Courses

Chemistry

Faculty: Science
               “A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician: he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales." Marie Skłodowska Curie (Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1911)

Exam Board: OCR

Assessment Details:

Practical Endorsement
The new Chemistry specification has changed (for the better) the way in which practical work is conducted at A Level.  Through a minimum of twelve practical investigations (in practice there are more), students accumulate the scientific skills and laboratory techniques that will result in a smooth transition to degree‑level study.  We have dedicated 2‑hour slots timetabled for practical work and these enable a proper learning experience for students.  There is no graded assessment, although the end-of-course examinations will test students’ understanding of the experimental techniques they have employed.

Course outline:

The two-year A Level is made up of six units which are assessed in three written papers taken at the end of the second year.  These papers test both the students’ theoretical knowledge and their understanding of, and application of, the practical chemistry skills that they have accumulated over the two years.  The Practical Endorsement is a skills-based certification that runs the length of the course and which prepares students for successful progress in practical sciences at degree level.

Students have 10 lessons over a fortnight covering the content of the OCR course.  Teaching is provided two Chemistry teachers, one Organic Chemistry specialist, the other a specialist in Inorganic/Physical Chemistry. 

Skills required:

Students should show strong deductive reasoning and problem solving skills, supported by solid numeracy.  They should be able to assimilate new concepts and principles and apply them to novel situations; Chemistry is not a subject for those that learn by rote.  They need to be well-organised both in the laboratory and in their studies outside of class.  This should be reflected in their clear written communication of ideas and concepts.  They need to be cooperative and demonstrate good interpersonal skills to enable efficient and precise practical work.

Complementary Subjects:

Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Computer Science

Subjects that use scientific methods or evidence-based reasoning such as Psychology, Law, Business or Geography

Pathways - Careers:

Chemistry A Level is

• Required for: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering; Medicine; Pharmacy; Dentistry; Veterinary Science

• Supportive Subject for: Forensic Science; Engineering; Biological Sciences (e.g. Biochemistry, Biomedical Science, Microbiology); Physics; Environmental Science

Chemistry is a route to many science careers but it is also a subject that incorporates with many transferable skills that are valued highly in the marketplace; it is not unusual for Chemistry graduates to move into other fields such as law and finance.