Chemistry

Course summary

Chemistry at A-level can be divided into three areas: physical, inorganic and organic. Topics studied at GCSE such as bonding, rates of reaction and equilibrium are significantly expanded and new ones are introduced including arenes, buffers and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The development of practical skills is an integral part of the course and forms part of the final examinations. During Year 12, we take a team of chemists to the University of East Anglia for an analytical practical challenge. At the end of Year 12, students showing great promise are entered for the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge which is a demanding paper that takes students significantly beyond the A-level specification. Year 13 students have an opportunity to take part in the especially challenging but ultimately rewarding Chemistry Olympiad, which stretches the most able A-level candidates and enables them to really demonstrate their scientific flair. At the end of the course students sit three written papers consisting of multiple choice and short answer questions.