Chemistry addresses a wide range of questions:

• Why do chemical reactions occur? 
• How do the properties of materials depend on the elements they contain? 
• Why is carbon the basis of life? 
• How can industrial processes be improved to give better yields or to occur faster? 
• What is damaging the environment and what can be done?

You will complete a mixture of practical and theoretical work. Around one lesson a week will be practical-based - you will prepare and analyse various substances while learning how to make accurate observations and measurements. You will complete both informal practicals to help learn chemistry concepts and assessed practicals to allow you to receive a practical endorsement in chemistry. 

In your other lessons you will receive a thorough grounding in chemistry while developing your deductive and problem-solving skills. You will work on written and online exercises, build models, take part in discussions and prepare presentations of your own.

There are three external exams at the end of the second year. Your score in these exams will determine your A level grade.

Practical skills will be assessed by teachers throughout the two years. If you meet the criteria you will receive a practical endorsement in addition to your A level grade. 

• A programme of super-curricular support for challenging competitions beyond the syllabus, including:
  • Chemistry Olympiad (second year students);
  • Cambridge Chemistry Challenge (first year students);
  • RSC Analysts Challenge;
• Chemistry Society, Medical Society, Vet Society (run by students and supported by teachers)
• Bespoke practice interviews for Oxbridge and medicine-related courses
• Tailored Oxbridge and other competitive university support for STEM students
• Entrance exam preparation sessions

Chemistry goes well with mathematics (and further mathematics), physics and biology. Other subjects such as economics, modern languages and geography may also open up a different opportunities.

We would strongly recommend that you study mathematics alongside chemistry, particularly if your GCSE score is less than 8 in GCSE maths. Most scientific degree courses, and many degree apprenticeships, will expect you to have studied mathematics at A-level. If you don't, you may be limiting your progression options. Chemistry has a large mathematical component (30%) and students who do not study maths will have to do significant additional work outside the lesson each week to keep up. Success in the chemistry A-level is strongly correlated to GCSE maths result - our most successful students (A-A*) generally have an 8 or 9 in maths at GCSE. 

Physics is a strong supporting subject as you will see similar concepts from a different perspective. If you wish to study medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine, you must take chemistry, and it is a good idea to study maths and biology too.

If you wish to study chemistry, physics, natural sciences or engineering at Oxbridge, Imperial College or another competitive university you should study further maths. Over the past few years, students applying for those subjects who do not study further maths have struggled to secure interviews or places at the most competitive institutions. While those universities may list further maths as preferred but not required, Farnborough has one of the biggest and best further maths departments in the country and top universities will expect you to study it here (and it will make your life easier when you get there).

Many of our students go on to study degrees. Large numbers of students go on to study at Oxbridge, Imperial College, Manchester, Southampton and other top universities. Many of our students also take advantage of degree apprenticeship schemes with prestigious companies to gain valuable work experience and funding for their studies. 

Chemistry is the ‘central science’ and will support degrees in most STEM subjects, including chemistry, biochemistry, physics, engineering, natural sciences and geography. It is also well-regarded for other courses such as law and economics. 

Demand for people with qualifications in chemistry is high. Chemistry graduates are sought after to work on industrial and academic research, in the chemical industry, in the financial world, in management consultancy, senior leadership roles and in many other areas where numeracy and other problem solving skills are valued.

Please see below for careers and labour market information for chemistry - use the refresh buttons to find out about different courses and careers, and use the left and right arrows to view more detailed information.

You can find the prep work for this course at prepwork.farnborough.ac.uk. 

Q: Is it harder than GCSE?

A: Yes - there is much more content to learn and you will need a deeper understanding of chemistry. You will need to work effectively and consistently throughout the two years of the course.

Q: I want to study chemistry at a competitive university, what should I do?

A: You should pick maths, further maths and either physics (preferably) or biology at A-level. In your first year you will have to work effectively and consistently so that we can give you an A* predicted grade. You will need to demonstrate an interest in chemistry beyond the syllabus, so you should take advantage of the many super-curricular offerings at the Sixth Form, such as the Chemistry Olympiad, RSC Analysts Challenge, Cambridge Challenge as well as a variety of talks and activities run in the department throughout the year. We will also support you with sessions to prepare for entrance exams and interviews.

Q: Do I need maths to study chemistry?

A: You do not have to study A level mathematics. However, we strongly recommend that you do because the content of the chemistry course requires a high degree of mathematical competence. If you do not study maths you will need to do additional work outside lessons to practise and build your mathematical skills. Students who study maths alongside chemistry generally achieve higher grades than those who do not.

Q: Why do I need a 6 in English Language to study chemistry?

A: Chemistry is a very precise subject and requires a high degree of literacy to enable students to both understand questions and answer them effectively. Chemistry uses a wide variety of highly specific terminology and we have found that students who do not achieve a grade 6 in GCSE struggle to access the course materials.

Q: How much practical work is there? 

A: You will complete approximately one practical per week. This will include 16 core 'assessed' practicals which, if passed, will result in you receiving a practical endorsement as well as your A level grade. You will also complete a variety of other practicals to support the theory you are studying and to prepare you for the exams. One of the three assessments at the end of the course has a substantial practical element.

Q: Will I have the same teacher throughout the course?

A: You will likely have the same teacher throughout the first year but then you may have a different teacher in the second year.

Q: Do I need chemistry to study medicine? 

A: Yes - you must have at least a grade A at A level and a strong overall GCSE profile; we would recommend that you also study maths and biology if you wish to study medicine after your A-levels.