A LEVEL
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of change, discovering how substances interact to create the world around us.
In our labs, you’ll explore how Chemistry connects everything, from atoms and energy, to innovation and discovery.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
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Why Choose Chemistry at St Paul’s?
Our Chemistry department combines expert teaching with a supportive atmosphere where every student can thrive.
- Smaller class sizes mean more tailored attention and personalised support.
- Passionate, specialist teachers bring Chemistry to life through practical experiments and real-world applications that spark curiosity.
- A community that knows and values every student, ensuring no one is left behind as you explore the science of matter and change.
- A subject that opens doors to future study and careers in medicine, engineering, environmental science, and beyond.
- A place where you can grow in confidence, think critically, and take pride in your discoveries.
Where Chemistry Can Take You
Our Chemistry students go on to study medicine, materials science, environmental chemistry, and related fields at leading universities, or begin apprenticeships where their curiosity and problem-solving abilities set them apart.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
What You’ll Study
You’ll explore the science of change: how atoms and molecules interact, combine, and transform to shape the world around us.
Through theory and hands-on practical work, you’ll develop the curiosity, precision, and problem-solving skills that Chemistry inspires.
In Chemistry, you’ll build depth and understanding across three key areas:
- Physical Chemistry: atomic structure, bonding, energetics, kinetics, equilibria, redox reactions, thermodynamics, and electrochemical cells.
- Inorganic Chemistry: periodicity, Group 2 and Group 7 trends, transition metals, and reactions of ions in solution.
- Organic Chemistry: hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, polymers, amino acids, and analytical techniques like NMR and chromatography.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
Full details of the course can be found in the exam board’s official AQA specification.
You’ll refine your experimental technique, deepen your analytical thinking, and strengthen your ability to solve problems. These are valuable skills that open doors to a wide range of degrees and careers, from medicine to materials science.
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Chemistry Exam Results
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PASS RATE
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achieved
A* to C
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achieved
A* to B
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achieved
A* to A
Entry Requirements
In addition to our standard entry requirements, a number of our courses have specific entry requirements to ensure you are ready to thrive in the subject. For Chemistry, you’ll need:
- Grade 6+ in two sciences including Chemistry
- Grade 6+ in Mathematics
These requirements are in place to help set you up for success and make sure you have the right foundation to enjoy the challenge of Sixth Form study.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
Hear From Our Students
Maths at St Paul’s really boosted my confidence. The teachers never let you struggle alone, they always explained things in different ways until it clicked. Because of that support, I achieved more than I thought I could and now I’m planning to study Engineering at university. It’s opened so many doors for me.
In lower school the larger class size made me rarely feel like I was fully challenged to improve my mathematical abilities. However, the small classes at A-Level in St Paul’s has boosted my confidence a lot, as the teachers get to know you well and are always there to support you. Maths is also a great asset to have for university applications.
Maths is an awesome subject. I enjoy the challenging aspect of problem solving and greatly appreciate the support that the Maths department at St Paul’s is always happy and ready to give.
Chemistry at St Paul’s showed me how curiosity and perseverance lead to discovery. My teachers believed in me and helped me achieve more than I imagined.
Dr M Tickner
SUBJECT LEADER FOR SCIENCES
Thank you so much for your interest in Chemistry at A Level. We have a fabulous team of energetic and enthusiastic specialists at St Paul’s ready to support you on your journey. Â
Should you have any questions at all about studying Chemistry at A Level, or the possible career paths beyond College, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Send me a message
We’d love to hear from you, whether you want to talk about subject choices, entry requirements, or your future career ideas.
Are you ready to uncover the secrets of matter, explore the building blocks of life, and understand the science that shapes our world?
Start your Maths journey at St Paul’s.
Whatever course you choose, you’ll be joining a community where every student is known and loved. Our mission is not just to help you succeed academically, but to help you grow as a person, supported and celebrated every step of the way.
ChemistryCourse Content
Through a combination of theory and practical experimentation, students will learn the fundamental principles of physical, inorganic and organic chemistry.Â
Physical Chemistry
- Atomic structure
- Amount of substance
- Bonding
- Energetics
- Kinetics
- Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc
- Oxidation, reduction and redox equations
- Thermodynamics
- Rate equations
- Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems
- Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells
- Acids and bases
- Periodicity
- Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
- Group 7(17), the halogens
- Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides (A-level only)
- Transition metals (A-level only)
- Reactions of ions in aqueous solution (A-level only)
Organic Chemistry
- Introduction to organic chemistry
- Alkanes
- Halogenoalkanes
- Alkenes
- Alcohols
- Organic analysis
- 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
| PAPER 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CONTENT |
Inorganic chemistry, plus relevant physical chemistry topics and practical skills |
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WEIGHT |
35% (105 Marks) |
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LENGTH |
2 Hours |
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Paper 1 comprises of a mixture of short and long answer questions.Â
| PAPER 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
CONTENT |
Organic chemistry, plus relevant physical chemistry topics and practical skills |
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WEIGHT |
35% (105 Marks) |
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LENGTH |
2 Hours |
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Paper 2 comprises of a mixture of short and long answer questions.Â
| PAPER 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CONTENT |
Any content and any practical skill from the course |
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WEIGHT |
30% (90 Marks) |
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LENGTH |
2 Hours |
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Paper 3 comprises of the following question types:
- Questions on practical techniques and data analysis (40 marks)
- Testing across the specification (20 marks)
- Multiple choice questions (30 marks)
