Specification at a glance

These qualifications are linear. Linear means that students will sit all the AS exams at the end of their AS course and all the A-level exams at the end of their A-level course.

Subject content

3.1 Physical chemistry

3.2 Inorganic chemistry

3.3 Organic chemistry

AS

Assessments

Paper 1

What's assessed

  • Relevant physical chemistry topics (sections 3.1.1 to 3.1.4, 3.1.6 and 3.1.7)
  • Inorganic chemistry (section 3.2.1 to 3.2.3)
  • Relevant practical skills

Assessed

  • written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 80 marks
  • 50% of the AS

Questions

65 marks of short and long answer questions

15 marks of multiple choice questions

Paper 2

What's assessed

  • Relevant physical chemistry topics (sections 3.1.2 to 3.1.6)
  • Organic chemistry (section 3.3.1 to 3.3.6)
  • Relevant practical skills

Assessed

  • written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 80 marks
  • 50% of the AS

Questions

65 marks of short and long answer questions

15 marks of multiple choice questions

A-level

Assessments

Paper 1

What's assessed

  • Relevant physical chemistry topics (sections 3.1.1 to 3.1.4, 3.1.6 to 3.1.8 and 3.1.10 to 3.1.12)
  • Inorganic chemistry (section 3.2)
  • Relevant practical skills

Assessed

  • written exam: 2 hours
  • 105 marks
  • 35% of A-level

Questions

105 marks of short and long answer questions

Paper 2

What's assessed

  • Relevant physical chemistry topics (sections 3.1.2 to 3.1.6 and 3.1.9)
  • Organic chemistry (section 3.3)
  • Relevant practical skills

Assessed

  • written exam: 2 hours
  • 105 marks
  • 35% of A-level

Questions

105 marks of short and long answer questions

Paper 3

What's assessed

  • Any content
  • Any practical skills

Assessed

  • written exam: 2 hours
  • 90 marks
  • 30% of A-level

Questions

40 marks of questions on practical techniques and data analysis

20 marks of questions testing across the specification

30 marks of multiple choice questions