OCR GCSE Maths

OCR GCSE (9-1) English Language (J351)

2 written papers, each 2h and worth 50%, with Reading and Writing equally weighted within each. Component J351/01 'Communicating information and ideas' (unseen non-fiction: one 19th-century and one 20th/21st-century text; one non-fiction writing task). Component J351/02 'Exploring effects and impact' (unseen prose/literary non-fiction from 20th/21st century; one creative writing task). All AOs assessed in each paper. Spoken Language is a separate endorsement.

OCR GCSE (9-1) English Literature (J352)

2 closed-book written papers, each 2h and worth 50%, untiered. Component J352/01 'Exploring modern and literary heritage texts' (modern prose/drama plus a 19th-century prose text). Component J352/02 'Exploring poetry and Shakespeare' (poetry 'across time' clusters plus a Shakespeare text, with an unseen-poetry element).

OCR GCSE (9-1) Biology A (Gateway Science) (J247)

2 written papers, each 1h45, 90 marks, 50% each; tiered - Foundation papers J247/01 (topics B1–B3, B7) and J247/02 (B4–B6, B7); Higher papers J247/03 (B1–B3, B7) and J247/04 (B4–B6, B7); linear. No NEA - practical skills (B7 / Practical Activity Groups, PAGs) assessed within the written papers.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Biology B (Twenty First Century Science) (J257)

2 written papers, each 1h45, 90 marks, 50% each; tiered Foundation/Higher; linear. No NEA - practical skills assessed within the written papers. Papers split content into 'Breadth in biology' and 'Depth in biology' components across the chapters.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Gateway Science Suite - Chemistry A (J248)

2 written papers, tiered Foundation/Higher. Paper 1 (Particles, elements/compounds/mixtures, chemical reactions, predicting and identifying reactions and products) and Paper 2 (Monitoring and controlling chemical reactions, global challenges, and practical skills). No NEA; practical skills delivered via Practical Activity Groups (PAGs) and assessed in the written papers, with at least 15% of marks relating to practical work.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Twenty First Century Science Suite - Chemistry B (J258)

2 written papers, tiered Foundation/Higher. No NEA; practical skills delivered via Practical Activity Groups (PAGs) and assessed in the written papers, with at least 15% of marks relating to practical work.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Physics A (Gateway Science) (J249)

2 papers, each 1h45 and 90 marks (50% each), tiered F/H, linear. No NEA; practical skills (topic P9) assessed in the exams. Eight content topics P1–P8 (P1 Matter, P2 Forces, P3 Electricity, P4 Magnetism & magnetic fields, P5 Waves in matter, P6 Radioactivity, P7 Energy, P8 Global challenges) plus P9 Practical skills. Paper 1 (J249/01–02) covers P1–P4 and P9; Paper 2 (J249/03–04) covers P5–P8 and P9.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Physics B (Twenty First Century Science) (J259)

2 papers, tiered F/H, linear (components J259/01–02 Foundation, J259/03–04 Higher). No NEA; practical skills assessed in the written exams. A more narrative, scientific-literacy-led approach to the same physics content.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Gateway Science Suite - Combined Science A (J250)

6 written papers across biology, chemistry and physics, each 1h10 and 60 marks (some papers combine topics across the two halves of a science); tiered Foundation/Higher. No NEA; practical skills assessed in exams via Practical Activity Groups (PAGs). Double award (two GCSE grades).

OCR GCSE (9-1) Twenty First Century Science Suite - Combined Science B (J260)

6 written papers across biology, chemistry and physics, tiered Foundation/Higher. No NEA; practical skills assessed in exams via Practical Activity Groups (PAGs). Double award (two GCSE grades).

OCR GCSE (9–1) Computer Science (J277)

Untiered, linear; 2 written papers, each 1h30, 80 marks, 50%. J277/01 'Computer systems' (theory) and J277/02 'Computational thinking, algorithms and programming', whose Section B assesses design/write/test/refine programming skills on paper. No NEA - a programming task must still be undertaken during the course but is non-assessed practical preparation.

OCR GCSE (9–1) Geography A (Geographical Themes) (J383)

3 papers, untiered, total 200 marks. J383/01 Living in the UK Today (1h, 60 marks, 30%); J383/02 The World Around Us (1h, 60 marks, 30%); J383/03 Geographical Skills (1h30, 80 marks, 40%). No NEA; compulsory fieldwork in two contrasting environments assessed via questions in J383/03.

OCR GCSE (9–1) Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds) (J384)

3 papers, untiered, total 185 marks. J384/01 Our Natural World (1h15, 63 marks, 34%); J384/02 People and Society (1h15, 62 marks, 34%); J384/03 Geographical Exploration (1h30, 60 marks, 32%). No NEA; compulsory fieldwork in two contrasting environments - coasts (physical) and an urban context (human) - assessed via unfamiliar-context fieldwork questions in Papers 01 and 02, with a decision-making exercise in Paper 03.

OCR GCSE (9–1) History A: Explaining the Modern World (J410)

3 separately-timetabled exams, no NEA, untiered. All candidates take the Period study (International Relations: the changing international order 1918–c1975/2001) at 40% (1h45). Candidates then take TWO of three further studies, each its own paper at 20% (1 hour): a Non-British Depth Study (e.g. Germany 1925–55; the USA 1919–48; Russia 1928–64; China 1950–81), a Thematic Study (Migration to Britain c1000–c2010; Power: Monarchy and Democracy in Britain c1000–2014; War and British Society c790–c2010), and a British Depth Study with a study of the Historic Environment.

OCR GCSE (9–1) History B: Schools History Project (SHP) (J411)

Three component groups, no NEA, untiered. Component Group 1 (1h45, 40%): a Thematic study (e.g. The People's Health; Crime and Punishment; Migrants to Britain) + a British depth study (e.g. The Norman Conquest 1065–87; The Elizabethans 1580–1603). Component Group 2: 'History Around Us' (1 hour, ~20%) - study of a real historical site chosen by the school. Component Group 3 (1h45, 40%): a Period study (e.g. The Making of America 1789–1900; Living under Nazi rule 1933–1945; The Making of Modern Britain 1951–1975) + a World depth study (e.g. The First Crusade c1070–1100; Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest 1519–1535).

OCR GCSE (9-1) Religious Studies (J625)

Untiered, linear, 100% exam. Built around study of two religions (chosen from Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism) - beliefs and teachings & practices for each - plus 'Religion, Philosophy and Ethics in the Modern World' studied from the perspective of a chosen religion (Christian, Muslim or Jewish perspective papers, etc.). Short course is J125.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Business (J204)

2 components, each 1h30 and 80 marks (160 total), each 50%. J204/01: Business 1 - business activity, marketing and people; J204/02: Business 2 - operations, finance and influences on business. Both taken for the award. Untiered, no NEA.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Economics (J205)

2 components, each 1h30 and 80 marks (160 total), each 50%. Component 01: introduces the main economic agents, the basic economic problem, markets (including the labour market) and the financial sector; Component 02: the wider/national economy. Both papers share an identical format - Part A with 20 multiple-choice questions, Part B with three short case-study questions plus short, medium and extended responses. Untiered, linear, no NEA.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Psychology (J203)

2 written papers, 1h30 each, 90 marks each, 50% each. J203/01 'Studies and applications in psychology 1' and J203/02 'Studies and applications in psychology 2'. Each paper has four sections (A, B, C, D), with Section D being research methods and a 13-mark synoptic extended-response question at the end of Section C. Untiered, linear; no NEA. First assessment 2019.

OCR GCSE (9–1) Art and Design (J170–J176)

No written exam. Component 1 Portfolio (60%) and Component 2 Externally Set Task (40%) with a preparatory period and 15 hours of supervised time. Seven titles: Art, Craft and Design (J170), Fine Art (J171), Graphic Communication (J172), Photography (J173), Textile Design (J174), Three-Dimensional Design (J175), Critical and Contextual Studies (J176).

OCR GCSE (9–1) Design and Technology (J310)

J310/01 Principles of Design and Technology written paper (2 hours, 50%), in two sections with a minimum 15% of marks assessing maths in a DT context; plus J310/02 + J310/03 Iterative Design Challenge NEA (design-and-make, 50%). Min 15% maths, min 10% science.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Music (J536)

Two assessed units (since summer 2021). Integrated Portfolio (NEA, 60%): one performance on the student's chosen instrument/voice plus one composition to the student's own brief. Listening and Appraising (written paper with audio): 40%. (The original 2016 model had separate Performance, Composition and Listening units at 30/30/40; the dedicated 'Practical Component' second NEA task was removed from summer 2021, leaving a single 60% portfolio.)

OCR GCSE (9-1) Drama (J316)

Three components (total 200 marks). Devising Drama (J316/01 performing or J316/02 design): NEA, 60 marks, 30%. Presenting and Performing Texts (J316/03): NEA, 60 marks, 30% - performance of two extracts from a performance text. Drama: Performance and Response (J316/04): written exam, 1h30, 80 marks, 40% - Section A on a chosen performance text, Section B on live theatre seen.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Physical Education (J587)

2 written papers, each 1 hour and 60 marks, 30% each (J587/01 Physical factors affecting performance; J587/02 Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology) = 60% theory. NEA 40%: Performance in physical education across 3 activities (30%) plus an Analysing and Evaluating Performance (AEP) task (10%). Untiered, linear.