A Level Chemistry

Applications Open: - 3rd November 2025

Applications Close: - 31st March 2026

Entry Requirements: - Our Sixth Form entry requirements are five GCSEs at Grade 4 and above for the 'A' Level Pathway (in addition to some individual subject entry requirements) and 4 GCSEs at Grade 4 and above for the Vocational (BTEC) Pathway. The course information gives specific details of course content and entry requirements. Please also refer to the Sixth Form Prospectus for the specific entry requirements for the chosen subjects.

Students need to select the equivalent of 3 A Levels or more. (Triple BTEC counts as 3, Double BTEC counts as 2). Subjects are grouped into option blocks, please be aware that not all combinations are possible.

In addition to academic requirements stated above a place will be dependent on the receipt of a satisfactory school reference.

How to Apply: - Please apply via Kent Choices if you area a student from another school.

Please visit our website www.stanselmscanterbury.org.uk for more information.

Chemistry will help you get ahead in most STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) careers and more besides. It also helps you to develop research, problem solving and analytical skills, as well as helping you to challenge ideas and show how you worked things out through logic and step-by-step reasoning. It often requires teamwork and communication skills too, which is also great for project management.

Why study A-Level Chemistry?

Chemistry is an important subject for careers in: medicine, environmental science, engineering, toxicology,
developing consumer products, metallurgy (studying how metals behave), space exploration, developing perfumes and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, energy, teaching, science writing, software development and research.

Moreover, Chemistry has been named as a “facilitating subject” by the Russell Group of universities. These are the subjects most commonly required or preferred by universities to get on to a range of degree courses. They can help students keep their options open when choosing a degree and many of the top universities will ask you to have at least one A-level in a facilitating subject when you apply.

Module 1: Development of practical skills in Chemistry

- Practical skills assessed in a written examination
- Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

Module 2: Foundations in chemistry

- Atoms, compounds, molecules and equations
- Amount of substance
- Acid-base and redox reactions
- Electrons, bonding and structure

Module 3: Periodic table and energy

- The periodic table and periodicity
- Group 2 and the halogens
- Qualitative analysis
- Enthalpy changes
- Reaction rates and equilibrium (qualitative)

Module 4: Core Organic Chemistry

- Basic concepts
- Hydrocarbons
- Alcohols and haloalkanes
- Organic synthesis
- Analytical techniques (IR and MS)

Module 5: Physical Chemistry and transition elements

- Reaction rates and equilibrium (quantitative)
- PH and buffers
- Enthalpy, entropy and free energy
- Redox and electrode potentials
- Transition elements

Module 6: Organic Chemistry & analysis

- Aromatic compounds
- Carbonyl compounds
- Carboxylic acids and esters
- Nitrogen compounds
- Polymers
- Organic synthesis
- Chromatography and spectroscopy

Paper 1: Periodic table, elements and physical Chemistry (2 hrs 15 mins, 100 marks, 37%) - Section A (Multiple choice, 15 marks) - Section B ( Structured questions and extended response questions covering theory and practical skills, 85 marks)

Paper 2: Synthesis and analytcal techniques (2 hrs 15 mins, 100 marks, 37%) - Section A (Multiple choice, 15 marks) - Section B ( Structured questions and extended response questions covering theory and practical skills, 85 marks)

Paper 3: Unified Chemistry (1 hr 30 mins, 70 marks, 26%) ( Structured questions and extended response questions covering theory and practical skills)

Non- exam Endorsement - Practical Endorsement for Chemistry - reported separately

Five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including Grade 5 or above in GCSE Chemistry Higher paper or Grade 5,5 in Combined Science Higher paper at GCSE. Maths GCSE at Grade 5. * Students taking more than one Maths or Science subject will require 5 GCSE’s at grade 5 or above, including English and Mathematics.

Please note that Core Maths (1 year course) would be a beneficial addition to this subject (where Mathematics A Level is not studied) as it will aid the mathematical elements of the course.

Medicine, pharmacology, veterinary medicine, flavour technology, drug research and development, environmental agencies, product design and many more.