What is in Higher Chemistry: the course content

Higher Chemistry has four areas. The question paper is 100 marks in 2 hours 30 minutes, with a data booklet: 20 multiple-choice questions in Section 1 and 80 marks of restricted and extended response questions in Section 2. An assignment done in school makes up the rest of the award.

Weeks before the question paper

Hours a week for chemistry

Area 1: Chemical changes and structure

Area 2: Nature's chemistry

Area 3: Chemistry in society

Area 4: Researching chemistry

26 weeks, 104 hours in all

Start with Area 2

Nature's chemistry: 33.6 of your hours. It is 7 of the 20 questions on our Section 1 practice papers, 35%.

Hours per area
Area	Your hours	Share of the papers
Area 2: Nature's chemistry	33.6	35%
Area 3: Chemistry in society	33.6	35%
Area 1: Chemical changes and structure	19.2	20%
Area 4: Researching chemistry	9.6	10%

Week by week

Week 1Area 2: Nature's chemistry
Week 2Area 2: Nature's chemistry
Week 3Area 2: Nature's chemistry
Week 4Area 2: Nature's chemistry
Week 5Area 2: Nature's chemistry
Week 6Area 2: Nature's chemistry
Week 7Area 2: Nature's chemistry
Week 8Area 2: Nature's chemistry
Week 9Area 2: Nature's chemistry, Area 3: Chemistry in society
Week 10Area 3: Chemistry in society
Week 11Area 3: Chemistry in society
Week 12Area 3: Chemistry in society
Week 13Area 3: Chemistry in society
Week 14Area 3: Chemistry in society
Week 15Area 3: Chemistry in society
Week 16Area 3: Chemistry in society
Week 17Area 3: Chemistry in society, Area 1: Chemical changes and structure
Week 18Area 1: Chemical changes and structure
Week 19Area 1: Chemical changes and structure
Week 20Area 1: Chemical changes and structure
Week 21Area 1: Chemical changes and structure
Week 22Area 1: Chemical changes and structure, Area 4: Researching chemistry
Week 23Area 4: Researching chemistry
Week 24Area 4: Researching chemistry
Week 25A timed Section 1 practice paper and two Section 2 questions, then review every lost mark
Week 26A timed Section 1 practice paper and two Section 2 questions, then review every lost mark

Check your areas with the free test

Question paper	100 marks in 2 hours 30 minutes, 80% of the award
Section 1	20 multiple-choice questions, 20 marks
Section 2	Restricted and extended response, 80 marks
Assignment	20 marks scaled to 25, 20% of the award, done in school

The four areas

1 Chemical changes and structure: periodicity, types of chemical bond, intermolecular forces, and oxidising and reducing agents.
2 Nature's chemistry: systematic carbon chemistry, alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, fats and oils, soaps, detergents and emulsions, proteins, the oxidation of food, fragrances and skin care.
3 Chemistry in society: getting the most from reactants, controlling the rate, chemical energy, equilibria and chemical analysis.
4 Researching chemistry: common chemical apparatus, general practical techniques and reporting experimental work.

How the question paper is set out

Section 1 is an objective test: 20 multiple-choice questions, one mark each. Section 2 is worth 80 marks: restricted and extended response questions from across the course, including two open-ended questions worth 3 marks each. A data booklet is provided, and the paper is worth 80% of the award.

The assignment

The assignment is your own experimental research and a report on it, done in school. It is worth 20 marks, scaled to 25, and makes up 20% of the award. This course describes it but does not practise or mark it: your teacher guides you through it.

Try 2 questions

Question 1

What holds two atoms together in a covalent bond?

Question 2

The graph shows the equilibrium yield of the product of a gas reaction at different temperatures, at a lower and at a higher pressure. Which reaction could the graph be for?

Next step

Take the free test Take the course tour

Questions people ask

How many marks is the Higher Chemistry question paper?

100 marks in 2 hours 30 minutes: 20 for the Section 1 multiple-choice questions and 80 for Section 2. It is worth 80% of the award.

Is there coursework in Higher Chemistry?

Yes, the assignment: your own experimental research and report, done in school, 20 marks scaled to 25 (20% of the award). This course prepares you for the question paper only.

Is a data booklet provided?

Yes. A data booklet is provided in the question paper. Practice questions here give any data they need in the question.