Course Content:

Year 1 Units:

• Skills of planning, implementing, analysis and evaluation

• Atoms, compounds, molecules and equations; Amount of substance; Acid–base and redox reactions; Electrons, bonding and structure

• The Periodic table and periodicity; Group 2 and the halogens; Qualitative analysis; Enthalpy changes; Reaction rates and equilibrium (qualitative)

• Basic concepts; Hydrocarbons; Alcohols and Haloalkanes; Organic synthesis; Analytical techniques (IR, MS)

 

Year 2 Units:

• All of the AS Units

• Reaction rates and equilibrium (quantitative); pH and buffers; Enthalpy, entropy and free energy; Redox and electrode potentials; Transition elements

• Aromatic compounds; Carbonyl compounds; Carboxylic acids and esters; Nitrogen compounds; Polymers; Organic synthesis; Chromatography and spectroscopy (NMR)

 

 

First Year Assessment

 

Paper 1: Breadth in Chemistry

Contributes 50% to the final AS grade

Written examination lasts 1 hour 30 minutes

Multiple choice and structured questions.

 

Paper 2: Depth in Chemistry

Contributes 50% to the final AS grade

Written examination lasts 1 hour 30 minutes

Structured and extended response questions.

 

Second Year Assessment

 

Paper 1: Periodic table, elements and physical Chemistry

Contributes 37% to the A level grade

Written examination lasts 2 hours 15 minutes

Multiple choice and structured questions.

 

Paper 2: Synthesis and analytical techniques

Contributes 37% to the A level grade

Written examination lasts 2 hours 15 minutes

Multiple choice and structured questions.

 

Paper 3: Unified Chemistry

Contributes 26% to the A level grade

Written examination lasts 1 hour 30 minutes

Structured and extended response questions.

 

Non-exam assessment: Practical endorsement for Chemistry

Teacher assessment of practical skills relevant to Chemistry.

 

 

Progression into careers via:

Chemistry is highly regarded by higher education establishments because of its multi-disciplined content. For some careers it is an essential requirement but will also prepare you for a variety of possible career options both inside and outside of science. Some wish to pursue careers in specialist disciplines such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or veterinary science. Others simply wish to study the subject at a higher level to explore concepts and theories studied at GCSE in more depth

 

Length of Course:

A-level : 2 years

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Examination Board:

OCR

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Periods Per Week:

5 x 1 hour lessons