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Is fast racking A Level chemistry possible( in one year)

I am considering fast racking A Level degree as it is required for the degree I want to apply to, and how many hours a day will I need to study to get an A

Reply 1

First, you need to consider the practical element of A Level Chem which you need to get a pass in the UK. Where are you going to do practicals?

People do 3 A Levels at the same over two years, so 1 A Level in one year should be okay.

As to how many hours a day, teaching over both years is approximately 360 hours of teaching (not including HW and revision) but since you are working at your own pace and not wasting time with teachers in class, I would say 360 hours might be what you need.

So calculate, 360/35*5 (nmbr of school weeks*days of school a week) = 2.5 hours a day of solid teaching to yourself minimum.

You will need to do more if you struggle with a particular topic and definitely more around exam time to include revision for exams not only teaching.

My recommendations:

Testing yourself with end-of-topic questions at the end of each section of your textbook whenever you are done with a topic.

Have test days under exam condition - print them from a-levelchemistry.co.uk

Use Allery chem videos to teach yourself, he is going to be your teacher.

Have a plan of days and lessons to do each day (watch allery chem+do practice exercises) each day

For notes, use chemrevise or make ur own

if u don't understand something: machemguy

if u need quick revision/brush up on skills: machemguy


In march, start practising past papers under exam conditions from a-levelchemistry.co.uk, also analyse them to pinpoint topics where u make the most mistakes for each paper and focus on these weaknesses

In may, start using actual past paper (specimens etc)

In june, use the real ones and carry on doing the same thing as in march


good luck, you got this!

Reply 2

Original post
by wilderose
First, you need to consider the practical element of A Level Chem which you need to get a pass in the UK. Where are you going to do practicals?
People do 3 A Levels at the same over two years, so 1 A Level in one year should be okay.
As to how many hours a day, teaching over both years is approximately 360 hours of teaching (not including HW and revision) but since you are working at your own pace and not wasting time with teachers in class, I would say 360 hours might be what you need.
So calculate, 360/35*5 (nmbr of school weeks*days of school a week) = 2.5 hours a day of solid teaching to yourself minimum.
You will need to do more if you struggle with a particular topic and definitely more around exam time to include revision for exams not only teaching.
My recommendations:

Testing yourself with end-of-topic questions at the end of each section of your textbook whenever you are done with a topic.

Have test days under exam condition - print them from a-levelchemistry.co.uk

Use Allery chem videos to teach yourself, he is going to be your teacher.

Have a plan of days and lessons to do each day (watch allery chem+do practice exercises) each day

For notes, use chemrevise or make ur own

if u don't understand something: machemguy

if u need quick revision/brush up on skills: machemguy


In march, start practising past papers under exam conditions from a-levelchemistry.co.uk, also analyse them to pinpoint topics where u make the most mistakes for each paper and focus on these weaknesses

In may, start using actual past paper (specimens etc)

In june, use the real ones and carry on doing the same thing as in march


good luck, you got this!


Thank you soo much for your advice, I also wanted to know what exam board is the best to take I’m starting tomorrow and I’m not sure which exam board has the best resources and which exam board I’m more likely to do well for you reference in my A levels I got an A in both Biology and Maths so I am good at science and maths subjects

Reply 3

Original post
by daya197
Thank you soo much for your advice, I also wanted to know what exam board is the best to take I’m starting tomorrow and I’m not sure which exam board has the best resources and which exam board I’m more likely to do well for you reference in my A levels I got an A in both Biology and Maths so I am good at science and maths subjects

Hey, I think AQA chemistry had the most ressources, it's the one I did. For doing well, AQA chem is known to be difficult and it's the most popular but at the same time, you need to keep in mind everything is reflected in grade boundaries so if an exam from a board is slightly easier, grade boundaries will be higher, so all exams should be equivalent. You would be better off asking a chemistry teacher that taught multiple examboards or was an examinator, they would know the nitty gritty of the spec to answer this question. Good luck with resitting A Level Chemistry ! You got this 🔥

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