See how it works
Watch a tutor work through a question.
Say what you're studying, choose a tutor, then work through your homework step by step, take a quick quiz or call your tutor. This one is IGCSE Maths, and every subject works the same way.
Assessment
How AQA GCSE Chemistry is assessed
Two papers, each worth half the grade, at the same tier. Foundation tier covers grades 1–5 and Higher tier grades 4–9. A Higher student who just misses grade 4 can be awarded a 3.
Specification 8462, first examined in 2018.
Foundation or Higher tier
Paper 1
Multiple choice, structured, short and open answers on topics 1–5
- Time
- 1 h 45 min
- Marks
- 100
- Weight
- 50%
Paper 2
Multiple choice, structured, short and open answers on topics 6–10, which can also draw on topics 1–3
- Time
- 1 h 45 min
- Marks
- 100
- Weight
- 50%
Both papers are taken at the same tier, at the end of the course.
There are 8 required practicals, including making a salt, titration, electrolysis, rates of reaction and chromatography. Questions based on them are part of both papers.
From the official AQA syllabus, checked October 2026. Read the syllabus
Syllabus content
What’s on the AQA GCSE Chemistry syllabus
Paper 1
- Atomic structure and the periodic table
- Bonding, structure and the properties of matter
- Quantitative chemistry
- Chemical changes
- Energy changes
Paper 2
- The rate and extent of chemical change
- Organic chemistry
- Chemical analysis
- Chemistry of the atmosphere
- Using resources
Where marks are lost
Common AQA GCSE Chemistry mistakes
Averaging isotope masses without the abundances.
Relative atomic mass is a weighted mean: multiply each isotope’s mass by its abundance, add them, and divide by the total abundance.
Explaining temperature and rate with “more collisions” only.
Say the particles collide more often, and more of the collisions have energy equal to or greater than the activation energy.
Guessing the anode product in aqueous electrolysis.
Oxygen forms at the anode, unless the solution contains halide ions; then the halogen forms.
Six chemistry tutors, six ways to learn
Practise past-paper style questions with the exam coach, drill facts before a test with quick revision, or slow down with a step-by-step tutor. Switch any time.
- TheoConcept explainer
- PriyaStep by step
- DanielExam coach
- YukiQuick revision
- OmarChallenger
- LuciaConfidence builder
Recorded your Chemistry lesson?
Upload the recording and get notes, a quiz and flashcards made from what your teacher said, ready to revise for AQA GCSE Chemistry.
FAQ
AQA GCSE Chemistry questions, answered.
Bring your Chemistry questions.
Pick your subject and tutor, make a free account and ask your first question in about a minute.
Meet your tutor