It may well be different now as GCSE's have without doubt got harder.
Since when have GCSEs gotten harder? I find that hard to believe, basically for two reasons: 1) The last 20 years we've seen the pass rate continuously increase, whilst 2) I see children of friends and relatives unable to grasp basic concepts in mathematics.
Speaking to them reminds me of a Blackadder sketch:
Blackadder: Right, Baldrick, this is called adding. If I have two beans and then add two more beans, what do I have?
Baldrick: some beans.
Blackadder: Yes... and no. Let's try again shall we? I have two beans, then I add two more beans. What does that make?
Baldrick: a very small casserole.
Blackadder: Baldrick, the ape creatures of the Indus have mastered this. Now try again. One, two, three, four. So how many are there?
Baldrick: Three.
Blackadder: What?
Baldrick: ......And that one......
Blackadder: Three and that one. So if I add that one to the three what will I have?
Baldrick: Oh. Some beans.