Programme of Study & Syllabus

Read Icon.png Contents

Introduction

Chemistry

Course Aims

The Syllabus, Examinations and Assessment

Your Textbook and Resources

Practical Skills

The Structure of the Course

How Your Work is Assessed on the Course

The Transition from AS to A2 Level - Some Tips

Happy to Help

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Introduction Icon.png Introduction

Welcome to your Wolsey Hall Edexcel International A2 Level Chemistry course. Please take the time to read carefully through this page as it explains how the course is structured, how to get the most out from your studies and how your work will be assessed. At the end of this page, you will find details of the reading you will need to do from your textbook and also how each module links to the Edexcel syllabus and the final examinations.

This course will lead you step-by-step through the syllabus by way of video links, resources, assignments and, of course, the textbook, so that by the end, you will be confident and fully prepared for your final examinations.

Explore Icon.png Chemistry

‘Chemistry is necessarily an experimental science: its conclusions are drawn from data, and its principles supported by evidence from facts.’  Michael Faraday

Chemistry is everywhere; the world around us is filled with materials that have been discovered, developed and tested by chemists, such as medicines, foods, fuels, plastics, fertilisers and fabrics. An understanding of the subject can help you answer many questions about everyday life! Why are plants green? How does soap clean? What makes baked goods rise? Why do sauces thicken? Chemistry is also fun! Chemistry experiments can glow in the dark, change colour, produce bubbles, change state and go boom!

Chemistry is the study of matter and energy and how they interact under different conditions and in a variety of settings. This course covers the major topics in chemistry, including molar calculations, structure and bonding, energetics, rates, equilibria, group chemistry, transition metals and a range of organic chemistry; as well as associated experimental skills. As it is a science subject, you will learn how to be objective, analytical, methodical, process and in turn solve problems. You can apply these skills outside academia, and the study of chemistry can help you to understand current events including news about petrol, environmental issues, pollution, health and product scares and more.

Chemistry is often referred to as the 'central science' because it helps to connect other sciences to one other, such as Biology, Physics, Geology, Environmental Science, Medicine and Engineering. A Level chemistry is described as a 'facilitating' subject because it allows a wide range of options for degree study. There are many chemistry-related degrees available, including Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Polymer and Materials Chemistry. These degrees can in turn lead to a range of careers as varied as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, forensic chemistry, geochemistry, R & D management, chemical engineering, petroleum engineering, food development, perfumery and waste management.

Thinking Ahead Icon.png Course Aims

The aims of this course are to enable students to develop:  

  • Essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of the subject and how they relate to each other.
  • A deep appreciation of the skills, knowledge and understanding of scientific methods.
  • Competence and confidence in a variety of practical, mathematical and problem-solving skills.
  • Their interest in and enthusiasm for the subject, including developing an interest in further study and careers associated with the subject.

Exam Prep Icon.jpg The Syllabus, Examinations and Assessment

This Wolsey Hall course is designed to prepare you for the Edexcel International A2 Level Chemistry examinations which you will sit at an Edexcel exam centre. It is vitally important that you become familiar with the syllabus which can be found below:

Download READ - Syllabus 2020+ (Edexcel)

The examination code for International A2 Chemistry is: YCH11

In addition to Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 taken at AS level, to complete your A Level in Chemistry you will sit the following three papers:

  • Paper 4: Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry – This paper is worth 40% of your A2 grade and 20% of your overall A Level grade. Length: 1 hour and 45 minutes. This paper carries 90 marks in total and consists of Section A: multiple-choice questions, Section B: a mixture of short-open, open-response and calculation questions and Section C: a data or calculation question.
  • Paper 5: Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry – This paper is worth 40% of your A2 grade and 20% of your overall A Level grade. Length: 1 hour and 45 minutes. This paper carries 90 marks in total and consists of Section A: multiple choice questions, Section B: a mixture of short-open, open-response, calculations and extended-writing questions and Section C: a contemporary context question.
  • Paper 6: Practical Skills in Chemistry II – This paper is worth 20% of your A2 grade and 10% of your overall A Level grade. Length: 1 hour and 20 minutes. This paper carries 50 marks in total and may include short-open, open-response and calculation questions.

All components are externally assessed. The syllabus is examined in the January, June and October examination series.

N.B. The International Advanced Level consists of the three IAS units plus three IA2 units. This Programme of Study covers the A2 part of the course only.

Assessment Objectives

The assessment objectives (AOs) for International AS and A Level Chemistry are as follows:

  • AO1:
    • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of science.
  • AO2:
    • Application of knowledge and understanding of science in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
    • Analysis and evaluation of scientific information to make judgements and reach conclusions.
  • AO3:
    • Experimental skills in science, including analysis and evaluation of data and methods.

Read & Make Notes Icon.png Your Textbook and Resources

Wolsey Hall offers a unique model of offline and online resources to our homeschooling students – a model which we have developed based on our many years’ experience of providing homeschooling courses to students.

Textbook

Each subject specialist team carefully selects the best textbook for you to use as you study. The textbooks for the International A2 Chemistry course are:

Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Chemistry Student Book 2, by Cliff Curtis, Jason Murgatroyd and David Scott (Pearson, 2019); ISBN: 9781292244723

This textbook is used for the whole A2 course and it is referred to in the reading column of this POS as ‘Student Book 2’.

Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Chemistry Lab Book (Pearson Edexcel, 2018); ISBN: 9781292244716 (Also used for the AS Course)

This textbook will be used throughout the course for the practical aspect of all modules. It is referred to in the reading column of this POS as ‘Lab Book’.

Throughout the course, we recommend that you complete all of the questions and exercises in the textbook – the table below will highlight which pages you should read for each module. The answers to the questions (both ‘in-text’ and exam-style) can be downloaded from the module section of Canvas or downloaded from the Pearson ActiveLearn site.

These textbooks come with three years’ access to ActiveBook, an online, digital version of your textbook. Follow the instructions printed on the inside front cover to start using your ActiveBook. More details of this resource and how to use it can be found on pages viii to ix of your textbook.

Resources

In addition to your textbook, we have sourced a range of additional resources to support your learning. The resources are clearly marked out in the module pages and you should make use of these alongside your textbook to ensure that you get the very best out of your course. 

There are a lot of internet links. These are often associated with the practical experiments and will help you to understand these better. You will also find links to videos that tutor you through two whole exam papers. We recommend that you print off the relevant papers and work through them using the videos.

You will also find a range of key resources in the General Resources section of the course. These are items which relate to the course as a whole, rather than to specific modules, and as such, you should make regular use of them. For International A2 Level Chemistry, these include:

  • Student Practical Guide Chemistry (Edexcel)
  • Chemistry Data Booklet (Edexcel)
  • Periodic Table (Edexcel)
  • Glossary of Key Definitions (Pearson)
  • Command Words (Edexcel)
  • Mathematical Skills and Exemplifications (Edexcel)
  • Use of Calculators (Edexcel)
  • A Level Chemistry (INT) Student Mathematics Support (Edexcel)
  • Student Energetics Guide (Edexcel)
  • Textbook Answers (Pearson)
  • Textbook Errors (A Level Chemistry – International)
  • Sample Assessment Materials (Edexcel)
  • Exemplar work with Commentaries (Edexcel)
  • Essential Summary of Chemical Tests
  • Answers to Student Practical Guide Questions (Pearson)
  • Safety
  • Login Details for RSC Website
  • Useful Websites

You should also make use of the exam preparation material at the end of the course to help you to prepare for your final examination.

The A Level Assessment Model

At A2 Level, there are three examination papers. The papers will contain multiple choice questions, along with a variety of short and long response questions. Some of the questions may require more extended responses and require students to follow a line of reasoning to complete an answer. Across the three written papers, the total proportion of questions assessing mathematical skills will reach 20%, (see Appendix 6: Mathematical skills and exemplifications in the syllabus on Canvas).

The first two papers have a particular focus on certain topics from the syllabus, while paper 6 focuses on the practical skills learned across the whole A Level course. You will probably have to write a detailed method for an investigation, you may also have to draw a graph from provided results or conduct a statistical test. See the Practical Guide for Students in the General Resources section for more information on what to expect.

Paper 4: Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry (20% of total A Level) – 1 hour 45 minutes; 90 marks

  • Questions may be multiple choice, short-open, open-response, calculation or extended-writing questions.
  • This paper may contain synoptic questions which require knowledge and understanding from Papers 1 and 2.
  • Students will be expected to apply their knowledge and understanding of experimental methods in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
  • This paper will contain questions that require information from the Data Booklet.
  • The subjects assessed on paper 4 will be covered in Wolsey Hall modules 1 to 5.

Paper 5: Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes and Alcohols (20% of total A Level) – 1 hour 45 minutes; 90 marks

  • Questions may be multiple choice, short-open, open-response, calculation or extended-writing questions. There is also a contemporary context question.
  • This paper may contain synoptic questions which require knowledge and understanding from Papers 1, 2 and 4.
  • Students will be expected to apply their knowledge and understanding of experimental methods in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
  • The subjects assessed on paper 5 will be covered in Wolsey Hall modules 6 to 10.

Paper 6: Practical Skills in Chemistry II (10% of total A Level) – 1 hour 20 minutes; 50 marks

  • Questions in this paper may draw on any of the topics in the syllabus.
  • The paper will include synoptic questions that may draw on two or more different topics listed, from first or second year.
  • The paper will include questions that assess conceptual and theoretical understanding of experimental methods (indirect practical skills) that will draw on students’ experiences of the core practicals at any point in the course, not just the second year.
  • Students are expected to develop further the experimental skills and the knowledge and understanding of experimental techniques that they acquired in Units 1 and 2 by carrying out a range of practical experiments and investigations while they study Units 4 and 5.
  • This unit will assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the experimental procedures and techniques that were developed in Units 1, 2, 4 and 5.
  • Students will be expected to apply their knowledge and understanding of practical skills to familiar and unfamiliar situations.

Experiments Icon.png Practical Skills

To complete the full International A Level in Chemistry, you will be assessed on practical skills as well as memory and understanding of the science, via two written exams (one for AS, and one for A2 level). To achieve the best marks in these, you will need to build on practical skills learned at IGCSE, becoming confident practical chemists, and handling apparatus competently and safely.

In the course of your studies, you will be expected to develop a range of experimental and investigative skills. For distance learners however, there are considerable risks to health and safety presented by attempting to carry out unsupervised practical work at home and Wolsey Hall does NOT recommend this.

Questions within the written examination papers will aim to assess the knowledge and understanding that students gain while carrying out practical activities, within the context of the sixteen core practical activities. As it is not possible to perform these practical procedures in an unsupervised environment, this Programme of Study contains a wealth of virtual practical exercises that will help you understand the core practical exercises.

The virtual practical work is essential preparation for examination preparation. Most of the virtual practical exercises have videos associated with them. Take time to watch these, and with the help of your textbook, complete the student sheets. You can then check your answers and review the key learning points. This course also introduces a Chemistry Lab book which you can complete after you have finished the virtual practical work to consolidate your skills. Practical skills are examined in paper 6 of the A2 examination. Sample questions are embedded into the course and reinforced in the Chemistry Lab book.

While the content of the course is similar to that of the UK A Level, there are significant differences in the way that practical skills are assessed. If, for any reason, you find that you might be taking your exams in the UK rather than internationally, please inform Wolsey Hall as soon as possible so that we can prepare you for these changes.

Optional Activities Icon.png The Structure of the Course

All the files required for your course are uploaded onto our Learning Management System, Canvas. Once you have read through this page and downloaded the Programme of Study (POS) then you are ready to begin the course.

The course is divided into eleven modules: There are ten theory modules and one revision module. These modules will help you to get the most out of your textbook. Each module is subdivided into topics so that you can study the course in manageable chunks. Each topic is set out as follows:

  • Introduction – This section provides a brief synopsis of the topic and lists the learning objectives.
  • Reading – This section includes page references for the textbook.
  • Tasks – To be completed. These include reading, making notes, watching videos and completing activities.
  • Practical Knowledge – Use the Lab Book and Core Practicals to develop your understanding of practical techniques.
  • Top Tips – Handy tips to aid your understanding.
  • Key Terms – Keep track of new terminology by adding it to your glossary.
  • Consolidate – Here there are links to additional resources to supplement and increase your understanding of the topic.

Once you have completed all the topics in each module and are fully prepared and feel confident with the material, you should be able to complete your assignment and move on to the next module.

Worksheet Icon.png How Your Work is Assessed on the Course

Your progress will be assessed by completing an assignment at the end of each module. We recommend that you do NOT look at the assignments until you've studied all the topics in the module. This will ensure that you focus on everything you need to know for the exam. If you focus only on what you need to know to do well in the assignment, you will miss important elements in each module that you need to know and understand.

The assignments have been designed to help you prepare for your final examination – many of the questions are based on past exam papers. Answering exam-style questions is crucial in developing your exam technique, understanding exactly what the examiner is looking for in each case and ensuring you are confident when you tackle the real exams. We do not expect you to complete your assignments without referring to your notes or textbook, however, we encourage you to rely less on these as you progress through the course.  By your final assignment you should be able to work without reference to any additional notes.

The assignments allow you to think critically about what you have learned and will enable your tutor to see how well you are progressing. Your tutor will mark your assignments and provide you with detailed feedback. Once you have had your marked assignment returned, you will be able to access the mark scheme and/or a specimen answer (an A-grade piece of work). You should always reflect carefully on your tutor’s feedback and apply it in your future assignments.

You should read the assignment questions carefully and answer them to the best of your ability, providing relevant examples where necessary. If you don’t do well in your first assignment, don’t worry; your tutor is there to provide advice.

We ask that you do not submit multiple assignments at the same time. For you to see a steady improvement in your marks, it is very important that you reflect on your tutor’s feedback before beginning each new assignment, so that you can incorporate their tips for improvement into each new piece of work.

To get the best out of your course, before submitting each new assignment, you must:

  1. Complete all the reading, notes and activities in the preceding module;
  2. Read carefully through all of your tutor’s comments on your last assignment;
  3. Use the mark scheme and/or any exemplar or specimen answers provided to help you plan for the next assignment.

We cannot guarantee that tutors will be able to mark multiple assignments within the 3-5 working day window and your work may be returned to you to complete again in light of more recent feedback.

All assignments are submitted via Canvas – you should consult the Canvas Guide for more information.

Optional Mock Exam Service

At the end of the course, you will have the chance to use our Optional Mock Examination Service to complete a full set of AS Level Chemistry (International) exam papers. These must be completed under examination conditions and will be marked by your tutor. They provide a good opportunity for you to test your subject knowledge and exam technique so you are well prepared for the examinations.

Bridge Icon.png The Transition from AS to A2 Level - Some Tips   

There are a number of areas that often cause problems for students when answering various examination questions. These tips should help you avoid such problems and are essential to good examination technique.

  • Practise questions on past examination papers and check the corresponding mark schemes. These can be an invaluable learning and revision resource. However, don’t expect exactly the same questions to come up on your examination paper – be prepared to adapt your knowledge to suit the question.
  • Always read the question fully and carefully (at least twice!) before beginning your answer. A common mistake is for candidates to incorrectly transfer a number in the question, such as writing down 36 instead of 30.
  • Diagrams and sketch graphs can earn marks – often more easily and quickly than written explanations – but they will only earn marks if they are carefully drawn.
    • If asked to draw or sketch a graph, always ensure you use a sensible scale and label both axes with quantities and units.
    • If plotting a graph, use a pencil and draw small crosses or dots for the points.
    • Diagrams must always be neat, clear and fully labelled.
  • Using bullet points in written explanations can sometimes help you concentrate on the actual answer.
  • Each module of the A2 Chemistry specification consists of a series of learning outcomes – i.e. what you are supposed to know. These form the basis of what the examiner will ask you in the examination. Not surprisingly, it’s therefore essential that you are familiar with as many of these learning outcomes as possible before entering the examination room.
  • At A2, the exams are synoptic with a likely overlap with the respective AS unit. For example, the A2 organic chemistry modules always rely on an in-depth knowledge of AS organic chemistry.
  • Remember, scientific words have specific meanings and these meanings may differ to those used in everyday language – a particular language/format is used in chemistry so that chemists know exactly what is meant by other chemists when explaining certain concepts.
    • Formal definitions have to be used. Most of these were covered during the AS course, but key definitions are also found at A2.
    • Keep your glossary to hand, make revision cards as you go and learn definitions.

Calculations in Chemistry

Some skills acquired at AS will be used throughout A2 and a number of marks in an A2 Chemistry paper will be given over to calculations.

  • You will need to remember what is meant by empirical formula and molecular formula and how to calculate both of them from percentage by mass data.
  • The following relationships will feature throughout the A2 course:
    • The relationship between mol, mass and Molar mass, M, for all substances.

Key fact: 1 mol = M in grams

Although there are many ways to work out calculations involving these units, it’s a good idea to learn the equation for interconverting mol, mass and M, which is:

mass (g) = n (mol) × M (g mol–1)

Now you can rearrange the equation to find the term being asked for in the question.

    • The relationship between mol and 24 dm3 for gases.

Key fact: 1 mol of any gas = 24 dm3 (24 000 cm3) at room temperature and pressure

Learn the equation for interconverting mol, volume and 24 dm3, which is: 

volume (dm3) = n (mol) × 24 (dm3)    

volume (cm3) = n (mol) × 24 000 (cm3)

    • The relationship between mol and concentration for solutions.

Key fact: 1 mol dm–3 = 1 mol of substance dissolved in water to give 1000 cm3 of solution

Learn the equation for interconverting mol, concentration and volume of solution in dm3 which is:

n (mol) = concentration (mol dm–3) × volume of solution (dm3)

However, most volumes are given in cm3 which means the equation becomes:

LaTeX: n\left(mol\right)=concentration\left(mol\:dm^{-3}\right)\times\frac{volume\:of\:solution\left(cm^3\right)}{1000}n(mol)=concentration(moldm−3)×volumeofsolution(cm3)1000

  • The big difference between AS and A2 is that any calculations involving these relationships will be unstructured. In other words, the question will not be split into subsections that guide you towards a final answer. Rather, you will be given some basic information from which you will be expected to derive the required answer. However, the general approach is still the same.
    • Step 1: Work out how many moles of the first substance reacted. Do this using one of the three formulae above.
    • Step 2: Look at the balanced equation to see how many moles of the other substance reacted.
    • Step 3: Use one of the three formulae to calculate the mass/volume of gas/concentration of solution of the second substance.

You should be studying in the region of 10-12 hours a week to complete this course. Learn smart: create glossaries and revision cards for key definitions as you go.

There are many resources linked to this course. They have been checked carefully as there are also lots of resources available online which are unreliable, so it is better to ask your tutor for advice if you require help in a particular area.

You also need to remember that many of the skills taught during this course will take time and practice to embed. This is especially true of calculations. Keep going and ask for support if you need it.

Speaking.png Happy to Help

When you study a Wolsey Hall course, you are never alone. There are lots of people who are willing to help you. Everyone is on your side! 

  • Tutors: At Wolsey Hall, all our tutors are friendly and knowledgeable. They are subject experts and you should not be shy about asking them questions about your course. You will meet your tutor at the start of your course and you should contact them via Canvas messaging if you have any questions.
  • Student Progress Managers: You have already been assigned a Student Progress Manager who can help with your Assignment Schedule.
  • Exams Officers: Wolsey Hall’s Exams Officers are here to help students with any queries regarding exam centres.
  • Canvas Help Desk: Canvas is a great virtual learning environment, but we understand that sometimes, even the best things can go wrong! If you have any problems with Canvas (e.g. uploading assignments or unable to access resources) you should submit a Canvas Help Ticket.

For information about how to create and submit a Help Ticket, please refer to the Canvas Guide.

We hope you’ll enjoy your course and studying at Wolsey Hall. We wish you the best of luck in your studies and success in your examinations. Please do let us know how you get on when you receive your examination results!

The Wolsey Hall Team