Chemistry A Level

Applications Open: 12th December 2025

Applications Close: 30th January 2026

Entry Requirements: Grade requirements: A minimum of 48 points from your best 8 GCSE grades with no less than a Grade 5 in all subjects taken. Certain subjects have additional specific entry requirements. Information on these can be found in the online prospectus.

How to apply: Applications should be made directly to the School via Applicaa which will be available from the Sixth Form area of the School's website.

https://twgsb.org.uk/sixth-form/sixth-form-admissions/applying-to-twgsb6

Please DO NOT apply via Kent Choices.

Year 12 Physical chemistry: Including atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibria and Le Chatelier’s principle. Inorganic chemistry: Including periodicity, Group 2 the alkaline earth metals, Group 7(17) the halogens. Organic chemistry: Including introduction to organic chemistry, alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols, organic analysis.

Year 13 Physical chemistry: Including thermodynamics, rate equations, the equilibrium constant Kp, electrode potentials and electrochemical cells. Inorganic chemistry: Including properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides, transition metals, reactions of ions in aqueous solution. Organic chemistry: Including optical isomerism, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and derivatives, aromatic chemistry, amines, polymers, amino acids, proteins and DNA, organic synthesis, NMR spectroscopy, chromatography.

Practicals: Chemistry, like all sciences, is a practical subject. Throughout the course you will carry out practical activities including: measuring energy changes in chemical reactions, tests for identifying different types of compound, different methods for measuring rates of reaction, studying electrochemical cells, preparation of organic solids and liquids, thin layer chromatography.

Exams: There is no coursework on this course. However, your performance during practicals will be assessed. There are three exams at the end of the two years for A-level, all of which are two hours long. At least 15% of the marks for A-level Chemistry are based on what you learned in your practicals.

The GCSE course will have given students an excellent idea of enormous contribution chemists have made to our modern way of life. At A Level, students will gain understanding of why chemical reactions take place at the atomic level, gain confidence in problem solving, and also develop excellent three dimensional thinking skills. There is also an increased role for mathematical reasoning skills. The practical work contributes to the award of a practical endorsement in addition to the A-level qualification.

Year 12

Physical chemistry topics: Atomic structure, Amount of substance, Bonding, Energetics, Kinetics, Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc, Oxidation, reduction and redox equations.

Inorganic chemistry topics: Periodicity, Group 2, the alkaline earth metals, Group 7(17), the halogens

Organic chemistry topics: Introduction to organic chemistry, Alkanes, Halogenoalkanes, Alkenes, Alcohols, Organic analysis.

Year 13

Physical chemistry topics: Thermodynamics, Rate equations, Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems, Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells, Acids, bases and pH.

Inorganic chemistry topics: Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides Transition metals, Reactions of ions in aqueous solution.

Organic chemistry topics: Optical isomerism, Aldehydes and ketones, Carboxylic acids and derivatives, Aromatic chemistry, Amines, Polymers, Amino acids, proteins and DNA, Organic synthesis, Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Chromatography.

Assessment is via a series of topic tests which are based upon past A-level questions, and successful completion of a range of required practical investigations which are used to validate the practical endorsement. A formal exam is taken towards the end of Year 12 which is used to inform your progress and provides a basis for giving predicted grades that will be important in applying for university courses. Mock Exams are sat in the spring term of Year 13.

GCSE Chemistry grade 6 (or Dual Science 66)

• Chemistry is a widely required and highly regarded “enabling” subject that will help students gain entry to many careers. It is a requirement for many very competitive degree courses where sound scientific skills are required such as Medicine, Chemistry and Engineering.
• The department has staff trained and accredited to award the Endorsement for Practical Skills in addition to the A-level course.
• We are active in promoting scientific careers amongst our students through taking part in external events such as the Royal Society of Chemistry Science at Work event