Switching to AQA: from OCR

To help you compare our English Functional skills specification with OCR’s, we’ve created some comparison tables.

They highlight the key assessment content and requirements of each exam board’s specification.

They also include the reform changes introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual. All awarding bodies must include these.

Let us know if you’d like to switch to us and we’ll send everything you need. Already decided to join us? Great! Email our centre team approval, now

Main reform changes

1. New ‘Scope of study’ statements are more detailed than the previous assessment objectives. This increase the variety of tasks and questions students can be asked.
2. Level 2 students are now required to read, write and communicate using straightforward and complex instructive, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive texts from technical and non-technical topics.In English, by Level 2, students are required to read, write and communicate using straightforward and complex instructive, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive texts on a range of technical and non-technical topics.In English, by Level 2, students are required to read, write and communicate using straightforward and complex instructive, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive texts on a range of technical and non-technical topics.
3. The minimum time to complete tests has changed.
4. More content has been added to both Level 1 and Level 2.
5. Weighting of spelling, punctuation and grammar has increased (it’s now 50–70% at Entry level and 40–45% at Level 1 and 2).

Key similarities between AQA and OCR

Firstly, although the two specifications are different, the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual state that both qualifications assess:

1. reading
2. writing
3. speaking, listening and communicating.

Secondly, students can sit each assessment in any order, but they must pass all three assessment areas to pass the qualification.

Key differences between AQA and OCR

1. AQA’s writing exams for Level 1 and 2 give students almost twice as long to answer the question as the OCR specification.
2. The OCR assessments are on-demand, whereas AQA provides the specification through entry periods, four times a year.

Assessment comparison – Level 1

Paper: reading

AQA	OCR
Written exam: 1 hour	Written exam: 40 minutes
26 marks	20 marks
A wide range of question styles, including multiple choice and short answer response	Assessed through multiple choice and short answer questions
Dictionaries allowed	Dictionaries allowed
Set and marked by AQA	Centre marked and OCR moderated

Paper: writing

AQA	OCR
Written exam: 1 hour	Written exam: 35 minutes
27 marks	30 marks
Two writing tasks (12 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar)	Writing is assessed through a spelling test, alphabet sequencing and writing task (20 marks for SPAG)
Learners must not have access to dictionaries or any spelling or grammar aid.	Dictionaries not allowed
Set and marked by AQA	Centre marked and OCR moderated

Speaking, listening and communicating

AQA	OCR
Speaking exam	Speaking exam
0 marks	0 marks
Students have to complete presentation and discussion tasks	Speaking, listening and communication comprises a tutor-led presentation Q&A , a group discussion and a short exchange
Pass/fail on evidence provided	Pass/fail on evidence provided
Centre marked and AQA moderated	Centre marked and OCR moderated

Assessment comparison – Level 2

Paper: reading

AQA	OCR
Written exam: 1 hour	Written exam: 40 minutes
30 marks	20 marks
A wide range of multiple choice and short response questions	Multiple choice and short answer questions
Dictionaries allowed	Dictionaries allowed
Set and marked by AQA	Centre marked and OCR moderated

Paper: writing

AQA	OCR
Written exam: 1 hour	Written exam: 35 minutes
30 marks	30 marks
Two writing tasks (12 marks for SPAG)	A spelling test, alphabet sequencing, plurals and writing task. (20 marks for SPAG)
Learners must not have access to dictionaries or any spelling or grammar aid.	Dictionaries not allowed
Set and marked by AQA	Centre marked and OCR moderated

Speaking, listening and communicating

Same as for level 1

AQA	OCR
Speaking exam	Speaking exam
0 marks	0 marks
Students have to complete presentation and discussion tasks	Speaking, listening and communication comprises a tutor-led presentation Q&A, a group discussion and a short exchange
Pass/fail on evidence provided	Pass/fail on evidence provided
Centre marked and AQA moderated	Centre marked and OCR moderated