Switching to AQA: from Edexcel

To help you compare our English Functional Skills specification with Edexcel’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 Edexcel

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 the assessments for Level 1 and 2 in any order, but they must pass all three assessment areas to pass the qualification.

Key differences between AQA and Edexcel

1. AQA’s Level 1 and Level 2 reading and writing assessments are marked by AQA.
2. Edexcel’s Level 1 and Level 2 reading and writing assessments are set and verified by Edexcel, but marked by individual centres.
3. The Edexcel assessments are on demand, whereas AQA provides the specification through entry periods, four times a year.

Assessment comparison – Level 1

Paper: reading

AQA	Edexcel
Written exam: 1 hour	Written exam: 1 hour
26 marks	30 marks
A wide range of question styles, including multiple choice and short response	Reading is assessed through a test comprised of controlled response and open response questions
Dictionaries allowed	Dictionaries allowed
Set and marked by AQA	Set by Edexcel, marked by the centre, then verified by Edexcel

Paper: writing

AQA	Edexcel
Written exam: 1 hour	Written exam: 1 hour
27 marks	36 marks
Two writing tasks requiring written responses of different lengths and complexity (44% of marks asses SPAG)	Writing is assessed through a test comprised of two tasks (42% of marks assess SPAG)
Dictionaries not allowed	Dictionaries not allowed
Set and marked by AQA	Set by Edexcel, marked by the centre, then verified by Edexcel

Speaking, listening and communicating

AQA	Edexcel
Speaking exam:	Speaking exam: 10–15 minutes
0 marks	0 marks
A combination of presentation and discussion tasks	One x 3 minute presentation with a Q&A in groups of 3 or 4 and 1 x 10 minute formal discussion in groups of 3–5
Pass/fail on evidence provided	Pass/fail on evidence provided
Centre marked and AQA moderated	Set by Edexcel, marked by the centre, then verified by Edexcel

Assessment comparison – Level 2

Paper: reading

AQA	Edexcel
Written exam: 1 hour	Written exam: 75 minutes
30 marks	35 marks
A wide range of multiple choice and short response questions	Multiple choice, short and medium open response questions.
Dictionaries allowed	Dictionaries allowed
Set and marked by AQA	Set by Edexcel, marked by the centre, then verified by Edexcel

Paper: writing

AQA	Edexcel
Written exam: 1 hour	Written exam: 1 hour
30 marks	36 marks
2 writing tasks (40% of marks for SPAG)	1 test, split into 2 tasks. (42% assess SPAG)
Dictionaries not allowed	Dictionaries not allowed
Set and marked by AQA	Set by Edexcel, marked by the centre, then verified by Edexcel

Speaking, listening and communicating

AQA	Edexcel
Speaking exam:	Speaking exam: 10 – 15 minutes
0 marks	0 marks
A combination of presentation and discussion tasks	One x 3 minute presentation with a Q&A in groups of 3 or 4 and 1 x 10 minute formal discussion in groups of 3–5
Pass/fail on evidence provided	Pass/fail on evidence provided
Centre marked and AQA moderated	Set by Edexcel, marked by the centre, then verified by Edexcel