OCR A-Level Chemistry

Learners gain hands-on practical skills and data analysis skills. They appreciate how science works and its relevance beyond the laboratory. Students will study Chemistry in a contemporary context and develop their enthusiasm for the subject.

Entry requirements: Students will need to achieve a 6/6 in combined Science or 6 In Chemistry and a 5+ Maths 

Career opportunities: Studying A level chemistry broadens the scope of students to study a wide range of different courses at university or as an apprenticeship trainee. It can lead to careers in typical scientific fields such as engineering, medicine, pharmacy, chemist, research analysis etc. In addition, it provides core skills relevant for success in non-Scientific fields such as law, accounting, project management, Business management etc.

What will I study?: A level Chemistry is split into six modules: Modules 1 to 6, combined with the Practical Endorsement, constitute the full A Level. Modules 1- 4 are covered in the first year and modules 1, 5 and 6 are covered in the second year. The modules can be summarised as:

Module 1: Development of practical skills This module underpins the whole of the specification. Students are given many opportunities to develop the fundamental skills needed to collect and analyse empirical data. Skills in planning, implementing, analysing and evaluating, will be assessed within written examinations and within the Practical Endorsement throughout the course.

Module 2: Foundations in chemistry This module acts as a crucial bridge between GCSE and A Level Chemistry. This module provides essential knowledge and understanding of the important chemical ideas that underpin the study of A Level Chemistry.

Modules 3: The Periodic Table and Energy This module focuses on inorganic and physical chemistry, the applications of energy use to everyday life and industrial processes, and current environmental concerns associated with sustainability. This module provides knowledge and understanding of the important chemical ideas that underpin the study of inorganic and physical chemistry.

Modules 4: Core Organic Chemistry This module focuses on inorganic and physical chemistry, the applications of energy use to everyday life and industrial processes, and current environmental concerns associated with sustainability. This module provides knowledge and understanding of the important chemical ideas that underpin the study of inorganic and physical chemistry.

Modules 5: Physical chemistry and transition elements This module builds on knowledge and understanding of the chemical concepts developed in Module 2: Foundations in chemistry and Module 3: Periodic table and energy. It extends the study of energy, reaction rates and equilibria, and the periodic table.

Modules 6: Organic chemistry and analysis The content within this module assumes knowledge and understanding of the chemical concepts developed in Module 2: Foundations in chemistry and Module 4: Core organic chemistry. This module introduces several new functional groups and emphasises the importance of organic synthesis. This module also adds NMR spectroscopy to the instrumentation techniques used in organic and forensic analysis.

Assessment overview:

Paper 1:

• Periodic table, elements and physical chemistry
• 2hr 15mins
• 37% of final grade

Paper 2:

• Synthesis and analytical techniques
• 2hr 15mins
• 37% of final grade

Paper 3:

• Unified Chemistry
• 1hr 30mins
• 26% of final grade

Practical Endorsement for Chemistry: Students complete a minimum of 12 core practical activities to demonstrate practical competence assessment by their teacher.