The crystal structure of table salt (NaCl)CHEMISTRY
 
Examination Board: EDEXCEL
GCSE requirement: B grade minimum in GCSE Chemistry

Why does salt dissolve in water but not in alcohol?
Why does vodka not freeze when put in a freezer?
Do you want to know why some reactions occur and others do not?
Do you enjoy practical work?

‘Chemistry is the only science curriculum that goes into any detail’
‘I enjoyed A-level chemistry because of the number of practicals’
‘It is challenging and tests your rationality’   
Quotes from current Y13 Chemistry students.
The new A level Chemistry course will mean that you study aspects of chemistry that are often in the media and affect your lives. It is important that students have the necessary knowledge and understanding to explain many aspects of contemporary chemistry. These areas include climate change, green chemistry, pharmaceuticals and research chemistry. The course gives the student a good understanding of the basic principles of the subject and introduces modern techniques that are used in industry.  For those not yet committed to either a specific career path,  Chemistry in  combination with Maths, Physics, Geography or Biology keeps open a very wide set of options. Chemistry is asked for in University applications for a very wide range of subjects. Even for students not using Chemistry for their degree course, obtaining a Chemistry A-level is well respected by employers.
 
The course involves a lot of practical work closely integrated with theory.  There is no practical exam, but a series of assessed practicals are carried out throughout the AS and A2 years.
 
The assessment of all new specifications will be based on six units.  There are three AS assessment units, followed by three A2 units in Year 13.  Unit tests will be available in June of the first year and January and June of the second year.
 
The table below shows the assessment framework for the new A-level syllabus commencing September 2008:

Unit		Duration	Weighting
AS			AS Level	A Level
1	Structured Questions	1hr15	40%	20%
2	Structured Questions	1hr15	40%	20%
3	Internal Practical Assessment		20%	10%
A2
4	Structured Questions	1hr40		20%
5	Structured Questions	1hr40		20%
6	Internal Practical Assessment			10%

An understanding of Chemistry is necessary for a wide range of careers: Pharmacy, Agriculture, Horticulture, Geochemistry, Geology, Industrial Chemistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Environmental Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy, General Engineering, Microbiology, Biotechnology and Biochemistry.

There are now courses at several universities where chemistry is taken along with a Foreign Language and one year of the course is spent in a European university.  There are also courses available where students spend a year of their study at an American, European or Australian university.