Switching to AQA: from OCR
To save you time and help you compare our GCSE Chemistry with the OCR Gateway Chemistry 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 because the DfE subject criteria were very specific and 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 skills 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 the specification. 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 ATs. The table below shows for the titles of the RPs and the ones OCR suggest. The free practical handbooks are available on the website where full details of teacher technician notes and students worksheets can be found.
OCR do not specify particular required practicals but split the requirements into 8 Practical Activity Groups (PAGs). The PAGs cover the ATs and an example practical is given.
AQA – Chemistry | OCR Gateway – Chemistry PAG suggestions |
|---|---|
C1. (Chemistry only) Use of displacement reactions to identify the reaction trend of group 7 elements. | |
3. Investigate what happens when aqueous solutions are electrolysed using inert electrodes. This should be an investigation involving developing a hypothesis. | C2. Electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride or aqueous copper sulfate solution testing for gases produced. |
6. Investigate how paper chromatography can be used to separate and tell the difference between coloured substances. Students should calculate Rf values. | C3. Use chromatography to identify the mixtures of dyes in an unknown ink. |
8. Analysis and purification of water samples from different sources, including pH, dissolved solids and distillation. | C4. Distillation of a mixture, for example , orange juice, cherry cola, hydrocarbons, inks. |
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. | C5. Identify an unknown compound using cations tests, anion tests and flame tests. |
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. | C6. Titration of a strong acid and strong alkali to find the concentration of the acid using an appropriate pH 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. | C7. Production of a pure dry sample of a salt. |
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. | C8. Investigate the effect of surface area or concentration on the rate of an acid/ carbonate reaction. |
4. Investigate the variables that affect temperature changes in reacting solutions such as, eg acid plus metals, acid plus carbonates, neutralisations, displacement of metals. |
Assessment
AQA – GCSE Chemistry | OCR Gateway – 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. | 90 marks per paper. 180 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 topics 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:
- 4.1.1.3 The development of the model of the atom
- 4.1.2.2 Development of the periodic table.
Paper 1
AQA – Chemistry Paper 1 | OCR Gateway – Chemistry Paper 1 |
|---|---|
Topic 1 – Atomic structure and the periodic table | Topic C1 – Particles |
Topic 2 – Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter | Topic C2 – Elements, compounds and mixtures |
Topic 3 – Quantitative chemistry | Topic C3 – Chemical reactions |
Topic 4 – Chemical changes | Topic CS7 Practical skills (PAGs C1 –C5) |
Topic 5 – Energy changes |
Paper 2
AQA – Chemistry Paper 2 | OCR Gateway – Chemistry Paper 2 |
|---|---|
Some basic concepts and principles from topics 1 – 3 | With assumed knowledge of C1- C3 |
Topics 6 – The rate and extent of chemical change | Topic C4 – Predicting and identifying reactions and products |
Topic 7 – Organic chemistry | Topic C5 – Monitoring and controlling chemical reactions |
Topic 8 – Chemical analysis | Topic C6 – Global challenges |
Topic 9 – Chemistry of the atmosphere | Topic CS7 Practical skills (PAGs C1 –C5) |
Topic 10 – Using resources |