Switching to AQA: from Edexcel
To save you time and help you compare our GCSE Chemistry with the Edexcel specification, we’ve created some comparison tables.
These tables highlight the content and requirements side by side, so you can make the right choice for your students.
Subject content
The subject content covered by all awarding bodies is fundamentally the same. This is due to the subject criteria designated by the DfE was extensive and no awarding body felt there was a need to add greatly to this body of knowledge. There are slight differences where small amounts of detail have been added to certain concepts. By reading the specification statements it is quite easy to identify these points. The titles used for topics are different in each specification as is the order that they appear. A summary of this is shown in the assessment structure table.
Working scientifically
The working scientifically statements are part of the subject criteria set by the DfE so are the same for all awarding bodies. AQA have also given examples of what students could be asked to do in the exam for each skill (section 3 working scientifically).
AQA have mapped key opportunities for development of these skills throughout the subject content (section 4). These are suggestions and are a starting point for teachers to identify where best to introduce and develop these skills during the course.
Mathematical requirements
The mathematical statements are part of the subject criteria set by the DfE so are the same for all awarding bodies (AQA section 9). Key opportunities for development of these skills are mapped throughout the subject content in both specifications. It should be noted that this does not mean that this is where they will be exclusively assessed.
Required practical and apparatus and techniques
The apparatus and techniques are set by the DfE so these are common to all awarding bodies. The required practicals are designed to ensure that all the ATs are met. There are some differences to the required practicals we have used to address these AT. The required practical titles are common between Combined Science and separate science. There are a number of extra practicals for the separate science to reflect differences in the DfE criteria for these different qualifications. The table below shows for the titles of the RPs. The free practical handbooks are available on the website where full details of teacher technician notes and students worksheets can be found.
AQA – GCSE Chemistry | Edexcel – GCSE Chemistry |
|---|---|
6. Investigate how paper chromatography can be used to separate and tell the difference between coloured substances. Students should calculate Rf values. | 2.11 Investigate the composition of inks using simple distillation and paper chromatography. |
2. Determination of the reacting volumes of solutions of a strong acid and a strong alkali by titration. (HTonly) determination of the concentration of one of the solutions in mol/dm3 and g/dm3 from the reacting volumnes and the known concentration of the other solutions. | Carry out an accurate acid – alkali titration, using burette, pipette and a suitable indicator. |
1. Preparation of a pure, dry sample of a soluble salt from an insoluble oxide or carbonate, using a Bunsen burner to heat dilute acid and a water bath or electric heater to evaporate the solution. | 3.17 Investigate the preparation of pure, dry hydrated copper sulfate crystals starting from copper oxide including the use of a water bath. |
3. Investigate what happens when aqueous solutions are electrolysed using inert electrodes. This should be an investigation involving developing a hypothesis. | 3.31 Investigate the electrolysis of copper sulfate solution with inert electrodes and copper electrodes. |
5. Investigate how changes in concentration affect the rates of reactions by a method involving measuring the volume of a gas produced and a method involving a change in colour or turbidity. | 7.1 Investigate the effects of changing the conditions of a reaction on the rates of chemical reactions by: a. measuring the production of a gas (in the reaction between hydrochloric acid and marble chips) b. observing a colour change (in the reaction between sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid). |
7. Use chemical tests to identify the ions in unknown single ionic compounds covering the ions from the section on flame tests through to sulfates. | 9.6C Identify the ions in unknown salts, using the tests for the specific cations and anions in 9.2C, 9.3C, 9.4C, 9.5C. |
4. Investigate the variables that affect temperature changes in reacting solutions such as, eg acid plus metals, acid plus carbonates, neutralisations, displacement of metals. | |
8. Analysis and purification of water samples from different sources, including pH, dissolved solids and distillation. | |
3.6 Investigate the change in pH on adding powdered calcium hydroxide/calcium oxide to a fixed volume of dilute hydrochloric acid. |
Assessment structure
AQA – GCSE Chemistry | Edexcel – GCSE Chemistry |
|---|---|
Students must complete all assessments in the same tier. | Students must complete all assessments in the same tier. |
2 papers – 1 hour and 45 minutes | 2 papers – 1 hour and 45 minutes |
100 marks per paper. 200 marks in total Sufficient marks on each paper to sample the content in enough detail for valid assessment throughout the course. | 100 marks per paper. 200 marks in total |
30% marks common between Foundation and Higher. This level of overlap allows us to be surer of the equivalence of standard across the common grades, and to be more confident in the awarding of these common grades. |
Topics covered in each paper
The concepts and principles in Sections 1, 2 and 3 are fundamental to an understanding of chemistry and underpin much of the content detailed in later sections of the specification.
Students will be directly examined on these fundamental concepts in Paper 1, but will also be expected to be able to apply them as the basis for responses to some questions in Paper 2.
Content of the following sections will not be included in questions in Paper 2:
- 5.1.1.3 The development of the model of the atom
- 5.1.2.2 Development of the periodic table.
Paper 1
AQA – Chemistry Paper 1 | Edexcel – Chemistry Paper 1 |
|---|---|
Topic 1 – Atomic structure and the periodic table | Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry |
Topic 2 – Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter | Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures |
Topic 3 – Quantitative chemistry | Topic 3 – Chemical changes |
Topic 4 – Chemical changes | Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria |
Topic 5 – Energy changes |
Paper 2
AQA – Chemistry Paper 2 | Edexcel – Chemistry Paper 2 |
|---|---|
Topics 6 – The rate and extent of chemical change | Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry |
Topic 7 – Organic chemistry | Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table |
Topic 8 – Chemical analysis | Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes |
Topic 9 – Chemistry of the atmosphere | Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science |
Topic 10 – Using resources |