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A-Level Chemistry

Background information about studying Chemistry

A-level Chemistry builds upon the knowledge gained at GCSE but goes much further revealing some significant simplifications taught at GCSE. Ideally you should achieve a grade B or above in GCSE Chemistry (or BB in the double award science) for sufficient preparation for A-level. It contains a slightly greater level of mathematical content and overlaps with some topics taught in physics. By taking chemistry you develop some very useful skills that can be applied well outside of the subject discipline; these include problem solving, numeracy, practical skills as well as developing a broad scientific background. As a result it's a highly respected and useful qualification for higher education and employment in a wide range of areas.

How will it differ from GCSE?

Difficulty

Considered to be amongst the most difficult of A-level subjects due to both its conceptual difficulty and the amount of material needed to be memorised. Despite this reputation many students each year sit this qualification and 33% of entries were awarded the A grade in 2008.

Personally, I find that if at GCSE/IGCSE you got A/A*, then the actual level required to understand the work is not very different from GCSE, although some things may make your head hurt, especially when you get told that everything you had learnt was a lie....however you WILL need to pick up your game fast as after module 1 is when things begin to get difficult, so those who have january exams....try to ace them...and try to ace the coursework....makes it easier to get the A when you know you have 30% already

Workload

Considerably less than some other subjects as it doesn't have much in the way of coursework. It depends considerably on your ability to understand concepts. If you can pick up things quickly, you'll have hardly any work outside of the lesson. Revision for exams is quite easy - as long as you understand what you've been taught. At times it can be difficult to understand concepts if you don't understand what your teacher says.

Required Individual Study

Depending on how difficult you find the material you may find yourself spending a significant amount of time trying to get your head around certain concepts. It will be worst at the start of a new topic but slowly you will develop a better and better understanding and will feel more comfortable with the material.

How is it assessed?

Exams

The way chemistry a level is examined has changed since the introduction of the new A levels starting in September 2008.

For most exam boards including AQA, Edexcel and OCR there are two theory exams for AS and two for A2. There is also a practical component/coursework in both AS and A2. These usually make up 80% of the total grade with each exam board giving a different weights to the respective exams. For example:

Edexcel Chemistry AS Unit 1 Core Principles of chemistry Unit 2 Application of core principles Unit 3 Practical/Lab skills

Coursework

Coursework tends to be replaced by Practical exams.

Practicals

At first doing practicals on your own can seem a bit daunting, especially if you're going to be assessed on them. However throught your chemistry A level you will develop your practical skills and become much more competent and able to deal with the practical element of chemistry.

You get the opportunity to carry out a wide range of practicals from titrations to trying to identify different compound (it's sort of like detective work!). There are 3 main areas that are assessed in practical A level chemistry: quantitative practicals. These usually involve titrations or practicals involving rate equations/rate of reactions/energetics. Qualitative practicals. These are where you are trying to identify different compounds for example using flame tests. The last type of practical being synthesis. You are required to correctly produce a chemical compound such as a salt or using reflux/distillation in organic chemistry to produce organic compounds such as carboxcylic acids from alcohols.

OCR B (Salters) A2 includes a coursework project worth 15% of your overall grade. The project must be planned, carried out (20+ hours of practical work) and evaluated.

Field trips and excursions

There are not huge oppurtunities for field trips but conferences, lectures, uni trips etc may be offered.

Where can I go with a Chemistry A-Level

Doing an A level in chemistry can open so many doors for you in the future. It is seen, and quite rightly so, as a challenging, academic and rigorous A level that will impress a lot of universities/employers.

Doing A level chemistry can lead to many careers in healthcare such as medicine, pharmacy and dentistry but is also extremely useful in careers in the biological sciences, physics, mathematics, pharmacology and analytical chemistry. Chemistry is also taken by many law applicants as it shows you can cope with difficult concepts. Chemistry brings a nice balance to your studies if you are doing many Arts subjects. You need Chemistry to study Veterinary Medicine, many univeristies ask for an A but some allow a B.

User Opinions

Username: i.am.lost

What I like about studying this subject: The practicals are fun and interesting (especially when they go wrong haha), and the material is intellectually rigorous, which I find appealing. No essays etc which is good.

What I dislike about studying this subject: It is hard. And boring. But maybe that's just me. The coursework mark scheme is ridiculously specific and makes it hard to actually do well. Overall, if you are willing to put in the time and willing to get through the dull bits to get to the nicer bits, you should take Chemistry.

Username: ronak92

What I like about studying this subject: Its hard, challenging yet supprisingly fun! Praticals are sometimes the only thing I look forward to in a college week - thier awesome! Also, I love how the exams questions tend to have direct answers and no bs like in biology. With enough pratice 100%'s are not near impossible!

What I dislike about studying this subject: If you have a (bad) teacher - you are likely to struggle without a lot of independant study. Its easy to get lost in the complex world of organic chem! (You may also find the organic chem reactions are something to remember for the examination, then forget forever)

Username: cpdavis

What I like about studying this subject: It is one subject that requires you to think to a more scientific level that I enjoy! You also get to do ALOT of practicals to compared to the other sciences and when it comes to exams, you are able to do well, even if you don't know the whole topic, you can know the basics and apply it to new situations (group 2 metals)

What I dislike about studying this subject: It can get scary when you see something new. However, once you get used to it, it can be much easier than it looks!

Username: Billy Bryant

What I like about studying this subject: If you do well at GCSE Chemistry, most of the A Level course is very similar in difficulty and not that easy to learn. However, it's not a good subject because it's easy (my opinion of course), it's an excellent subject because it's so interesting. From GCSE you know that certain reactants 'join' to form certain products. You will now learn why they do. It's that extra level of detail that makes Chemistry so exciting to me, for any of the topics it seems like you're learning that tiny bit beyond what you should know. You're not though obviously.

What I dislike about studying this subject: The definitions are really boring and have a tendency to show up in exams. Really make sure you learn these, A small definition at the bottom of a page can be easily missed. However, this is really just a very slight negative to the subject. I would recommend anyone to give Chemistry a go.

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Also See

• The main A Level article
• A Level Revision Notes
• An A-Z of A-Level Subject Guides