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Why don't schools have the same exam board for all subjects?

My friends and I were discussing this today.
Curiosity strikes me again, why don't schools have the same exam board for all subjects?
Wouldn't it be easier?
Is there a reason, why exam boards are not the same for every subject?
Thanks :smile:
Original post by Cod3tte
My friends and I were discussing this today.
Curiosity strikes me again, why don't schools have the same exam board for all subjects?
Wouldn't it be easier?
Is there a reason, why exam boards are not the same for every subject?
Thanks :smile:


Because they have a choice and different teacher like different specifications.
With History they might cover different periods and with English lit different books.
It doesntonconvenience you.
Original post by Cod3tte
My friends and I were discussing this today.
Curiosity strikes me again, why don't schools have the same exam board for all subjects?
Wouldn't it be easier?
Is there a reason, why exam boards are not the same for every subject?
Thanks :smile:


The government decided to outsource the task of creating exams to private companies (i.e., the exam boards you know and hate). These companies compete for schools to sign up to their exams in order to make money. So your school might sign up for AQA exams for some subjects and OCR for others.
Original post by Cod3tte
My friends and I were discussing this today.
Curiosity strikes me again, why don't schools have the same exam board for all subjects?
Wouldn't it be easier?
Is there a reason, why exam boards are not the same for every subject?
Thanks :smile:


im doing AQA for evey GCSE and think its so much easier to stick to the same board
Reply 4
Avatar for Pangol
Pangol
15
Sometimes it's the personal preference of the teacher, sometimes it's just inertia ("we've always used them"), sometimes one exam board has a reputation for being a bit easier than the other... loads of reasons. I think they missed a trick when reforming exams in the last few years in not slimming down to one state-run exam board, or at least, saying that each subject can only be offered by one board (so you might get AQA doing science, Edexcel doing humanities, OCR doing languages, etc.). But I can't see that happening now, unfortunately.
Some exam boards are considered easier than others by teachers in some subjects. A teacher may specialise in an area more heavily focused opon by one exam board than another.
Reply 6
Avatar for Cod3tte
Cod3tte
OP
16
Original post by Andrew97
Some exam boards are considered easier than others by teachers in some subjects. A teacher may specialise in an area more heavily focused opon by one exam board than another.


So, is it like the head of subject that picks or something?
because not everyone can have the privilege to do WJEC
Original post by Cubone-r
The government decided to outsource the task of creating exams to private companies (i.e., the exam boards you know and hate). These companies compete for schools to sign up to their exams in order to make money. So your school might sign up for AQA exams for some subjects and OCR for others.


Privatisation!!! Geography is finally coming in handy
Reply 9
Avatar for Cod3tte
Cod3tte
OP
16
Original post by Ray_Shadows
because not everyone can have the privilege to do WJEC


Lol, now I think about it.
I don't have WJEC for any of my subjects.
I have:
AQA
OCR
Edexcel
Original post by Cod3tte
My friends and I were discussing this today.
Curiosity strikes me again, why don't schools have the same exam board for all subjects?
Wouldn't it be easier?
Is there a reason, why exam boards are not the same for every subject?
Thanks :smile:


I think it’s because some exam boards are easier to pass than others or the opposite- are more challenging.

I do AQA for the majority of my exams, except edexcel for business and ICT. I think that the edexcel board is easier for both these subjects and would be a better choice.

Many schools may use OCR if they are maybe higher ability candidates, as that exam board is more challenging and many students on that exam board may then go on to be at oxbridge in the future.

It is just convenient for your school to do whatever exam boards they have chosen, and may be better for students :smile:
It’s actually better for students as it means teachers can find a exam board that fits with their style of teaching. My history exam chose Edexcel when every other subject was AQA because they gave more precise questions and dates.
Original post by Cod3tte
So, is it like the head of subject that picks or something?


Probably the teachers more, https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/aug/25/teachers-choosing-exam-boards-gcse
tbh if you think about it if everyone did the same gcse. They wouldn't have made them hard
Exam Boards pressured Uni's which pressured the government and they pressured the exam boards.
Endless Cycle here just like justin bieber pants
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by Ray_Shadows
because not everyone can have the privilege to do WJEC


Have you seen the science A Level papers for WJEC? They're disgusting
Original post by Cubone-r
The government decided to outsource the task of creating exams to private companies (i.e., the exam boards you know and hate). These companies compete for schools to sign up to their exams in order to make money. So your school might sign up for AQA exams for some subjects and OCR for others.


I'm absolutely certain that this isn't true.

Exam boards have always been exam boards, and at no point were they privatised companies as such, except for Edexcel - and that was very recently.

All these things like AQA and Edexcel and OCR used to be the Cambridge board, the University of London board and so on - they just merged with all these other little ones that no one has ever heard of from the 1980s.
Original post by Trinculo
I'm absolutely certain that this isn't true.

Exam boards have always been exam boards, and at no point were they privatised companies as such, except for Edexcel - and that was very recently.

All these things like AQA and Edexcel and OCR used to be the Cambridge board, the University of London board and so on - they just merged with all these other little ones that no one has ever heard of from the 1980s.



You're right. Edexcel became profit-based around 2002/03 though.

I don't know why I had it in my head that way, ha.

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