A-Level Chemistry

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A-Level Chemistry

• KES Chemistry Department
• 22nd November 2007

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Why study Chemistry at A-Level?

• For a chemistry related career
• As a pre-requisite for other careers
• e.g. Medicine, veterinary science,
  dentistry, pharmacy
• To compliment your other A-Level choices
• Because you enjoy it!

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Which A-Level Syllabus do we offer?

• From September 2008 all A-Level Courses will
  change to what are being called New Generation
  A-Level courses. The course being offered here at
  KES follows the AQA 2421 Syllabus.
• All New Generation A-Level courses in Chemistry
  are made up of 6 modules, the first three making
  up the AS Level and the last three making up the
  A2 level. The marks for all 6 modules are then
  aggregated together to make up the final grade.
  Different exam boards have slight variations in
  subject content for the 4 theory modules and in
  the method of assessing the 2 practical modules.
• All students will have 5 chemistry lessons each
  week with specialist chemistry teachers. One of
  these lessons will be a practical lesson.

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How is AS Chemistry assessed?

• AS Level Year 12
• Module 1 Foundation Chemistry
• 75min written exam 100 UMS marks (16.67 )
• Module 2 Chemistry in Action
• 105min written exam 140 UMS marks (23.33)
• Module 3 Investigative Practical Skills
• In lesson assessment (ISA) 60 UMS marks (10)

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How is A2 Chemistry Assessed?

• A2 Level Year 13
• Module 4 Kinetics, Equlibria Organic Chemistry
• 105min written exam 120 UMS marks (20)
• Module 5 Energetics, Redox Inorganic Chemistry
• 105min written exam 120 UMS marks (20)
• Module 6 Investigative Practical Skills
• In lesson assessment (ISA) 60 UMS marks (10)

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How is the final grade worked out?
All exam marks are reported as UMS (uniform mark
scale) marks. These marks are guaranteed across
different exam sessions and are not subject to
any final moderation. A Grade 480 UMS marks 80
average marks B Grade 420 UMS marks 70 average
marks C Grade 360 UMS marks 60 average
marks D Grade 300 UMS marks 50 average marks E
Grade 240 UMS marks 40 average marks U
Grade less then 240 UMS marks
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Exam Dates

• Module 1 January of Year 12
• Module 2 June of Year 12
• Module 3 In normal lessons during Year 12
• Module 4 January of Year 13
• Module 5 June of Year 13
• Module 6 In normal lessons during Year 13
• All written exams (Modules 1,2, 4 5) can be
  retaken, with the better mark counting

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Individual Skills Assessments (ISAs)

• ISAs are carried out in normal lessons. An ISA
  is an externally set skills paper which students
  sit after investigating a problem experimentally
  in the laboratory. They are then asked questions
  on data interpretation from their investigation
  and on their knowledge and usage of good
  scientific practice.
• During each year of the course students will
  carry out at least three ISAs. The best marks
  obtained at AS Level and at A2 Level will count
  towards the final total.
• ISAs count for 20 of final marks (10 AS ISA
  10 A2 ISA).

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Whats in a typical module?

• Module 1 - Foundation Chemistry
• Atomic Electronic Structure
• Mass Spectrometer
• Moles, Formulas Equations
• Solids, Liquids Gases
• Bonding the Shapes of Molecules
• Trends across the Periodic Table
• Introduction to Organic Chemistry

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What grades do I need?

• The KES 6th Form entry requirements (currently at
  least two Bs and 3Cs)
• B grades in GCSE Core Science GCSE Additional
  Science or a B grade in GCSE Chemistry
• Study of another science subject or Mathematics
  at A-Level is always helpful, but not essential
• The mathematical requirements of A-Level
  chemistry are similar to a C Grade at GCSE
  mathematics.

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What support do we give?

• We provide exam specific revision guides and text
  books for all students.
• We provide subject specialist teachers with
  extensive experience of successfully teaching
  A-Level Chemistry
• We provide individual tuition (where required)
  outside of normal lesson time.
• We provide out of hours revision classes as exams
  approach.

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A-Level Chemistry at KES

• Thank you for coming
• Thank you for listening
• Any questions?
• Good luck with your GCSE exams!
• We hope to see you studying chemistry next year!