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Chemistry A level (S0722)

Paston College

Grammar School Road, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9JL

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent

Level 3

Available start dates

Friday, 01 September 2023

Paston College

2 Year(s)

Full time

Daytime/working hours

Application Instructions

3 A Level Programme

Minimum of 66444 at GCSE (Please note : grade 4 may be replaced by an 'old C' grade and grade 6 by 'old' B grade)

Vocational subjects cannot replace GCSEs for entry on to an A Level programme.

You must also study English/Maths GCSE if you have not already achieved grade 4 in these subjects.

4 A level programme

If you achieve a minimum of 3 GCSE's at grade 8 (A*) plus 5 at grade 7 (A) and your English Language and Maths are at minimum grade 4, you will have the option to join the A Plus programme.

Please note that A Plus is designed for applicants to academic courses at Oxford, Cambridge or other Russel Group universities. Grades in vocational subjects cannot replace GCSE's for entry to this programme.

Vocational programmes

Minimum of five grade 4 at GCSE (or old grade C) or Merit/Distinction in a relevant BTEC First Diploma (or equivalent) plus 1 grade 4 (or old grade 4) at GCSE. You must also study English Language and/or Maths GCSE if you have not already achieved grade 4 in these subjects.

Level 2 programme

Minimum of three grade 4 at GCSE (or old Grade C).

This programme is designed for those students who just miss our entry requirements for level 3 study. It includes an opportunity to improve your GCSE English Language and Maths grades, alongside a Workskills course to develop the skills required for progression into employment or onto a level 3 programme.

Course Details

CHEMISTRY LOOKS AT HOW AND WHY SUBSTANCES REACT TOGETHER AND THE USE THAT CAN BE MADE OF THIS TO ENHANCE OUR LIVES - FROM FIGHTING DISEASE TO CONDUCTING ELECTRICITY. IT IS A CORE SCIENCE SUBJECT THAT REQUIRES DESCRIPTIVE AND ANALYTICAL SKILLS. THIS TWO YEAR COURSE GIVES YOU AN EXCELLENT GROUNDING IN THE THREE MAIN AREAS CHEMISTRY: PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, ORGANIC CHEMISTRY AND INORGANIC CHEMISTRY. AS PRACTICAL WORK IS A KEY FEATURE OF THE COURSE, YOU WILL BE TAUGHT IN A WELL-EQUIPPED AND REFURBISHED SPECIALIST LABORATORY.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN?

You will cover a range of topics that will help you develop your knowledge and skills in this subject area.

During your first year you will study a variety of topics including atomic structures, oxidation and reduction, patterns and trends of the Periodic Table and organic chemistry.

The second year builds on and develops your knowledge from year one and covers topics such as equilibria and gases, reaction rates and the fundamental laws of energy change.

Successful completion of this course will allow you to understand abstract ideas, make connections between different concepts and solve problems.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES

To help extend your experience beyond the course content, we aim to provide a variety of additional learning experiences. As part of this, you will have the opportunity to attend exciting trips relating to the subject. In recent years these have included visits to an industrial chemistry plant, the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, chemistry lectures in London and a Spectroscopy showcase at the University of East Anglia (UEA).

Alongside this, there will also be opportunities to attend sessions run by academics from places such as the UEA that will give you a rare opportunity to experiment with new equipment to enhance your skills.

IS IT SUITABLE FOR YOU?

Chemistry is a hard subject but very worthwhile if you enjoy the subject and are interested in understanding ‘why’ and ‘how’ not just ‘what’. To be successful, you will need to have achieved good GCSE grades in Maths.

HOW YOU ARE ASSESSED?

During the course, you will be assessed through a variety of practical and theoretical work.
Your final grade is determined by your performance in three written exams which take place at the end of the two year course. All papers contain a mixture of short and longer answer questions as well as multiple choice questions.

THIS COURSE GOES WELL WITH…

Biology and Physics; studied together with Mathematics. This combination provides an excellent foundation for degree level Chemistry as well as a wide range of other science, medical and engineering courses.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Grade 6/B in GCSE Chemistry or Additional Science and grade 5/ high C or low B in GCSE Maths.

Entry requirements

3 A Level Programme

Minimum of 66444 at GCSE (Please note : grade 4 may be replaced by an 'old C' grade and grade 6 by 'old' B grade)

Vocational subjects cannot replace GCSEs for entry on to an A Level programme.

You must also study English/Maths GCSE if you have not already achieved grade 4 in these subjects.

If you achieve a minimum of 3 GCSE's at grade 8 (A*) plus 5 at grade 7 (A) and your English Language and Maths are at minimum grade 4, you will have the option to join the A Plus programme.

Your next steps...

YOU CAN GO ON TO DO...

Chemistry, medicine, veterinary science, dentistry or pharmacy at university and extremely useful for the biological sciences. It is also an excellent preparation for an extensive range of scientific and non-science careers.

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