Chemistry A-level


Start:
September
Duration:
2 years
Level:
3

Course Details

With a competitive job market, it is important that you have qualifications that make you stand out to prospective employers and having a qualification in Chemistry will do this.

Chemistry provides you with many transferable skills including problem solving and logical thinking.

This course is split into 3 main areas of Chemistry; organic, inorganic and physical. You will study all three areas in the first year, which includes topics such as: atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, periodicity, energetics, kinetics, equilibria, group 2 and 7, alcohols and organic chemistry.

In Year 2, you will cover the topics in more depth along with transition metals, acids and bases, spectroscopy, polymers and redox equilibra. There is a big emphasis on practical work throughout both years, with the practical element being assessed throughout the written examinations.

You will need a minimum or five GCSEs, including Grade 5 in English Language together with four other subjects at Grade 4 or above (one of the four subjects must include Maths).

Additional entry requirements:

  • You must have achieved at least a grade 6 in GCSE Chemistry or 6/6 in GCSE Dual Science.
  • You must also have achieved at least a grade 6 in GCSE Maths.

The College will always treat each applicant as an individual. Should you not have or not expect to obtain the grades stated above, or not have relevant industry-related experience, the College would still welcome your application for this course as this will enable us to identify whether this course is, in fact, the right course for you or whether another course may be more appropriate.

AQA A-level Chemistry (7405)
  • Examination – Paper 1
  • A-level (35%) 2 hours
  • Examination – Paper 2
  • A-level (35%) 2 hours
  • Examination – Paper 3
  • A-level (30%) 2 hours
  • University
  • Higher/Degree Apprenticeship
  • Employment
With a Chemistry degree there are plenty of employment opportunities. Careers include medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, pharmacology, molecular biologist, environmental chemist and forensic chemist. Chemistry graduates in the UK earn around 30% more than someone with A-levels and no degree.

Explore

University Guarantee

Every Sefton Sixth Form College student who successfully achieves a Level 3 qualification and meets attendance and entry requirements, is guaranteed a place on a course at the Hugh Baird University Centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions that we are often asked:

You will take three subjects over two years.

We offer a small number of BTEC courses at Sefton Sixth Form College. You can study one BTEC course alongside your two A-levels.

It is not expected that a student would attend both sites, but the feasibility of this would be discussed on an individual basis. Potential timetable clashes and workload would need to be considered in detail for this to be a possibility.