Chemistry (Salters)

Each subject will have its own entry requirements. Please see individual courses for more details.

A level subjects, which subjects are you interested in studying?
Please choose SIX subjects.
For each subject please choose an order of preference. Choose option 1 in the subject which you would most like to study, option 2 in your second subject choice and continue until you have your six subject options.

Optional enrichment courses:
you may choose Mathematical Studies in addition to the A Level subjects you will take in Year 12.

Mathematical Studies is a level 3 maths qualification aimed at students who have a level 4,5 or 6 in maths at GCSE. It is designed to improve students’ mathematical and problem solving skills and to help with the maths in other subjects such as the sciences, psychology, geography and economics.

or

The Extended Project Qualification

Chemistry
A level
Chemistry is a challenging course that gradually develops the skills needed to explain a range of phenomena – some of which are visible to the naked eye and others only on a sub-microscopic level. In lessons, you will carry out a range of experimental procedures, some complex, while others may have a duration of less than a second. A high premium is placed on the willingness of students to participate fully by suggesting explanations and adapting their own ideas to incorporate new evidence.

Why Chemistry ?
Over the two years of the course, your understanding of concepts will develop with one goal being that you can plan, carry out, analyse and evaluate complex multi-stage organic synthesis reactions. You will also gain confidence in your own ability to link concepts from different parts of chemistry together in the formulating solutions to abstract problems.

Chemistry has a global perspective and has significantly moved away from traditional bulk manufacture towards “fines” such as pharmaceuticals, novel polymers and designer materials (such as grapheme). You will be encouraged to look far beyond the laboratory via research, presentations and discussion.

What’s expected ?
Students who succeed in chemistry tend to retain concepts from lesson to lesson, often by a combination of hard work and well-structured revisiting. You will also be able to make reasoned science “suggestions” and demonstrate creativity in problem solving. You will receive regular work to complete outside lessons in order to practise applying concepts to new situations and interpreting information.

Assessment is by examinations and a practical assessment which is reported separately.

In order to study this subject, you are required to achieve either a level 7 in GCSE chemistry (triple science) or a 7-6 is preferred in Combined Science.

A Level chemistry combines well with other sciences, maths and geography. Chemistry is vital for studying medicine and also important for dentistry, chemical engineering, forensic science and geology. Increasingly chemists are finding employment in areas such as law, accountancy, and, on occasions, as Prime Ministers!