Sixth Form - Chemistry

Chemistry (AS and A2)

Course aims
a. To stimulate and sustain students' interest in, and enjoyment of, chemistry.
b. To enable students to gain a knowledge and understanding of chemistry appropriate to this level and to appreciate the interlinking patterns which are a distinguishing feature of the subject.
c. To show the interrelationship between the development of the subject and its applications: social, economic, environmental and technological.
d. To develop skills in laboratory procedures and techniques carried out with due regard for safety, together with the ability to assess the uses and limitations of these procedures.
e. To foster imaginative and critical thinking as well as the acquisition of knowledge, together with an appreciation of the intellectual discipline which the subject provides.
f. To develop students' ability to acquire knowledge by means of practical investigation.
g. To develop students' abilities to form hypotheses and to design experiments to test them.
h. To provide an appropriate course for those who will end their study of the subject at this stage as well as laying a secure foundation for those who will continue their studies in the subject.

Course content
The A Level course is divided up into 6 compulsory units

Units	How this is assessed	Examined	% of total AS examination	% of total A2 examination
Unit 1 –The Core Principles of Chemistry	Written paper (1hour 30mins)	January of Yr12	40%	20%
Unit 2 – Application of Core Principles of Chemistry	Written paper (1hour 30mins)	June of Yr12	40%	20%
Unit 3 – Chemistry Laboratory Skills I	Investigative Skills Assessment (Practical task and written test based on collected data)	Throughout Yr12	20%	10%
Unit 4 – General Principals of Chemistry I – Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry	Written paper (1hour 40mins)	January of Yr13		20%
Unit 5 – General Principles of Chemistry II – Transition Metals and Nitrogen Chemistry	Written paper (1hours 40mins)	June of Yr13		20%
Unit 6 – Chemistry Laboratory Skills II	Investigative Skills Assessment (Practical task and written test based on collected data)	Throughout Yr13		10%

Commitment:
Student should be aware that A Level Chemistry is a far from easy option: it is heavily loaded with content and requires much independent work, so a firm commitment to the subject is essential.

Entry requirements
5 GCSEs at grades A*-C, including Separate or Double Award Science and Mathematics. Science and Mathematics grades should have been obtained through the Higher papers.