Chemistry
GCE Advanced Level AS/A2
Course Content
Year One (AS)
Module 1 – Atoms, Bonds & Groups
Module 2 – Chains, Energy & Resources
Module 3 – Practical Skills in Chemistry 1
Year Two (A2)
Module 4 – Rings, Polymers & Analysis
Module 5 – Equilibria, Energetics & Elements
Module 6 – Practical Skills in Chemistry 2
How it is Taught
Using a variety of teaching and learning styles, teachers will guide students through the course - details of which are covered in textbooks.
Students are also issued with useful supporting texts to help in 'bridging the gap' from GCSE and to provide more detailed and background information as the course progresses.
Practical work integrates well with class work and theory. In routine experiments, students often work together in pairs, however practical assessments are completed independently.
Students are encouraged to take greater responsibility for their own learning than at GCSE and regular completion of homework assignments will be expected. The course involves a significant amount of mathematical content.
Examination Details
| Module | Duration | Date |
| 1 | 1 hour | January Year 1 |
| 2 | 1 hour 45 min | May/June Year 1 |
| 3 | N/A - coursework | May/June Year 1 |
| 4 | 1 hour 15 min | January Year 2 |
| 5 | 2 hours | June Year 2 |
| 6 | N/A - coursework | June Year 2 |
Practical skills (coursework) will be assessed by the teacher in both the AS and A2 years and will contribute 20% towards the final mark for each of these courses.
Entry Requirements
In addition to the College general entry requirements for A Level study, students who wish to enrol on the AS Chemistry course should have at least a grade C in GCSE Maths and one of the following:
- Grade B in Core GCSE Science and grade B in Additional Science
- Grade B in GCSE Chemistry
A pass in Single Award Science does not provide an adequate basis for starting the AS Course.
Students should also meet the general college entry requirements for Advanced Level study. Please refer to the current Prospectus - advanced programmes, entry requirements.
Useful/Common Subject Combinations
The majority of students combine Chemistry with Biology and this is useful for any progression to medical courses. Approximately 30% of our students combine Chemistry with Maths and/or Physics; this then enables a very wide choice of future options specialising in Science or Engineering.
Chemistry with Geology and/or Geography is also a good combination. However, an increasing number of students successfully combine Chemistry with other subjects such as Business Studies, English, History, Psychology or a language, to give themselves a broader education.
Careers and HE Information
Chemistry is an essential subject for many science degree courses and it is a useful advanced level subject for entry into engineering and a number of non science degrees.
Some examples of science and engineering degree courses/careers that our students have taken after completing Advanced Level Chemistry:
- Agriculture/Ecology
- Food Science
- Anatomy/Physiology
- Genetics
- Biology/Biochemistry
- Material Science/Metallurgy
- Botany/Zoology
- Chemical Engineering
- Microbiology
- Chemistry
- Ophthalmic Optics
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy/Pharmacology
- Environmental Science
- Veterinary Science
- Medicine