GCSE – Chemistry

Curriculum

Unit 1: CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES, REACTIONS and ESSENTIAL RESOURCES

Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes  – 45% of qualification

This unit includes the following topics:

• 1.1 The nature of substances and chemical reactions
• 1.2 Atomic structure and the Periodic Table
• 1.3 Water
• 1.4 The ever-changing Earth
• 1.5 Rate of chemical change
• 1.6 Limestone

Unit 2: CHEMICAL BONDING, APPLICATION OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes – 45% of qualification

This unit includes the following topics:

• 2.1 Bonding, structure and properties
• 2.2 Acids, bases and salts
• 2.3 Metals and their extraction
• 2.4 Chemical reactions and energy
• 2.5 Crude oil, fuels and organic chemistry
• 2.6 Reversible reactions, industrial processes and important chemicals

All content relating to formulae and equations and calculations based upon them (specified in Unit 1.1) is required for Unit 2. All chemical tests specified in Unit 1 are required for Unit 2

Unit 3: PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT

10% of qualification is based on the practical assessment

WJEC will provide two tasks based on the content of GCSE Chemistry.  Learners are only required to submit one task so centres can select which one they wish to use with their learners.

Each task comprises two sections:

Section A – Obtaining results (6 marks) Learners will be permitted to work in groups of no more than three, to obtain results from a given experimental method. This will be carried out under a limited level of control i.e. learners may work with others to obtain results but they must provide their own responses to the questions set. Teacher assistance should not normally be required, but may be given if equipment failure occurs. Section A will be completed in one session of 60 minutes duration.

Section B – Analysing and evaluating results (24 marks) Learners will be assessed on their ability to analyse and evaluate the data obtained in section A. They will require access to their section A assessment in order to complete this. Section B will be carried out under a high level of control i.e. learners must work individually. This section is to be completed with no teacher feedback or assistance allowed and under formal supervision. Section B will be completed in one session of 60 minutes duration.

Assessment

This is a unitised qualification which allows for an element of staged assessment

There are two tiers of entry available for this qualification:

• Higher Tier (Grades A* – D)
• Foundation Tier (Grades C – G)
• Unit 1: Essential Resources (Higher Tier) – 3410UA
• Unit 2: Chemical Bonding, Application of Chemical Reactions and Organic Chemistry (Higher Tier) – 3410UB
• Unit 3 (Practical assessment) is untiered.

Access Arrangements

Access Arrangements allow candidates/learners with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access the assessment without changing the demands of the assessment.
For example, readers, scribes and Braille question papers. In this way, Awarding Bodies will comply with the duty of the Equality Act 2010 to make ‘reasonable adjustments’.

We can arrange access arrangements and assess you with our special assessor.  The deadline for application to the exam board is the February of the year the learner sits exams.

To find out more about exam access arrangements  click here

Study Options

You can choose from the following study options:

• Online classes only
• Blended learning – Classes at the campus and online
• Distance learning course

FAQs