Course Entry Requirements

The minimum entrance requirement is a grade 7- 7 in GCSE Combined Science.  For those students who have studied the separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs, they must achieve a minimum of grade 7 in Chemistry and grade 6 in the other two science subjects.  Students also need a grade 6 in English Language and a grade 6 in Maths. Equally important is an interest in and enjoyment of both the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject. 

Course Aims and Teaching

The aim of the course is to stimulate students’ interest and enjoyment of Chemistry and to give them the required knowledge to understand many aspects of contemporary Chemistry that affect their lives as well as providing an appropriate qualification for those who need Chemistry for their future studies or career.  Teaching will involve practical work, discussion and note taking, independent learning, demonstrations and some use of ICT.

Course Content

The content of the course builds on the topics studied in Science at GCSE, but these are dealt with in much greater depth.  A-level Chemistry is a two year course. 

Year 1 Topics:

Physical Chemistry	Inorganic Chemistry	Organic Chemistry
Atomic structure	Periodicity	Introduction to organic Chemistry
Amount of substance	Group 2 metals	Alkanes
Bonding	Group 7, the halogens	Halogenoalkanes
Energetics		Alkenes
Kinetics		Alcohols
Chemical equilibria		Organic analysis
Oxidation, reduction and redox

 

Year 2 Topics in addition to the above:

Physical Chemistry	Inorganic Chemistry	Organic Chemistry
Thermodynamics	Period 3	Optical isomerism
Rate equations	Transition metals	Aldehydes and ketones
Equilibrium constant Kc	Reactions of ions in solution	Carboxylic acids and derivatives
Electrode		Aromatic Chemistry
Acids and bases		Amines
		Polymers
		Amino acids, proteins and DNA
		Organic synthesis
		NMR spectroscopy
		Chromatography

Assessment

There will be three written exams of two hours each.  Students will be awarded a separate endorsement of practical skills, which will be assessed by teachers.  This will not be graded.  If students pass, it will be reported on their certificates.  Knowledge and understanding of practical work will be assessed in written exams.  About 15% of the total marks in A-level exams will be based on practical questions.

Progression and Careers

A qualification in Chemistry is vital for higher education courses in dentistry, medicine and pharmacy and many science based courses in biology, engineering and the environmental sciences also require some knowledge of Chemistry.  Chemistry also opens up a wide range of careers in industry.  It is an exciting and vibrant subject.  The chemical and allied industries - fragrances, fuels, pharmaceuticals - are the most important manufacturing industries to the UK economy.  These industries employ large numbers of chemists in research and development, sales and marketing, plus management.  The intellectual training obtained in studying for a degree in Chemistry is also ideal for a career in areas not directly related to chemical sciences, such as Law.

Exam Board

AQA - http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/chemistry-7404-7405

Contact Name

For further information, please see Mr M Wilson – Teacher in Charge of KS4/5 Chemistry.