Cambridge International A and AS Level Chemistry (9701) is an excellent opportunity for students to develop skills and attitudes central to scientific thinking. Cambridge International strongly emphasizes practical as a fundamental component of science education with formal assessments improving the classroom outcome.
Are you a candidate for A Level Chemistry or planning to enroll? Are you a science enthusiast trying to put together theory and practice? Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry is ideal for learners like you, who want to study Chemistry or a related subject at university.
A Level is the time when students are still figuring out their interests, what they are good at, and which career they are likely to follow. So, all the on-hands action you get in a practical assessment encourages you to explore your natural inclination and interests. Let’s begin by taking a look at the syllabus for A Level Chemistry practical paper.
Chemistry A Level practical syllabus 2022-2024:
Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry practical workbook and handbook contain the content students will be tested on:
- Masses, moles and atoms
- Structure and bonding
- Enthalpy changes
- Redox reactions
- Chemical equilibrium
- Rates of reaction
- The properties of metals
- The properties of nonmetals
- Hydrocarbons and halogenoalkanes
- Organic compounds containing oxygen
- More about enthalpy changes
- Electrochemistry
- Further aspects of equilibria
- Reaction kinetics
- Transition elements
- More about organic chemistry
- Identifying organic compounds.
What is the purpose of Chemistry practical?
Chemistry practical assessment gives you the required skills for university studies and helps you decide a career pathway. Also, evidence based studies show that a good practical science contains all ingredients to a good learning of science in general.
Hands-on experiments add value to your attitude as a learner. Practicals aren’t just another way to learn, rather they give you the most essential skills to be a scientific thinker, suggests the study done across six countries that included expert teachers, professional scientists, and most importantly, students.
Chemistry practical will also reinforce your learning of the theoretical subject content of the syllabus, that you have to learn for paper 1, 2, and 4. Practical assessment will develop a relationship between experimentation and theory in scientific method
Good teachers and practical learning are the reasons why students enjoy studying Chemistry.
In addition to this, we cannot underestimate the importance of social and emotional skills we build while collaborating in small teams.
Looking for more inspiration? Cambridge is the birthplace of scientific discoveries such as the laws of gravity, the electron and the structure of DNA. The practical aspect of Chemistry has always impacted the world and will do so in the times to come.
Which of these reasons is the most important to you?
A Level Chemistry practical assessment:
You will take 5 papers in Chemistry A Level. Paper 3 and 5 will test your experimental skills and investigations. Here is a break down of objectives of each assessment and weightage in components:
| Assessment objectives | Weightage in components % | ||||
| Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 3 | Paper 4 | Paper 5 | |
| Knowledge and understanding | 50 | 50 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| Handling, applying and evaluating information | 50 | 50 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| Experimental skills and investigations | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 100 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
A Level Chemistry assessment overview:
| Paper 3 | Paper 5 | |
| Exam will test | Advanced practical skills | Planning analysis and evaluation |
| Time allotted | 2 hours | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Total marks | 40 marks | 30 marks |
| Number of questions | 2-3 | 2 or more |
| Exam contains | Practical work and structured questions | Questions based on the experimental skills of planning, analysis and evaluation. |
| Medium | Practical, written | Written |
| Context of the questions | From syllabus but may contain some questions outside the syllabus content. | The context of the questions may be outside the syllabus content. |
| How is the paper assessed? | Externally assessed | Externally assessed |
| % of AS Level syllabus | 23 % | – |
| % of A Level syllabus | 11.5 % | 11.5% |
How to study for Chemistry practical?
Given the challenging nature of the practical, A Level students often wonder how to study for Chemistry practical. Cambridge International recommends that you should spend 20 percent of your time during the course of study doing practical work individually or in small groups. Your teachers at school will assist you in carrying out experiments in a safe and informed way.
Therefore, the preparation of Chemistry practical paper is done throughout the course. You are also encouraged to do a continuous self evaluation during the course to underpin continuous learning.
Your practical handbook and workbook is also available so you can prepare for the practical papers. As mentioned above, Paper 5 contains questions that are outside the syllabus content. Usually these questions are quite advanced but still not outside your ability to answer.
Why do universities look at your practical assessments of A Level?
“Universities want to see evidence that a student has undertaken practical work during their science studies at school”, says the practical science worksheet by Cambridge International. It is noteworthy that practical science is an excellent way to prepare yourself for university level study in sciences.
It is imperative that science is a practical subject. Since universities are essentially the places of scientific research, breakthroughs, and peer reviews, the undergraduate admission processes inevitably look for a good demonstration of practical skills and analysis.
What is your focus in Paper 3 advanced practical skills?
Paper 3 is a laboratory-based practical paper focusing on the experimental skills of:
- manipulation, measurement and observation
- presentation of data and observations
- analysis, conclusions and evaluation
One question is an observational problem in which you will be asked to investigate an unknown substance or substances in specified experiments.
You will be expected to record your observations, analyze results and draw appropriate conclusions. For this question, Qualitative analysis notes are to be used.
The other question or questions are quantitative, involving either a titration or measurement of a quantity, e.g. time, temperature, mass or gas volume.
You will be expected to draw suitable tables or graphs. Then you will analyze the data, perform calculations and draw appropriate conclusions from them.
One or more of the questions may require candidates to comment on the accuracy of the procedure or identify sources of error and make suggestions for change.
The apparatus requirements for Paper 3 will vary from paper to paper. You will receive all the apparatus and materials required at your center.
What is the marks allocation for Paper 3?
Marks will be allocated for Paper 3 according to the table below:
| Skills | Breakdown of skills | Marks |
| Manipulation, measurement and observation | Successful collection of data and observations
Quality of measurements or observations Decisions relating to measurements or observations |
12 |
| Presentation of data and observations | Recording data and observations Display of calculation and reasoning
Data layout |
6 |
| Analysis, conclusions and evaluation | Interpretation of data or observations Drawing conclusions
Identifying sources of error and suggesting improvements |
10 |
What is the focus in Paper 5 advanced practical skills?
Paper 5 is a written paper focusing on the higher-order experimental skills of:
- planning
- analysis
- drawing conclusions
- evaluation.
This exam will not require laboratory facilities.
Cambridge International emphasizes that students “cannot be adequately prepared for this exam without extensive laboratory work of A Level standard during their course of study.”
Furthermore, the preparation for Paper 5 “requires many hours of laboratory-based work with careful supervision from teachers to ensure that experiments are planned and carried out safely.”
You may be required to design an experimental investigation of a given problem. Such questions may not be highly structured: you may be expected to answer using extended, structured writing illustrated with appropriate diagrams, flow charts, tables or equations.
You may be asked to express a prediction in the form of a written hypothesis linking independent and dependent variables, or in the form of a graph showing the expected outcome.
Other questions may require you to analyze, evaluate and draw conclusions from the given data.
Cambridge states that “Some questions may be set in areas of chemistry that are difficult to investigate experimentally in school laboratories, possibly for reasons of cost or safety.”
However, you will not be asked a question that will require knowledge of theory or equipment that is beyond that expected of A Level practical work in the syllabus.
What is the marks allocation for Paper 5?
| Skills | Breakdown of skills | Marks |
| Planning | Defining the problem
Method |
12 |
| Analysis, conclusion and evaluation | Dealing with data
Conclusion Evaluation |
12 |
Detailed guide to Cambridge International practical assessment :
Cambridge International provides a detailed guide to help you understand all the expectations from the assessment. You can use this to find out about:
- Expressions of Organic Chemistry
- Measurements, units, and symbols
- How each component on the assessment has to be answered
- Data section
- Mathematical requirements
Explore Noon Academy’s information base
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