Chemistry › Exam boards
Exam-board routes
InkChemistry has detailed coverage maps for four qualifications: AQA 7404/7405, OCR Chemistry A H032/H432, Pearson Edexcel Chemistry 8CH0/9CH0 and Cambridge International 9701. Every route listed here is mapped. Choose your qualification to see its assessment structure, specification link and current coverage status.
AQA Chemistry
Coverage: mapped heading by heading. Open the route map to see the relevant lessons and any gaps.
Required practicals: every one by number, with where each method is taught.
How it is examined: Linear; Paper 1 (physical 3.1.1-3.1.4, 3.1.6-3.1.8, 3.1.10-3.1.12 and inorganic 3.2, 2h, 105, 35%), Paper 2 (physical 3.1.2-3.1.6, 3.1.9 and organic 3.3, 2h, 105, 35%), Paper 3 (any content, 2h, 90, 30%: 40 on practical techniques and data analysis, 20 across the specification, 30 multiple choice). Separate Practical Endorsement; 12 required practicals.
OCR Chemistry A
Coverage: mapped heading by heading. Open the route map to see the relevant lessons and any gaps.
Practical activity groups: every one by number, with where each method is taught.
How it is examined: Linear; Periodic table, elements and physical chemistry (01: M1,2,3,5, 2h15, 100, of which 15 multiple choice), Synthesis and analytical techniques (02: M1,2,4,6, 2h15, 100, of which 15 multiple choice), Unified chemistry (03: M1-6, 1h30, 70). Separate Practical Endorsement (04); 12 PAGs.
Pearson Edexcel Chemistry
Coverage: mapped heading by heading. Open the route map to see the relevant lessons and any gaps.
Core practicals: every one by number, with where each method is taught.
How it is examined: Linear; Paper 1 Advanced Inorganic and Physical (Topics 1-5, 8, 10-15, 1h45, 90, 30%), Paper 2 Advanced Organic and Physical (Topics 2, 3, 5-7, 9, 16-19, 1h45, 90, 30%), Paper 3 General and Practical Principles (any topic, 2h30, 120, 40%). Separate Science Practical Endorsement; 16 core practicals (number 13 in two parts, 13a and 13b).
Cambridge International Chemistry
Coverage: mapped heading by heading. Open the route map to see the relevant lessons and any gaps.
Practical papers: Papers 3 and 5, with the lessons that prepare for them.
How it is examined: Staged or linear; P1 Multiple Choice (1h15, 40, AS content), P2 AS Level Structured Questions (1h15, 60), P3 Advanced Practical Skills (2h, 40), P4 A Level Structured Questions (2h, 100), P5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation (1h15, 30).
Courses not mapped here
Six other A-level chemistry courses are taken in the UK and abroad: OCR Chemistry B (Salters), Eduqas Chemistry in England, WJEC Chemistry in Wales, CCEA Chemistry in Northern Ireland, and the international A levels from OxfordAQA and from Pearson Edexcel. Most of their chemistry is the chemistry taught here: the mole, bonding, energetics, kinetics, equilibria, redox and the core organic reactions appear on all of them. The order, the depth of some topics and the practical work differ, and none of these courses has been checked against these lessons statement by statement, so nothing here is claimed to cover one. If you take one, work from your board’s specification as the list of what to learn, and use the search to find each topic.
What each paper is, how long it runs, what it is worth and where the board publishes its own question papers and mark schemes: A-level chemistry past papers.