Can You Change Exam Board Mid Course?

Sometimes you realise something isn’t right for you and you need a change. That might be the school you’re at, the house you live in, or even the exam board you’ve been working with.

But can you actually change exam boards halfway through your course? And if you can – should you?

The short answer is yes – but it's not always simple. I’ll lay out everything you need to know so you can make a decision for yourself.

Key Takeaways

• You can switch exam boards mid-course, but it’s easier early on (Year 10 or first year of A Levels) and becomes more complicated closer to exams.

• Main challenges include syllabus differences, coursework that often can’t be transferred, and changes in assessment style or practical requirements.

• Some subjects (like Maths) are easier to switch than others (like English or History, where set texts and topics differ greatly).

• Always compare syllabi, talk to your teachers and exam officer, and confirm your school can register you with the new board before deciding to switch.

Is It Possible to Change Exam Board During a Course?

You may well be able to change exam boards mid-course. Students do it all the time for various reasons.

But, whether it's a good idea or not depends on your particular situation.

What makes it possible:

• All exam boards follow the same national curriculum

• Schools can register you with different boards

• Your qualifications will be just as valid

What makes it tricky:

• Different boards teach topics in different orders

• Coursework might not transfer over

• Assessment styles can vary quite a bit

• Your school needs to be registered with the new board

The earlier you make the switch, the smoother it will be. Changing GCSE board in Year 10 or in the first year of A Levels? Usually fine. Switching in Year 11 or Year 13? That's when things get complicated.

Reasons Students Switch Exam Boards

You're definitely not alone if you're thinking about this. Here are the most common reasons students might want to switch:

• Moving schools is the big one. Your new school might use AQA instead of Edexcel, or OCR instead of WJEC.

• Switching to homeschooling or online learning, which often means more flexibility in choosing your exam board.

• Better resources – maybe you've found that another board has clearer textbooks or better past papers.

• Assessment style preferences – some students prefer more coursework, others prefer final exams only, and the boards have different styles.

Whatever your reason, make sure you understand what's involved before making the jump.

What to Consider Before Switching Exam Boards

Syllabus Differences

This is the big one. Even though all boards cover the same basic content, they don't teach it in the same way.

Download both syllabi and compare them side by side. Look for:

• Topics that are in different orders

• Content that's emphasised more in one board than another

• Completely new topics you haven't covered yet

• Stuff you've learned that the new board doesn't include

Example: a school using Edexcel might teach photosynthesis in Year 12, whilst AQA usually covers it in Year 13. If you're switching mid-course, you could end up with gaps.

You can find subject syllabus comparisons of the different boards on Save My Exams. 

Coursework and Non-Exam Assessment

This is where things get tricky. Your coursework probably won't transfer to the new exam board.

Why coursework doesn't usually transfer:

• Different boards have different coursework requirements

• Assessment criteria vary between boards

• Topics and titles might not match up

What this means for you: You might have to start your coursework from scratch. That's a lot of extra work, especially if you're already partway through.

Before making any decisions, speak to your exam officer. They'll know the specific rules for your subjects.

Assessment Style and Exam Structure

Different exam boards test the same content in completely different ways.

AQA (opens in a new tab) might lean towards essay questions, whilst Edexcel (opens in a new tab) prefers more structured answers.

OCR (opens in a new tab) might use more multiple choice, whilst WJEC (opens in a new tab) focuses on extended writing.

What you need to do: Get hold of past papers from the new board and practice with them. Make sure the assessment style suits how you like to work. You can find them in our past paper bank.

Timing

The golden rule: Earlier is always better.

Switching in Year 10 or first year of A Levels? Usually pretty straightforward. You've got time to adapt.

Switching in Year 11 or Year 13? Much more challenging. You're close to exams and might have coursework deadlines looming.

Switching right before exams? Generally not recommended unless you absolutely have to.

Subject-Specific Advice

Some subjects are much easier to switch than others. Here's what you need to know:

Science Subjects

The challenge: Practical requirements vary hugely between boards.

All boards have a minimum number of practical activities to be completed during the course—this varies from board to board and subject to subject. If you switch boards, you might need to redo some or all of your practical work.

For example: 

• AQA requires 10 required practicals in Biology, 8 in Chemistry, and 10 in Physics; Combined Science requires 21 activities at GCSE level.

• Edexcel requires 18 for Combined Science and 8 for each separate science at GCSE level.

English

The big problem: Set texts.

If you've been studying Romeo and Juliet with AQA but Edexcel uses Macbeth, you've got a lot of catching up to do.

Poetry anthologies are different for each board, too. You might need to learn completely new poems.

Maths

Good news: Maths could be argued to be the easiest subject to switch.

The content overlaps significantly between boards, and there's usually no coursework to worry about.

Further Maths can be trickier because boards structure the modules differently.

Humanities (History, Geography, etc.)

The challenge: Content differences can be massive.

History boards study completely different time periods and topics. Geography boards might focus on different case studies or fieldwork requirements.

For example: 

• Doing AQA History A Level you might learn: The Tudors 1485–1603 and The Cold War c1945–1991. 

• If you then move to Edexcel History A Level, you could face Paper 1: Britain Transformed 1918–97 and Paper 2: The USA c1920–55 instead. 

• These are entirely different periods, content and question sets—so you’d be learning new topics from scratch and dropping your Tudors/Cold War prep

Check carefully before switching – you might end up having to learn entirely new content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from AQA to Edexcel halfway through my course?

Yes, but you'll need to compare the syllabi carefully and make sure your school can register you with Edexcel. Any coursework you've completed with AQA probably won't count, so you might need to start fresh.

Will I need to redo coursework if I switch exam boards?

Most likely, yes. Different exam boards have different coursework requirements, assessment criteria, and deadlines. Check with your exam officer to see if any of your current work can be adapted or transferred.

Is it too late to switch exam boards in Year 11?

It's not impossible, but it's challenging and possibly inadvisable. You'd need to catch up on any content differences quickly and might need to redo coursework under tight deadlines. Only consider this if you absolutely have to.

Do universities care which exam board I used?

Not at all! Universities accept qualifications from all recognised exam boards equally. An A in AQA Biology is exactly the same as an A in OCR Biology to admissions tutors.

Making the Right Decision

Switching exam boards mid-course is definitely possible, but it's not a decision to take lightly.

Consider switching if:

• You're moving schools and have no choice

• It's early in your course (Year 10 or first year of A Levels)

• The assessment style of the new board suits you much better

• Your current board is causing you serious problems

Think twice if:

• You're close to exams

• You'd have to redo lots of coursework

• The syllabus differences are significant

• You're just looking for an "easier" option (spoiler: there isn't one!)

Remember, all exam boards are designed to be equally challenging. Switching won't magically make your exams easier – but it might be necessary or helpful overall.

The most important thing? Make sure you're switching for the right reasons, not just because the grass looks greener on the other side.

References

• AQA (opens in a new tab)

• Edexcel (opens in a new tab) 

• OCR (opens in a new tab) 

• WJEC (opens in a new tab)