Chemistry A Level

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 2027 ENTRY

Entry Requirements - Please follow the link and download our Options Guide to view the entry requirements for Sixth Form and individual subjects https://www.queenelizabeths.kent.sch.uk/learning/sixth-form/thinking-about-joining-queen-elizabeths-grammar-school-for-sixth-form/

How to Apply:

Applications will open in November 2026.

Internals - Google Form - Speak to Mr Cowlam or Mrs Gossling

Externals - Through Kent Choices

https://www.queenelizabeths.kent.sch.uk/learning/sixth-form/applying-to-the-sixth-form/

DEADLINE: Gaining a place at our Sixth Form is incredibly competitive. To ensure we can follow the correct processes for making offers and gathering information appropriately, the deadline for all applications, internal and external, will be Friday 26th February 2027 at 15.00.

Following this deadline, external applicants that are considered to have met the requirements for a Conditional Offer will receive a notification via Kent Choices. You will also be invited to an Online Application Meeting in March 2027. This meeting will be a compulsory stage of the application process and will provide details of the next steps and what is required to gain a place in our Sixth Form for September 2027. Any applicants that do not attend the meeting will have their Conditional Offer withdrawn.

External applicants that attend the meeting will retain their Conditional Offer and gain access to the next stage of the application process.

Internal Applicants have an automatic conditional offer. Following the deadline, students will attend a 1-2-1 meeting to discuss your options. You will not be able to make any changes to your subject choices until the Option Blocks have been created around the end of Term 5.

What to include in your application:

You must select a minimum AND maximum of 5 subject choices:

Option A - 3 main subject choices* + an enhancement subject choice** + a reserve subject choice***

Option B - 4 main subject choices + a reserve subject choice

*a main subject choice is a full A Level subject e.g Mathematics/Geography/Physics/German etc

** an enhancement subject choice is either EPQ, Maths in Context or Trinity Acting Exams

***a reserve choice can be either a full A Level or another enhancement option

Pearson Edexcel Advanced GCE Level 3

2 Year Course

• Analytical and critical thinking
• Problem-solving and logical reasoning
• Laboratory proficiency and experimental design
• Data handling and IT skills
• Communication and teamwork
• Time management and organisation

• Physical Chemistry - This is considered the most numerical part of Chemistry, including topics such as kinetics, energetics and equilibrium.
• Organic Chemistry - The chemistry of carbon-containing compounds, including the ability to synthesise complex molecules by functional group interconversion and retrosynthesis.
• Inorganic Chemistry - The chemistry of the remaining elements of the periodic table, including a focus on specific groups, such as the alkaline earth metals and halogens, as well as the transition metals.

• Chemistry Club (a six week after school program learning new experimental techniques)
• Polymerisation and Lab Mix-Up workshops at the Community Lab, Pfizer.
• RSC Olympiad and the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge competitions.
• Participation in Race for Chemistry and the Schools Analyst competitions.
• IRIS projects focused on the use of ionic liquids in organic synthesis.
• Research and leadership opportunities in QUEST and STEM Club.

These extra-curricular activities make excellent additions to UCAS statements, helping our students' applications stand out in a very competitive arena.

There are 3 exam assessments for A Level Chemistry. You must also pass a core practical module.

You must achieve a grade 6 or better in Chemistry GCSE. If Combined Science has been studied then you must achieve a grade 76 or better.

Future Opportunities…

A-level Chemistry is essential for degrees such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering. It is also highly recommended for many other degree courses such as Biomedical Sciences, Forensic Science, Environmental Science and Accountancy.

Studying A-level Chemistry will provide you with skills and knowledge that are highly transferable and extremely valuable to prospective employers, such as data analysis, problem-solving capability and a strong attention to detail.