Cambridge International A Level Chemistry (9701) – Topical Revision Checklist 2026

Track your confidence level (1–5) for each topic. Aligned to the Cambridge AS & A Level Chemistry 9701 syllabus for 2026 exams.

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TopicSub-TopicConfidence (1–5)Last ReviewedNext Review
1. Atomic structureSubatomic particles, isotopes
1. Atomic structureMass spectrometry
1. Atomic structureElectronic configuration
2. Atoms, molecules and stoichiometryMoles, empirical/molecular formulae
2. Atoms, molecules and stoichiometryBalancing equations
2. Atoms, molecules and stoichiometryReacting masses
3. Chemical bondingIonic, covalent, dative, metallic bonding
3. Chemical bondingShapes of molecules, polarity
3. Chemical bondingIntermolecular forces
4. States of matterKinetic theory
4. States of matterIdeal gas equation
4. States of matterInterconversion of states
5. Chemical energeticsEnthalpy changes
5. Chemical energeticsHess's Law
5. Chemical energeticsBond enthalpies
6. ElectrochemistryRedox reactions
6. ElectrochemistryElectrode potentials
6. ElectrochemistryElectrolysis
7. EquilibriaDynamic equilibrium
7. EquilibriaLe Chatelier's principle
7. EquilibriaKc and Kp
8. Reaction kineticsRate equations
8. Reaction kineticsOrder of reaction
8. Reaction kineticsActivation energy
8. Reaction kineticsCatalysis
9. The Periodic TablePeriodic trends
9. The Periodic TableGroup and period properties
10. Group 2 elementsReactions
10. Group 2 elementsSolubility
10. Group 2 elementsThermal stability
11. Group 17 elementsTrends in properties
11. Group 17 elementsDisplacement reactions
11. Group 17 elementsHalide ions
12. Nitrogen and sulphurAmmonia, nitric acid
12. Nitrogen and sulphurSulphuric acid
12. Nitrogen and sulphurEnvironmental impact of NOx and SOx
13. Organic chemistry – introductionFunctional groups
13. Organic chemistry – introductionNaming and isomerism
13. Organic chemistry – introductionTypes of reactions
14. HydrocarbonsAlkanes, alkenes, arenes
14. HydrocarbonsReactions and mechanisms
15. Halogen compoundsNucleophilic substitution
15. Halogen compoundsElimination
15. Halogen compoundsReactions of halogenoalkanes
16. Alcohols, esters, carboxylic acidsPreparation and reactions
16. Alcohols, esters, carboxylic acidsEsterification
16. Alcohols, esters, carboxylic acidsHydrolysis
17. Carbonyl compoundsAldehydes and ketones
17. Carbonyl compoundsNucleophilic addition
17. Carbonyl compoundsTests
18. Nitrogen compoundsAmines, amides
18. Nitrogen compoundsAmino acids
18. Nitrogen compoundsReactions and basicity
19. PolymerisationAddition and condensation polymers
19. PolymerisationEnvironmental issues
20. Analytical chemistryChromatography
20. Analytical chemistrySpectroscopy
20. Analytical chemistryPhysical and chemical tests
21. Further chemistryTransition elements
21. Further chemistryColour and complex formation
21. Further chemistryReaction mechanisms

Use with our Past Paper Finder to practise weak topics.

Cambridge International A Level Chemistry 9701 revision checklist FAQ

Quick answers about this free revision checklist, how to use it for exam prep, and how it relates to the official syllabus.

What does the 2026 Cambridge A Level Chemistry 9701 syllabus cover?

This revision checklist mirrors the official Cambridge A Level Chemistry 9701 syllabus for the 2026 examination series. Every topic and sub-topic on the page is taken from the published syllabus document, so working through the list in order gives you full coverage of what your exam can assess. It is aligned to the A Level tier expectations. For the authoritative version, always cross-check with the latest syllabus PDF on your exam board's website before your final revision push.

How many topics are on the Cambridge A Level Chemistry 9701 exam?

The number of top-level topic groups varies by subject, but you can see the exact count on this page — each major heading in the checklist corresponds to one syllabus topic group, and each row below it is a syllabus-level sub-topic. Use the confidence column (1–5) to flag which sub-topics need more work, and re-score yourself weekly to track real progress instead of guessing.

How long should I spend revising for Cambridge A Level Chemistry 9701?

12–16 weeks of focused revision, working through one topic group per week with weekly past-paper practice, is a realistic target for most A Level students. Use this checklist to plan your weeks: filter by topics you have rated 1–3 and spend your first revision block there. Subjects with heavy practical or extended-writing components (e.g. sciences, English) need more past-paper time in the final block than the topic-by-topic phase.

What's the best order to revise Chemistry topics?

Revise in roughly the order the syllabus lists the topics — exam boards build later topics on earlier ones, so taking them in syllabus order avoids gaps. Once you have rated every topic, switch to weakest-first: filter the checklist by confidence ≤ 2 and prioritise those topics in your next study block. This is more effective than re-revising topics you already score 4–5 on.

Where can I find Cambridge A Level Chemistry 9701 past papers and mark schemes?

You can find past papers and mark schemes via Tutopiya's Past Paper Finder and on your exam board's official site. Once you have rated each sub-topic on this checklist, attempt past-paper questions on your weakest topics first — practising under timed conditions is the single best predictor of exam performance, more so than re-reading notes.

How do I download this revision checklist as a PDF or CSV?

Use the Download CSV or Print PDF button at the bottom of the checklist. CSV opens in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets so you can sort by confidence and re-arrange revision order. The PDF is print-ready for offline use. A free Tutopiya account is required for download — this also unlocks the matching topic resources, notes and worked examples on the Learning Portal.

Is this Chemistry revision checklist free to use?

Yes, the checklist itself is free — you can view, score and re-score every topic on this page without an account. The CSV / PDF downloads and access to matching Tutopiya Learning Portal resources require a free account. There is no payment required at any point; teachers and parents can also use this checklist freely with their students.

Does this checklist match the latest Cambridge A Level Chemistry 9701 specification?

Yes. The topics and sub-topics on this page are drawn from the current 2026 Cambridge A Level Chemistry 9701 specification published by Cambridge. Exam boards occasionally tweak weighting or assessment structure mid-cycle, so do a quick sanity-check against the official syllabus PDF when you start your revision and again 4 weeks before the exam.