AQA and OCR are two of the three major A-level Maths exam boards in England. Both qualifications cover the same Ofqual-regulated content — pure maths, mechanics, and statistics — but they differ in paper design, the way statistics content is allocated across papers, and the style of questions students face in the exam hall.
Why all A-level Maths boards cover the same content
Since 2017, Ofqual has required that all A-level Mathematics specifications cover a common content framework: pure mathematics (roughly two-thirds of the assessment), statistics, and mechanics. No board can omit calculus, trigonometry, or probability — these are mandated across the board. The differences between AQA and OCR lie not in what is tested but in how it is examined: the structure of the papers, the balance of question types, and which topics appear on which paper.
Note that OCR offers two distinct A-level Maths qualifications: the standard OCR A-level Mathematics (H240) and the separate OCR MEI Mathematics (H640), a different specification developed in partnership with Mathematics in Education and Industry. This guide compares AQA (7357) with the standard OCR (H240).
AQA A-level Maths: what to expect
AQA's A-level Maths specification (7357) uses three papers, each 2 hours long and worth 100 marks, giving a total of 300 marks:
- Paper 1 — Pure Mathematics 1 (no calculator)
- Paper 2 — Pure Mathematics 2 (calculator allowed)
- Paper 3 — Statistics and Mechanics (calculator allowed)
Paper 3 is split: the first half covers Statistics (50 marks) and the second half Mechanics (50 marks). All students take the same Paper 3 — there is no optional applied module. The Statistics content uses the large data set, a pre-released data set that students should become familiar with before the exam.
AQA questions tend to be clearly structured, with a mix of short procedural items at the start of each paper and multi-step problem-solving and proof at the end. AQA is the most widely sat A-level Maths board in England by volume of entries.
OCR A-level Maths: what to expect
OCR's standard A-level Maths specification (H240) also uses three papers, each 2 hours long and worth 100 marks:
- Paper 1 — Pure Mathematics (no calculator, 2 hours)
- Paper 2 — Pure Mathematics and Statistics (calculator allowed, 2 hours)
- Paper 3 — Pure Mathematics and Mechanics (calculator allowed, 2 hours)
The notable structural difference from AQA is that OCR integrates Statistics into Paper 2 and Mechanics into Paper 3, rather than separating both into a dedicated applied paper. Pure mathematics questions appear across all three papers, meaning the pure content is distributed throughout the entire examination rather than concentrated in two dedicated papers.
OCR does not use a pre-released large data set for its Statistics component. Questions test statistical concepts and distributions without requiring prior familiarity with a specific data source.
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | AQA A-level Maths (7357) | OCR A-level Maths (H240) |
|---|---|---|
| Awarding body | AQA | OCR |
| Total marks | 300 | 300 |
| Paper structure | Pure 1, Pure 2, Stats + Mechanics | Pure, Pure + Stats, Pure + Mechanics |
| Applied paper | Single combined Stats and Mechanics paper | Applied content integrated across Papers 2 and 3 |
| Large data set | Yes (pre-released, Statistics paper) | No |
| Calculator | Paper 1 non-calculator; Papers 2 and 3 calculator | Paper 1 non-calculator; Papers 2 and 3 calculator |
| Proof questions | Yes, across papers | Yes, across papers |
| Curriculum content | Identical (Ofqual mandated) | Identical (Ofqual mandated) |
How the large data set affects AQA students
AQA's Paper 3 Statistics section expects students to be familiar with a specific data set released before the exam. The large data set typically contains real-world data from a source such as the ONS, and exam questions may refer to it directly — asking students to interpret values, identify outliers, or explain patterns in context.
This is a specific revision task: students should spend time exploring the large data set during the course, practising questions that refer to it, and knowing which variables and any notable features it contains. OCR students do not have an equivalent requirement and can focus on statistical concepts and distributions directly.
OCR MEI vs standard OCR: a note
Students occasionally confuse the two OCR specifications. OCR MEI (H640) is a separate qualification developed with MEI (Mathematics in Education and Industry). It has a different paper structure and offers an optional comprehension paper. It is favoured by some independent schools and mathematics-specialist sixth forms. If your school offers OCR, confirm whether they teach OCR (H240) or OCR MEI (H640), as the past papers, resources, and assessment style differ.
Revision strategy for AQA and OCR A-level Maths
- Use past papers from your own board. AQA and OCR papers test the same content differently. The style of multi-step questions, the command words used in proof questions, and the layout of mark schemes all vary. Download only your own board's past papers.
- For AQA students: practise the large data set. AQA publishes the large data set alongside specimen and past papers. Work through questions that reference it so the context feels familiar on exam day.
- For OCR students: practise distributing your time across three mixed papers. Each of OCR's papers contains pure, and either statistics or mechanics. Be comfortable switching between topic areas within a paper.
- Proof is on every paper for both boards. Proof by contradiction, proof by induction (further maths only), and algebraic proof all appear. Learn the required notation.
- Grade boundaries shift each series. Do not use a percentage from one past paper as a fixed grade-9 target — check the boundaries published after each series.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose between AQA and OCR A-level Maths?
No. Your school or sixth form selects the exam board, and the whole cohort takes the same specification. Ask your maths teacher which board your centre is registered with — it will be clear on your mock papers. If you join a new school mid-course, confirm the board matches what you have already studied.
Is AQA or OCR A-level Maths harder?
Neither is consistently harder. Ofqual's comparable outcomes policy ensures that grade distributions across boards are broadly similar each year, and grade boundaries are adjusted after each exam series to account for variation in paper difficulty. Focus on mastering your own board's style rather than comparing across boards.
What is the difference between OCR and OCR MEI A-level Maths?
OCR (H240) and OCR MEI (H640) are different specifications with different paper structures, though both cover the same mandated Ofqual content. OCR MEI includes an optional comprehension paper and is developed in partnership with the mathematics education charity MEI. Students and parents should check which OCR specification their school teaches — past papers and resources are board-specific and not interchangeable between the two OCR variants.
Does it matter which A-level Maths board I take for university entry?
No. Universities do not distinguish between A-level Maths boards when setting grade requirements. An A in AQA Maths and an A in OCR Maths carry equal weight for UCAS and all UK university admissions. What matters is the grade, not the board name.
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