Chemistry
WHY SHOULD I STUDY A LEVEL CHEMISTRY?
This course will give you the skills and understanding to make decisions about the way chemistry affects your everyday life. You will apply concepts in contemporary areas of chemistry including: climate change, environmental issues, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemistry and chemistry research. You will have the opportunity to participate in numerous external competitions, including the RSC Chemistry Olympiad, Young Analyst competition and the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge.
WHAT WILL I LEARN ABOUT?
Many of the concepts covered at GCSE will be developed further with an emphasis on explaining rather than simply describing the behaviour of molecules. You will develop your understanding of the three main areas of Chemistry - physical; organic; and inorganic.
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
- In Year 13, there are three A Level exams: Papers 1 and 2 are worth 30% each; Paper 3 is worth 40% of the overall A Level grade. Paper 3 will contain questions relating to practical skills.
- A ‘Science Practical Endorsement’ will additionally be used to assess your practical skills, but this assessment will not count towards your final grade.
WHAT SKILLS WILL I DEVELOP?
Studying A Level Chemistry will allow you to develop a range of skills that are important to employers and universities:
- Data handling will be a key part of your work, and you will develop information retrieval, numeracy and ICT skills.
- You will build up a range of practical skills.
- You will learn to work effectively as part of a team and develop an appreciation of how scientific models are developed and evolve, and the nature of scientific enquiry.
WHERE COULD THIS SUBJECT TAKE ME IN THE FUTURE?
Many university courses have a significant proportion of chemistry content and this course offers an excellent preparation for further study. UK universities currently offer over 200 courses where Chemistry is the primary subject. In addition, a number of other courses either specifically require or recommend an A Level in Chemistry, including Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry.
Exam Board: Edexcel | Course Code: 9CH0
