1
Specification fit
Does the resource match AQA or OCR A, and which sections fall outside the course?
2
Explanation quality
Can students resolve difficult concepts without the book replacing precise exam-board language with something misleading?
3
Question quality
Are there enough questions, do they increase in demand, and do the answers permit useful correction?
4
Role in the study system
Does it add a distinct function, or merely duplicate notes, revision sites and another book already owned?
5
Observed use
How do students actually use it over a two-year course, including the predictable tendency to ignore large untouched resources?
6
Value
Is it worth buying when school access, second-hand copies, digital editions and free official papers are considered?
Affiliate links: commission does not raise a book's rating or suppress criticism. In several cases the best advice is to check whether the school already provides the expensive book.