AQA papers at a glance
| Paper | Content | Time and marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Physical chemistry (3.1.1-3.1.4, 3.1.6-3.1.8, 3.1.10-3.1.12) and inorganic chemistry | 2 hours, 105 marks | 35% |
| Paper 2 | Organic chemistry and physical chemistry (3.1.2-3.1.6, 3.1.9) | 2 hours, 105 marks | 35% |
| Paper 3 | Any content: 40 marks practical techniques and data analysis, 20 marks across the specification, 30 marks multiple choice | 2 hours, 90 marks | 30% |
How OCR A and Edexcel compare
- OCR Chemistry A (H432): Periodic table, elements and physical chemistry (2 hours 15 minutes, 100 marks, 37%); Synthesis and analytical techniques (2 hours 15 minutes, 100 marks, 37%); Unified chemistry (1 hour 30 minutes, 70 marks, 26%).
- Pearson Edexcel (9CH0): Advanced inorganic and physical chemistry (1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks, 30%); Advanced organic and physical chemistry (1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks, 30%); General and practical principles in chemistry (2 hours 30 minutes, 120 marks, 40%).
- The chemistry content is very similar across boards because it follows the same Department for Education subject content. The biggest differences are paper length and how much each paper mixes topics.
The practical endorsement
Alongside the exams you complete at least 12 required practicals (AQA) or core practicals (Edexcel and OCR's Practical Activity Groups). Your teacher assesses your practical competence, and the endorsement is reported separately as Pass or Not classified. It does not change your A* to E grade, but many university science courses expect a Pass.
Practical knowledge is still tested in the written papers: at least 15% of the marks assess practical skills, and AQA Paper 3 gives 40 marks to practical techniques and data analysis.
See where you stand in 10 minutes
Take the free A-level Chemistry practice test. 15 questions, every answer explained.
Grades and grade boundaries
Your marks from all three papers are added together (300 marks with AQA) and the boundaries for A* to E are set on that total after every series. They move from year to year depending on the difficulty of the papers, so no fixed percentage guarantees an A or a B. Use published past boundaries only as a rough guide and aim for about 70% in timed practice.
Grade E is a pass. Results for summer 2027 are released on Thursday 12 August 2027. You can practise with our A-level Chemistry questions.
2027 exam dates
The JCQ common timetable for A-levels ends on 22 June 2027. AQA has published these dates for A-level Chemistry 7405, all in morning sessions: Paper 1 on Friday 28 May 2027, Paper 2 on Thursday 10 June 2027 and Paper 3 on Thursday 17 June 2027. Pearson's final timetable places Edexcel Paper 3 (9CH0/03) on Thursday 17 June 2027. Check your own board's timetable and your school's exam calendar for the rest.
A 10-week revision plan
- Week 1: atomic structure, amount of substance and bonding. Daily mole and pV = nRT practice.
- Week 2: energetics, kinetics, equilibria and redox from Year 12.
- Week 3: Year 13 physical chemistry: thermodynamics, rate equations, Kp, electrode potentials, acids and bases.
- Week 4: inorganic chemistry: periodicity, Group 2, halogens, Period 3, transition metals and metal-aqua ions. Make one table of all colour changes.
- Week 5: a timed Paper 1. Mark it strictly and log every error.
- Week 6: Year 12 organic chemistry: mechanisms, reagents and conditions, IR and mass spectrometry.
- Week 7: Year 13 organic chemistry: carbonyls, aromatics, amines, polymers, NMR, chromatography and synthesis routes.
- Week 8: a timed Paper 2, then fix the gaps in your reaction map.
- Week 9: the 12 required practicals, uncertainties and graph skills, then a timed Paper 3.
- Week 10: mixed multiple-choice practice and your mistakes list. Light revision only in the last two days before each paper.
Frequently asked questions
How many papers are there in A-level Chemistry?
Three with every board. AQA uses three 2-hour papers worth 35%, 35% and 30%.
Is there coursework in A-level Chemistry?
No coursework counts towards the grade. The practical endorsement is assessed by your teacher and reported separately as Pass or Not classified.
Do I get a data booklet in A-level Chemistry?
Yes. AQA provides a data booklet with the periodic table and infrared and NMR data. You still need to learn definitions, reagents and conditions.
What percentage do I need for an A*?
There is no fixed percentage. Grade boundaries are set after each series and change every year, so check past boundaries only as a rough guide.
Can I take A-level Chemistry as a private candidate?
Yes, but you need a centre that will both enter you for the exams and arrange the practical endorsement, which requires supervised lab work. Fees are set by the centre and vary.
Is A-level Chemistry harder than GCSE?
Yes. The step up is mainly in the maths (logs, rate equations, ΔG), mechanisms and applying ideas to unfamiliar contexts. Regular practice with calculations from the first term helps most.
Official sources
- AQA A-level Chemistry 7405: specification at a glance
- AQA A-level Chemistry 7405: key dates
- Pearson Edexcel A level Chemistry specification
- JCQ key dates for the June 2027 series
Practice tests for these exams
This guide is general information, checked November 2026, not official exam board guidance. Specifications and dates can change; confirm the details with your school or exam board.
