Chemistry

Applications Open: - Friday 28th November 2025

Applications Close: - Friday 6 February 2026 - Please note - If you do not complete your application fully by the deadline of Friday 6 February 2026, we may not be able to consider it until August when GCSE results are published.

How to Apply:

Internal students - Applications to join our Sixth Form, via Applicaa, can be made via this link Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend (applicaa.com). PLEASE NOTE that you should use an e-mail address that you check regularly as the Applicca system will contact you with updates about your application.

External students - Year 11 Students from other schools applying to Mayfield Grammar School should apply via KentChoices using this link - https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login. Please note - After sending your application, you'll receive a welcome email from Applicaa asking for further information.

If you applied to us before the deadline but have not heard from us for a while please bear with us, we are working through the applications and will get back to you with our decision and advice as soon as we can. We will continue to send messages via Applicaa so please logon from time to time to check if we need some additional information from you

Applications After the deadline

Students who are interested in applying to Mayfield Grammar School for Sixth Form but have missed our application process can contact us once they have their GCSE results in August. After the publication of GCSE examinations results in August we ask that you make an appointment to discuss your application with the Sixth Form team. You need to call 01474 352896 or email admissions@mgsg.kent.sch.uk. Please check you have met our entry criteria for the subjects you want to study and read our Options Booklet under the Sixth Form tab on our website for our general entry criteria. If you meet our criteria, please get in touch, and bring your original documents for GCSE Results Summary and Birth Certificate as ID when you are offered an appointment.

Entry Requirements: -

Entry to the Sixth Form is dependent on demonstrating achievements which show general breadth of ability as well as depth in the specific courses chosen for study in the Sixth Form. For this reason you will need to have achieved all the following:

1. A minimum of 6 GCSEs at Grade 5 and above, preferably on the higher papers, in discrete subjects, with the exception of Combined Science, which counts as two subjects.

2. Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and GCSE Mathematics.

3. To have met the requirements of the individual subjects that you intend to study at A Level/Level 3, which are all, with the exception of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Languages, a minimum of Grade 6 at GCSE on the Higher papers. This is essential.

Essential skills

Many scientific skills are required to study Chemistry including data analysis, experimental work, collaborative work, problem solving, formula manipulation and calculations. You will also be required to work independently, make comprehensive notes and summaries and read around the subject thoroughly.

AQA Chemistry is split into the Physical, Inorganic and Organic disciplines. The AS qualification comprises 2 examination papers and the A Level qualification comprises 3 examination papers. Practical skills will be assessed throughout the course.

Year 1

This will involve a range of assessment type including multiple choice and structured questions covering both theory and practical skills. There will also be extended response questions covering all topics within the course. The chemical ideas involved include; atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibria, redox, periodicity, group 2, group 7, organic chemistry, alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols and organic analysis. The AS qualification consists of 2 examination papers.

Year 2

This will comprise 2 examination papers covering the whole of the Year 1 and year 2 course content as well as an extra synoptic examination paper. Key chemical ideas studied include; thermodynamics, rate equations, Kp, electrode potentials, acids and bases, period 3 elements, transition metals, reactions of ions in solution, optical isomerism, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids, aromatic chemistry, amines, polymers, amino acids, organic synthesis, NMR and chromatography.

The AS Level consists of 2 examination papers

The A Level consists of 3 examination papers

Practical skills will be assessed throughout the course.

Grade 7,7 in Combined Science or 7 in Chemistry

Students wishing to study 3 Sciences will need Grade 7 in all GCSE Sciences.

Students wishing to study 2 Sciences will need Grade 7 in both the chosen Sciences.

We strongly advise that students taking AL Science have at least a grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics.

University requirements

There are many Chemistry related degrees and qualifications but courses including medicine, dentistry and veterinary science will require this subject. Universities look for the highest grades if wanting to study these types of courses. To study Chemistry, the Russell group will typically require A*A*A, University of Cardiff requires AAB-BBC and University of Kent requires BBB, to give a range of examples.

Links to Further Education

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Links to Careers

Doctor/Nurse; Veterinarian; Dietician; Teacher; Occupational Therapist; Pharmacist; Crop or Fuel Management; Food Industry; Research Scientist; Forensic science; Architecture; Speech Therapist; Pharmaceutical Chemist