Pearson Edexcel GCSE exam guide
Edexcel is the exam board of Pearson, so its qualifications are called Pearson Edexcel. Edexcel and Pearson are not two boards: they are the same one. This guide sets out the Pearson Edexcel exams in maths, English Language, English Literature and combined science.
The specifications at a glance
| Subject | Code | Papers | Tiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 1MA1 | 3 papers | Foundation (grades 1 to 5) or Higher (grades 4 to 9) |
| English Language | 1EN0 | 2 papers | No tiers |
| English Literature | 1ET0 | 2 papers | No tiers |
| Combined Science | 1SC0 | 6 papers | Foundation (grades 1–1 to 5–5) or Higher (grades 4–4 to 9–9) |
Maths (1MA1)
| Paper | Time | Marks | Share of the grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (no calculator) | 1 hour 30 minutes | 80 | 33⅓% |
| Paper 2 (calculator) | 1 hour 30 minutes | 80 | 33⅓% |
| Paper 3 (calculator) | 1 hour 30 minutes | 80 | 33⅓% |
Tiers: Foundation (grades 1 to 5) or Higher (grades 4 to 9).
English Language (1EN0)
| Paper | Time | Marks | Share of the grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Fiction and Imaginative Writing | 1 hour 45 minutes | 64 | 40% |
| Component 2: Non-fiction and Transactional Writing | 2 hours 5 minutes | 96 | 60% |
There are no tiers: every student sits the same papers. The Spoken Language Endorsement is graded Pass, Merit or Distinction and reported separately.
English Literature (1ET0)
| Paper | Time | Marks | Share of the grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature | 1 hour 45 minutes | 80 | 50% |
| Component 2: 19th-century Novel and Poetry since 1789 | 2 hours 15 minutes | 80 | 50% |
There are no tiers: every student sits the same papers. Closed book: students may not take the texts into the exam.
Combined Science (1SC0)
| Paper | Time | Marks | Share of the grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology 1 | 1 hour 10 minutes | 60 | 16.67% |
| Biology 2 | 1 hour 10 minutes | 60 | 16.67% |
| Chemistry 1 | 1 hour 10 minutes | 60 | 16.67% |
| Chemistry 2 | 1 hour 10 minutes | 60 | 16.67% |
| Physics 1 | 1 hour 10 minutes | 60 | 16.67% |
| Physics 2 | 1 hour 10 minutes | 60 | 16.67% |
Tiers: Foundation (grades 1–1 to 5–5) or Higher (grades 4–4 to 9–9). Worth two GCSEs. Calculators may be used in every paper.
How Pearson Edexcel 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 Pearson Edexcel 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 Pearson Edexcel too. For practice on the exact paper format, use the past papers on the Pearson Edexcel website. See the practice topics.
Common questions
- Are Edexcel and Pearson the same exam board?
- Yes. Edexcel is Pearson’s exam board, so its GCSEs are called Pearson Edexcel. If a school says Edexcel or Pearson, it means the same thing.
- How many papers are there in Pearson Edexcel GCSE maths?
- Three, each 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks. Paper 1 is without a calculator and papers 2 and 3 allow one.
- How long is Pearson Edexcel English Language paper 2?
- Component 2, Non-fiction and Transactional Writing, lasts 2 hours 5 minutes, is worth 96 marks and counts for 60% of the grade. Component 1 lasts 1 hour 45 minutes.
- How many exams are there in Pearson Edexcel Combined Science?
- Six, two each in biology, chemistry and physics. Each lasts 1 hour 10 minutes and is worth 60 marks.
- Are the questions on this site Pearson Edexcel questions?
- No. They are original questions written for this site in the style of GCSE papers. We are not connected with Pearson.
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.
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Mathematics (1MA1)
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) English Language (1EN0)
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) English Literature (1ET0)
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Combined Science (1SC0)
Exam details change. Always check the current specification on the Pearson Edexcel website. Oakling Secondary Scholars is not connected with Pearson.