A Level Chemistry is a challenging but rewarding course, looking at the world around us in depth.

Course content:

Year 12

Chemical technologies have improved our health, our quality of life and our habitats immeasurably. Chemistry will provide solutions to many of the challenges we face in our modern world. Chemistry is divided into three broad areas:

physical chemistry, covering the behaviour of matter and energy at an atomic level;

organic chemistry, focusing on the element carbon, the building blocks of materials as diverse as nerve agents, food flavourings and pharmaceutical drugs, and finally

inorganic chemistry, looking in depth at the periodic table and the elements.

Year 13

Building on the content from the first year of the course, students will meet new and even more exciting concepts. As they develop their practical skills, they can handle more hazardous materials and use equipment not seen in earlier years. A Level Chemistry prepares students for further study of science and engineering courses at university. It also provides students with skills that are valued by all employers, whether or not they wear a white coat.

Assessment criteria:

Chemistry is an exam-based course. Students will sit 3 exams at the end of Year 13:

Paper 1 – Physical and inorganic chemistry, 2 hours 15 minutes

Paper 2 – Organic and analytical chemistry, 2 hours 15 minutes

Paper 3 – Unified concepts – a synoptic look at wide areas of chemistry knowledge, 1 hour 30 minutes.

Throughout the course students will complete several pieces of formal practical work. These are used to award the ‘Practical Accreditation’, certifying students as competent practical workers.