Tutor IslandEngland
AQA
The largest board in England. Especially common for English Language and Literature, History, Psychology, and Sociology.
aqa.org.uk→For students and parents
Exam boards, explained
The board your school uses decides the papers you sit, the texts you study, and how your answers are marked. Here is who they all are, how to find out which one is yours, and why it matters when you choose a tutor.
Same subject, different exam
An exam board writes the syllabus, sets the papers, marks them, and awards the grades. Your school picks a board for each subject separately, so it is completely normal to sit AQA for English, Edexcel for Maths, and OCR for Computer Science in the same year.
Between boards, the same subject can differ in paper structure, set texts, and how mark schemes give credit. Revising the wrong board’s texts is a mistake families genuinely make, which is why it is worth pinning down your board before lessons start.
The boards
England
AQA
The largest board in England. Especially common for English Language and Literature, History, Psychology, and Sociology.
aqa.org.uk→England
Pearson Edexcel
Sets around half of all GCSE Maths entries, and is a big presence in Further Maths, Business, and Economics.
qualifications.pearson.com→England
OCR
Part of Cambridge Assessment. The dominant board for Computer Science, and home of Latin, Classics, and Ancient History.
ocr.org.uk→Wales, and England as Eduqas
WJEC / Eduqas
One body, two brands: WJEC serves Wales, Eduqas serves English schools. Popular for English Literature, Media, Film, and Drama.
eduqas.co.uk→Northern Ireland
CCEA
Northern Ireland's own awarding body, setting GCSEs and A Levels used across NI schools.
ccea.org.uk→Scotland
SQA / Qualifications Scotland
Scotland's single awarding body for National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher. Scotland's system runs separately from the rest of the UK.
sqa.org.uk→Independent schools, worldwide
Cambridge International
Used by many UK independent schools for IGCSE and international A Levels. IGCSE Maths and Sciences are known for being tougher than their GCSE namesakes.
cambridgeinternational.org→How to find out which board you sit
Your school chooses, so ask your class teacher, or check the curriculum pages on the school website. Textbooks and past homework usually name the board on the cover, and mock papers name it at the top. Remember to check per subject, because one school almost always uses several boards.
Once you know it, every board publishes its past papers, mark schemes, and full specifications free on its website. Mark schemes are the single best revision resource most families never open: they show exactly what earns credit.
What this means for choosing a tutor
A tutor who knows your exact board is worth more than a generic subject expert, because they know the paper format, the set texts, and what the mark scheme rewards. When you message a tutor on Tutor Island, tell them your board and ask when they last prepared a student for it. Messaging is free, so ask before you ever pay to connect.