Advanced Subsidiary (AS) & Advanced GCE (A2)
CHEMISTRY
The Year 12 AS level and first year of A level in Chemistry places a great emphasis on
knowledge and understanding of key ideas: - atoms, bonding, rates of reaction, periodicity
and organic chemistry.
The Year 13 second year of A level includes application and analysis of the ideas learned in
Y12 plus new ideas: thermodynamics, equilibria, transition metals, redox, period 3 and organic
chemistry
What are the Entry Requirements?
BB or above in Dual award Science or if Triple Science studied a grade B or above in Chemistry
and a B or above in another science subject. Students must also archive a grade B or above in
maths.
How is the course structured and taught?
Year 12 : AS AND FIRST YEAR OF A LEVEL
Physical chemistry
Atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, kinetics, equilibrium
Inorganic chemistry
Periodicity and study of Group 2 and Group 7 elements
Organic chemistry
Alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols, organic analysis
Year 13 : SECOND YEAR OF A LEVEL
Physical chemistry
Thermodynamics, rate equations, equilibrium, electrode potentials
Inorganic chemistry
Period 3 elements, transition metals, reactions of ions in aqueous
solution
Organic chemistry
Isomerism, aldehydes and ketones, carbonyl compounds, aromatic
chemistry, amines, polymers, NMR spectroscopy, chromatography
Examination Board:
AQA GCE
How is the course assessed?
Examinations are held in June.
There are 3 exams at the end of 2 years for A level all of which are
2 hours long. The AS has 2 exams at the end of the year, both are
1hour 30 minutes long
Performance during practicals will be assessed in the written
exams, at least 15% of A level marks are based on what you
learned in practicals
What Higher Education or career opportunities will it lead to?
Chemistry is a flexible, useful and highly desirable A level qualification. It is particularly
appropriate to Pharmacy, Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Forensic Science,
Dentistry, Veterinary science and Medicine. It is a subject for many courses at University
and can also lead to jobs in many fields.
What other life skills and experiences will I gain?
As well as an in depth knowledge of chemistry the course will provide experiences of:
How to assemble and assess data.
How to investigate facts and use deduction
How to put over a point of view fluently
How to work as a team to achieve results