Reviews

11+ Chemistry - Sample Papers, Questions and Answers

GCSE Revision Course Top Advert

GCSE Chemistry

Chemistry is a part of science and deals in the examination of matter – its composition, properties and behaviours – and of Earth’s elements and the atmosphere of the Earth. Chemistry is sometimes referred to as a Central Science because it explains aspects of other branches of science. For example forensics, which is the examination of evidence at crime scenes, uses Chemistry to identify various chemical data present at the crime scene.

Table of contents

  1. GCSE Chemistry
  2. AQA GCSE Chemistry Syllabus
  3. CCEA GCSE Chemistry Syllabus
  4. Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Syllabus
  5. Eduqas GCSE Chemistry Syllabus
  6. OCR 21st Century GCSE Chemistry Syllabus
  7. OCR Gateway Syllabus
  8. WJEC Syllabus
  9. Methods to Prepare for GCSE Chemistry

The GCSE Chemistry exam is conducted by various bodies, each of which has its own syllabus. These syllabi vary only slightly from each other and generally cover the same chemistry GCSE topics. These bodies are:

  • AQA
  • CCEA
  • Edexcel
  • Eduqas
  • OCR
  • WJEC

We shall examine the gcse chemistry syllabus of each of these bodies pertaining to Chemistry.

AQA GCSE Chemistry Syllabus

AQA is an independent education charity that conducts various exams, including GCSE. It also offers research programs and training for teachers. The qualifications it awards are widely respected across the world. AQA conducts and marks over half of the GCSEs and A-Level exams in the UK.

The syllabus for GCSE Chemistry under AQA is:

TopicsSub-topics
Atomic structure and the periodic tableAtoms, elements and compounds, Mixtures, Atomic structure, The periodic table, Groups in the periodic table, and Transition metals
Bonding, structure and the properties of matterThe three states of matter, Ionic compounds, Small molecules, Giant covalent molecules, Metals and alloys, and Nanoscience
Quantitative chemistryCalculations in chemistry, Calculations in chemistry (Higher), Atom economy, percentage yield, and gas calculations
Chemical changesReactions of metals, Acids, alkalis and salts, Titrations, and Electrolysis
Energy changesExothermic and endothermic reactions and Chemical cells
The rate and extent of chemical changeRates of reaction, Reversible reactions 
Organic chemistryCrude oil, hydrocarbons, and alkanes
Chemical analysisAnalysing and identifying substances, Analysing substances
Chemistry of the atmosphereDeveloping the atmosphere and Polluting the atmosphere
Using resourcesSustainable development, Water, Ways of reducing the use of resources, Using materials, and Fertilisers
Practical skillsPlanning, Data collection, and Data analysis and evaluation

CCEA GCSE Chemistry Syllabus

CCEA stands for Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment. A non-departmental public body (NDPB), It is funded by and answers to the Department of Education (DE).

CCEA was established on 1 April 1994 under the Educational and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1993. 

The syllabus for GCSE Chemistry under CCEA is:

TopicsSub-topics
Structures, trends, chemical reactions, quantitative chemistry and analysisAtomic structure, Bonding, StructuresNanoparticles, Symbols, formulae and equations, The Periodic Table, Quantitative chemistry, Acids, bases and salts, Chemical analysis, and Solubility
Further chemical reactions, rates and equilibrium, calculations and organic chemistryMetals and reactivity series, Redox, rusting and iron, Rates of reaction, Reversible reactions, Organic chemistry Quantitative chemistry, ElectrochemistryEnergy changes in chemistry, and Gas chemistry 
PracticalsDetermine the mass of water in hydrated crystals, Investigate the reactions of acids, Investigate the preparation of soluble salts, Identify the ions in an ionic compound, Investigate the reactivity of metals, Investigate the rate of reaction, Investigate the reactions of carboxylic acids, Titration, and Investigate the reaction of gases

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Syllabus

Pearson Edexcel GCSE syllabus for chemistry is:

TopicsSub-topics
Key concepts in chemistryFormulae and equations, Hazards and risks, Atomic structure, The periodic table Ionic compounds, Simple molecular substances, Giant covalent substancesMetals and non-metals, Calculations for all students, and Higher tier only calculations
States of matter and mixturesStates of matter, Separation and purification 
Chemical changesAcids and alkalis, Salts, and Electrolysis
Extracting metals and equilibriaObtaining and using metals, Reversible reactions and equilibria
Separate chemistry 1Transition metals, alloys and corrosion, Chemical calculations, More chemical calculations – Higher, Fertilisers, Industrial processes – Higher, Chemical cells, and fuel cells
Groups in the Chemistry periodic tableGroup 1 – the alkali metals Group 7 – the halogens Group 0 – the noble gases
Rates of reaction and energy changesRates of reaction, Heat energy changes in chemical reactions
Separate chemistry 2Tests for ions, Hydrocarbons, Polymers, Alcohols and carboxylic acids, Nanoparticles, and Bulk materials
Practicals

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry past papers are also available online to help students practice better for the Edexcel chemistry GCSE exam.

Eduqas GCSE Chemistry Syllabus

Eduqas is one the largest providers of qualifications for schools, academies, sixth form and further education colleges across England.

The Eduqas syllabus for chemistry under GCSE is:

TopicsSub-topics
Pure substances and mixturesElements, compounds and mixtures, Separating mixtures
Particles and atomic structureStates of matter, Atomic structure, and The periodic table
Chemical formulae, equations and amount of substanceFormulae and equations, Chemical calculations
The periodic table and properties of elementsGroup 1 – The alkali metals Group 7 – The halogens Group 0 – The noble gases Metals and non-metals Transition metals and corrosion Tests for ions
Bonding, structure and propertiesIonic compounds, Simple covalent substances, Metallic structure and bonding Carbon, and Nanoparticles
Reactivity series and extraction of metalsReactivity series, Extracting and using metals, and Electrolysis
Chemistry of acidsAcids and bases, Making salts, Acids, bases and salts – Higher, and More about titrations – Higher
Energy changes in chemistryEnergy changes in reactions, Chemical cells and fuel cells
Rate of chemical change and dynamic equilibriumRate of reaction and Reversible reactions
Carbon compoundsCrude oil and Organic chemistry
Production, use and disposal of important chemicals and materialsUse and re-use, Fertilisers, Chemical calculations, Corrosion and corrosion prevention, Materials and their uses
The Earth and its atmosphereForming the atmosphere Polluting the atmosphere
Practicals

OCR 21st Century Chemistry Syllabus

OCR is a leading UK educational qualification awarding body. OCR – Oxford, Cambridge and RSA – provides qualifications in A-Level and GCSE in over forty subjects.

OCR has two levels of testing in Chemistry for GCSE; OCR 21st Century and OCR Gateway. OCR chemistry GCSE past papers are also available online for you to prepare well.

The syllabus for OCR 21st Century is as follows:

TopicsSub-topics
Air and waterFormulae and equations How has the Earth's atmosphere changed over time? Why are there energy changes in chemical reactions? Chemical cells What is the evidence for climate change? How can scientists help improve the supply of potable water?
Chemical patternsHow have our ideas about atoms changed over time? What does the periodic table tell us about the elements? How do metals and non-metals combine to form compounds? How are equations used to represent chemical reactions? What are the properties of the transition metals? 
Chemicals of the natural environmentHow are the atoms held together in a metal? How are metals with different reactivities extracted? What are electrolytes and what happens in electrolysis? Covalent bonds Why is crude oil important as a source of new materials? Organic chemistry 
Material choicesHow is data used to choose a material for a particular use? What are alloys and different types of polymers? How do bonding and structure affect properties of materials? Why are nanoparticles so useful? Corrosion What happens to products at the end of their useful life?
Chemical analysisHow are chemicals separated and tested for purity? How do chemists find the composition of unknown samples? How are the amounts of substances in reactions calculated? Calculating yields How are the amounts of chemicals in solution measured? 
Making useful chemicalsWhat useful products can be made from acids? How do chemists control the rate of reactions? What factors affect the yield of chemical reactions? How are chemicals made on an industrial scale?
Ideas about scienceWhat needs to be considered when investigating a phenomenon? What processes are needed to draw conclusions from data? How are scientific explanations developed? How do science and technology impact society? 
Practicals

OCR Gateway Syllabus

TopicsSub-topics
ParticlesThe particle model and Atomic structure
Elements, compounds and mixturesPurity and separating mixtures, The periodic table, Bonding, Properties of materials, and Nanoparticles 
Chemical reactionsIntroducing chemical reactions, Avogadro constant and moles, Energetics, Types of chemical reactions, and Electrolysis
Predicting and identifying reactions and productsPredicting chemical reactions and Identifying products
Monitoring and controlling chemical reactionsMonitoring chemical reactions, Controlling chemical reactions, and Equilibria
Global challengesImproving processes and products, Making fertiliser, Metals and corrosion, and Materials for different uses
Organic chemistryFuels, Organic compounds, Polymers, Chemical cells and fuel cells 
Interpreting and reacting with Earth systemsThe atmosphere
Practicals

WJEC Syllabus

WJEC – Welsh Joint Education Committee – is a leading awarding organisation providing assessment, training and educational resources in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and other places.

WJEC Syllabus for Chemistry is as follows: 

  • Unit 1
    • The nature of substances and chemical reactions
    • Atomic structure and the periodic table
    • Water
    • The ever changing world
    • Rate of chemical change
    • Limestone
  • Unit 2
    • Bonding, structure and properties
    • Acids, bases and salts
    • Metals and their extraction
    • Chemical reactions and energy
    • Crude oil, fuels and organic chemistry
    • Reversible reactions, industrial processes and important chemicals

Methods to Prepare for GCSE Chemistry

As you can see above, the GCSE Chemistry syllabus is quite detailed and exhaustive. Therefore, it is a good idea to begin preparing for the exam well in advance to be able to understand gcse chemistry questions.

The first item on your preparation agenda, of course, is to decide which awarding body’s examination you will take. While all the bodies cover mainly the same topics, each has a slightly different angle in the approach to the topics. Therefore, it is a good idea to first pick an awarding body and then prepare yourself according to the chemistry gcse specifications of that body.

Fortunately, there are sample question papers and even solutions available for most of the tests. These are invaluable in helping you prepare for the GCSE Exam. Some online resources like GCSE chemistry notes and GCSE chemistry books along with video tutorials are there to help you prepare for the test. It is a good idea to explore these videos to help you study the curriculum well and for gcse chemistry revision.

Practice is absolutely essential in preparing for the exam. Set aside a certain time every day to practise, using the freely available sample papers online. Always set a timer so that you get used to pacing yourself in the test. Some online resources include hints as to how the examiners award marks in the tests. Use these to school yourself into writing the answers in a manner that will get you awarded the maximum marks for your effort.

A good way to approach the preparation for the test is to use what is known as the Fire – Aim – Fire technique. This means you can first try answering a sample paper without any preparation. The exercise will give you a good idea of where you lack in terms of technique to approach GCSE chemistry equations and knowledge. You can then brush up on the topics on which you failed to answer the questions adequately, as well as practise pacing yourself in case you found yourself unable to complete the paper in the allotted time.

So practise, practise, practise. Let the practice sessions reveal the topics and techniques where you need to brush up and you will certainly be able to face the GCSE Chemistry exam with confidence!

FAQs

Exit Intent Popup BG
EXTRA
30
%
OFF
ON YOUR FIRST ORDER
GET DISCOUNT CODE IN YOUR EMAIL
Exit Intent Popup form (#42)
PiAcademy Exit popupo logo
ARE YOU STRESSED?
GET THE 11PLUS EXAM SUCCESS PLANNER!
Download 11+ Exam Planners designed by
11+ Examiners, 95% Success Rate
Exit Intent Popup Diagnostic Form
11 Plus Exam Planner New Image 02
PiAcademy Haloween Sale

© 2014 - 2024 PiAcademy Limited, All Rights Reserved

crossmenu
>
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram