WJEC Eduqas GCSE exam guide
Eduqas is the name WJEC uses for its GCSEs in England. (WJEC’s GCSEs for Wales are different qualifications.) This guide sets out the WJEC Eduqas exams in maths, English Language, English Literature and combined science.
The specifications at a glance
| Subject | Code | Papers | Tiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | C300 | 2 papers | Foundation or Higher |
| English Language | C700 | 2 papers | No tiers |
| English Literature | C720 | 2 papers | No tiers |
| Combined Science | – | 4 papers | Foundation or Higher |
Maths (C300)
| Paper | Time | Marks | Share of the grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1 (no calculator) | 2 hours 15 minutes | 120 | 50% |
| Component 2 (calculator) | 2 hours 15 minutes | 120 | 50% |
Tiers: Foundation or Higher. Two longer papers instead of three.
English Language (C700)
| Paper | Time | Marks | Share of the grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: 20th Century Literature Reading and Creative Prose Writing | 1 hour 45 minutes | 80 | 40% |
| Component 2: 19th and 21st Century Non-fiction Reading and Transactional/Persuasive Writing | 2 hours | 80 | 60% |
There are no tiers: every student sits the same papers. The two papers have the same number of marks but different weightings.
English Literature (C720)
| Paper | Time | Marks | Share of the grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Shakespeare and Poetry | 2 hours | 80 | 40% |
| Component 2: Post-1914 Prose/Drama, 19th Century Prose and Unseen Poetry | 2 hours 30 minutes | 120 | 60% |
There are no tiers: every student sits the same papers. Closed book: students may not take the texts into the exam.
Combined Science
| Paper | Time | Marks | Share of the grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Concepts in Biology | 1 hour 45 minutes | 90 | 25% |
| Component 2: Concepts in Chemistry | 1 hour 45 minutes | 90 | 25% |
| Component 3: Concepts in Physics | 1 hour 45 minutes | 90 | 25% |
| Component 4: Applications in Science | 1 hour 45 minutes | 90 | 25% |
Tiers: Foundation or Higher. Worth two GCSEs. Four papers, the last one mixing all three sciences.
How WJEC Eduqas compares with other boards
The topics are the same at every board, because the Department for Education sets the subject content. The papers are what differ. Compare AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas side by side.
Practising for WJEC Eduqas exams
Questions on Oakling Secondary Scholars are written in the style of AQA papers. Because the subject content is shared, practising a topic helps for WJEC Eduqas too. For practice on the exact paper format, use the past papers on the WJEC Eduqas website. See the practice topics.
Common questions
- What is the difference between WJEC and Eduqas?
- Eduqas is the name WJEC uses for its GCSEs in England. WJEC’s GCSEs for schools in Wales are different qualifications, so check which one your school means.
- How many papers are there in Eduqas GCSE maths?
- Two, each 2 hours 15 minutes and 120 marks. Component 1 is without a calculator and component 2 allows one.
- How are the Eduqas English Language papers weighted?
- Component 1 lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and counts for 40% of the grade. Component 2 lasts 2 hours and counts for 60%. Both are worth 80 marks.
- How many exams are there in Eduqas Combined Science?
- Four, each 1 hour 45 minutes and 90 marks: biology, chemistry, physics, and a fourth paper that applies all three.
- Are the questions on this site Eduqas questions?
- No. They are original questions written for this site in the style of GCSE papers. We are not connected with WJEC.
Where these details come from
Each board’s own specification for the subject, checked on 22 October 2026. Boards update their specifications, so check the current one before an exam.
- WJEC Eduqas GCSE (9–1) Mathematics (C300)
- WJEC Eduqas GCSE (9–1) English Language (C700)
- WJEC Eduqas GCSE (9–1) English Literature (C720)
- WJEC Eduqas GCSE (9–1) Combined Science
Exam details change. Always check the current specification on the WJEC Eduqas website. Oakling Secondary Scholars is not connected with WJEC.