A-level Chemistry
Course duration: 2 years
Coursework: 20% investigative & practical skills
Contact teacher: Mrs Sidhu
Entry requirement: B in Chemistry/Double Award Science
Exam Board: AQA
Content
A Level Chemistry is a very practical and enjoyable A level which both extends scientific knowledge of Chemistry but also looks at contemporary use of Chemistry in the media and how it affects real lives. These issues include:
- climate change
- green chemistry
- pharmaceuticals
- chemistry research
You will be taught the following units:
- Foundation Chemistry
- Chemistry in Action
- Kinetics, Equilibria and Organic Chemistry
- Energetics, Redox and Inorganic Chemistry
Course organisation
This is a very practical and hands-on course mixing laboratory practical work with theory which supports the experiments. Each student will work with a laboratory partner and will have their own set of apparatus which will be used throughout the laboratory work. Much of the work will be carried out in the teaching laboratory under the supervision of the teacher or laboratory technician.
Assessment
AS level: 20% – Unit 1 – 1hr 15min exam (January), 20% – Unit 2 – 1hr 45min exam (June), 10% of total marks – Investigative and practical skills
A2 level: 20% – Unit 4 – 1hr 45min exam, 20% – Unit 5 – 1hr 45min exam, 10% of total marks – Investigative and practical skills
How will Chemistry be taught?
We aim to give students the maximum amount of time in the teaching laboratories and therefore much of the content will be delivered through experimental and investigative work. Students are encouraged to develop the analytical and practical skills that will be required either in employment or at higher education. We will encourage students to develop their independent learning skills for both theory and practical work