Page 33 - Year 10 Course Brochure 2023-2025

SEPARATE SCIENCE – CHEMISTRY

OPTION

COURSE CONTENT This stimulating and challenging course covers ten main topics – atomic structure
and the periodic table, bonding, structure, and the properties of matter, quantitative
chemistry, chemical changes, energy changes, the rate and extent of chemical
change, organic chemistry, chemical analysis, the chemistry of the atmosphere, and
using resources. There is an emphasis on practical work throughout the course
including eight required practicals, which they are asked questions about in their
GCSE examinations. There is a strong mathematical element to this course, and
students are expected to be able to carry out several specific calculations, such as
reacting mass and yield calculations. Students are also expected to be able to use
the Periodic Table confidently.

APPROACH TO TEACHING All GCSE Chemistry groups are taught by highly-experienced and committed
AND LEARNING Chemistry teachers – all of whom are Chemistry specialists – in state-of-the-art
laboratories. During the course, students will experience a mixture of practical and
theory lessons. Students will not just be taught the content that they need to
master in order to achieve success in their examinations at the end of Year 11, but
also the exam technique and revision skills required to really show off their ability.
Student learning will be linked to real life situations wherever possible, and new
developments in the subject will be discussed with students to illustrate how
cutting-edge Chemistry regularly affects our daily lives, e.g. in the development of
new medicines. Technology will also be used to support student learning.
ASSESSMENT Students studying this course sit two written examinations – each 1 hour 45
minutes long – at the end of Year 11. Each paper contains a mixture of different
question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions,
calculations and extended open-response questions. Each paper is out of 100 marks
and is worth 50% of the qualification.

FURTHER INFORMATION This course provides students with one 9-1 GCSE grade. Students who study this
course must also study GCSE Biology and GCSE Physics. GCSE Biology, GCSE
Chemistry and GCSE Physics form a trio of qualifications known as GCSE Separate
Science.

EXAM BOARD AND QA GCSE Chemistry (8462).
SPECIFICATION Specification at a glance:
AQA | GCSE | Chemistry | Specification at a glance
Specification:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/chemistry/specifications/
AQA-8462-SP-2016.PDF
CONTACT Mrs R Connolly
Head of Chemistry
connolly.r@millfieldschool.com

YEAR 10/11 COURSE GUIDE 31