The specification is the syllabus. Read it.
Every revision plan worth following starts at the awarding body. The spec tells you exactly what can be examined — no more, no less.
WJEC / Eduqas
Decoding a spec code
Every UK spec has a code — and the code tells you a lot at a glance.
- AQA 8300 — GCSE prefix is in the 4-digit number. 8300 = GCSE Maths. The first digit (8) signals "9–1 GCSE post-2017".
- AQA 7402 — A-Level prefix starts with 7. 7402 = full A-Level Biology; 7401 is the AS counterpart.
- Edexcel 1MA1 — "1" = main qualification, "MA" = Maths, "1" = first-tier spec. Common across new GCSE codes.
- Edexcel 9MA0 — "9" prefix = A-Level. 9MA0 = full A-Level Maths.
- OCR J560 / H432 — "J" = GCSE, "H" = A-Level. The number identifies the subject within the catalogue.
Assessment Objectives — the marks behind the marks
Every awarding body publishes the weighting of each Assessment Objective (AO) for every qualification. They tell you what each mark is rewarded for. Most students have never read theirs. Knowing them is one of the highest-yield revision tasks possible.
| Subject | AO1 | AO2 | AO3 | AO4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCSE Maths | 50% — recall & use | 25% — reason & communicate | 25% — solve in context | — |
| GCSE English Lit | 30% — read, understand | 40% — analyse language | 15% — context | 15% — vocab & SPaG |
| GCSE Sciences (combined) | 40% — knowledge | 40% — apply | 20% — analyse | — |
| A-Level Maths | ~50% — use methods | ~25% — reason & problem-solve | ~25% — model | — |
| A-Level English Lit | 28% — argument | 24% — language methods | 24% — context | 24% — connect texts |
Approximate weightings averaged across boards — verify the exact split on your specification page. Different boards split the same AOs slightly differently.
Why this matters
If GCSE English Lit awards 40% of marks for analysing language, then "AO2 phrases" — discussing technique, effect, and writer's choices — are where most marks live. Students who quote heavily but don’t analyse are leaving roughly 40 marks on the table per paper. The spec told them this. Almost no one reads it.
Reading a spec — the bits that matter
- Assessment objectives (AOs) — these dictate what every mark is awarded for. AO3 in English is not the same as AO3 in Maths.
- Content lists — what you must know. If it’s not in the spec, it’s not on the exam.
- Required practicals / NEA — for sciences and many humanities, the practical or coursework component is non-negotiable.
- Sample assessment material — the format the real paper will follow. More valuable than any third-party mock.
Need someone to translate the spec?
Tutors who teach a board know which AOs are easy marks and which are landmines.