What is this course about?
If you like logical problems and thinking hard, really using your brain, then chemistry is for you. If you want to know what makes up the world around you, you are a natural chemist. It is like seeing with new eyes all that is before you, within your food, on product labels, in cosmetics, in fuels, in the atmosphere, in the chemistry of life, and in the chemistry of the newest products. Mobile phones are small because chemists developed more efficient batteries, and new pigments for the screens.
How you will be assessed?
A Level consists of 3 papers all sat at the end of the course:-
Paper 1 – Physical and inorganic content. arly parts of the course include physical, inorganic and organic chemistry, plus relevant skills. Written exam: 2 hours, 105 marks, 35%.
Paper 2 – Later parts of the course include physical, inorganic and organic chemistry, plus relevant practical skills. Written exam: 2 hours, 105 marks, 35%.
Paper 3 – Any content, including relevant practical skills. Written exam: 2 hours, 90 marks, 30% This paper will be split as follows:-
- 40 marks of questions on practical techniques and data analysis.
- 20 marks of questions testing across the specification.
- 30 marks of multiple choice questions.
What you will study?
Physical chemistry
Atomic structure, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle, oxidation, reduction and redox equations
Inorganic chemistry
Periodicity, alkaline earth metals and halogens.
Organic chemistry
Introduction to organic chemistry, alkanes, halog
What will it prepare you for?
A level Chemistry is particularly important if you want to study Medicine, Veterinary Science or Biochemistry at university.
It is also appreciated by admissions tutors in many other subjects, including Law, due to its logical discipline.
Subject entry requirements:
- A grade 6 in Chemistry and Mathematics is preferable, but we will accept students with a strong grade 5.