conclusion?
I did OCR-B physics, I suspected the same problem you've descrived would appear in other sciences. Yeah I can understand the storylines, I have them in my textbook as well, ugh pointless!(Original post by chronic_fatigue)
Did you do it? The Chemical Ideas had a lot of waffle and the Chemical Storylines were a waste of my life!!!! -
- Reputation:
- Banned
- Location: Leicester
- Warning points: 1000
Re: What exactly are the differences between Edexcel, OCR and AQA in the science subj(Original post by fuzzybear)
so which exam board did you take your alevel science in?
and how did you come to this conclusion?
I did OCR-B physics, I suspected the same problem you've descrived would appear in other sciences. Yeah I can understand the storylines, I have them in my textbook as well, ugh pointless!
OCR.
It certainly applies for A-level maths. OCR MEI > OCR > AQA > Edexcel, when we looked at the past papers. And on OCR MEI we have maths coursework worth a grand 4% of our total mark and comprehension paper elements.
.
