Free topical revision checklist for IB DP Chemistry SL & HL. Track confidence (1–5), last reviewed and next review. Detailed topic breakdown aligned to 2026 IB DP expectations. Rate your confidence (1–5), track review dates, then export as CSV or print.
| Topic | Sub-topic | Resources | Confidence (1–5) | Last reviewed | Next review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Structure, bonding & reactivity | Atomic structure; isotopes; relative atomic mass | Topic resources | |||
| A. Structure, bonding & reactivity | Electron configuration; ionisation energy trends | Topic resources | |||
| A. Structure, bonding & reactivity | Periodic trends: atomic radius, electronegativity, reactivity | Topic resources | |||
| A. Structure, bonding & reactivity | Ionic bonding and lattice energy (HL emphasis) | Topic resources | |||
| A. Structure, bonding & reactivity | Covalent bonding; sigma/pi bonds; bond enthalpy | Topic resources | |||
| A. Structure, bonding & reactivity | Metallic bonding; alloys and properties | Topic resources | |||
| A. Structure, bonding & reactivity | VSEPR shapes; polarity; dipole moments | Topic resources | |||
| A. Structure, bonding & reactivity | Intermolecular forces (London, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding) | Topic resources | |||
| A. Structure, bonding & reactivity | Structure-property: melting/boiling points, conductivity, solubility | Topic resources | |||
| A. Structure, bonding & reactivity | Advanced bonding/structures (delocalisation, resonance) — (HL) | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Mole concept; molar mass; empirical/molecular formulae | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Solution concentration; dilution; titration calculations | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Limiting reactant; theoretical yield; percentage yield | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Gas laws (PV=nRT), partial pressures (as taught) | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Enthalpy changes; calorimetry; Hess’s law cycles | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Bond enthalpy calculations; limitations | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Rates: collision theory; factors affecting rate | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Rate expressions; order; rate constant — (HL emphasis) | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Activation energy; Arrhenius equation — (HL) | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Reaction mechanisms; intermediates; rate-determining step — (HL) | Topic resources | |||
| B. Stoichiometry, energetics & kinetics | Catalysis (homogeneous/heterogeneous); enzyme catalysis links | Topic resources | |||
| C. Equilibrium, acids/bases & redox | Dynamic equilibrium; Le Chatelier’s principle | Topic resources | |||
| C. Equilibrium, acids/bases & redox | Equilibrium constants (K_c), (K_p) and calculations — (HL emphasis) | Topic resources | |||
| C. Equilibrium, acids/bases & redox | Reaction quotient (Q) and direction prediction — (HL) | Topic resources | |||
| C. Equilibrium, acids/bases & redox | Acids/bases: Brønsted-Lowry; strong vs weak acids/bases | Topic resources | |||
| C. Equilibrium, acids/bases & redox | pH, pOH; (K_a), (K_b) calculations — (HL emphasis) | Topic resources | |||
| C. Equilibrium, acids/bases & redox | Buffers: composition, pH calculations, buffer capacity — (HL) | Topic resources | |||
| C. Equilibrium, acids/bases & redox | Titration curves; indicators; choice of method | Topic resources | |||
| C. Equilibrium, acids/bases & redox | Redox basics; oxidation numbers; balancing equations | Topic resources | |||
| C. Equilibrium, acids/bases & redox | Electrochemical cells; standard electrode potentials — (HL emphasis) | Topic resources | |||
| C. Equilibrium, acids/bases & redox | Electrolysis and Faraday’s laws — (HL where applicable) | Topic resources | |||
| D. Organic chemistry | Nomenclature and functional groups (alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, halogenoalkanes, etc.) | Topic resources | |||
| D. Organic chemistry | Structural isomerism and stereoisomerism — (HL emphasis) | Topic resources | |||
| D. Organic chemistry | Reaction types: addition, substitution, elimination | Topic resources | |||
| D. Organic chemistry | Oxidation/reduction in organics (primary/secondary alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids) | Topic resources | |||
| D. Organic chemistry | Mechanisms: electrophilic addition / nucleophilic substitution — (HL emphasis) | Topic resources | |||
| D. Organic chemistry | Polymers: addition vs condensation; properties and applications | Topic resources | |||
| D. Organic chemistry | Biomolecules links (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins) where relevant | Topic resources | |||
| D. Organic chemistry | Spectroscopy: IR and mass spectrometry — (HL emphasis) | Topic resources | |||
| D. Organic chemistry | NMR basics — (HL where applicable) | Topic resources | |||
| E. Measurement, data processing & practical skills | Uncertainty, significant figures and data handling | Topic resources | |||
| E. Measurement, data processing & practical skills | Calibration, standard solutions and titration technique | Topic resources | |||
| E. Measurement, data processing & practical skills | Qualitative analysis and identification tests | Topic resources | |||
| E. Measurement, data processing & practical skills | Safety, risk assessment and waste handling | Topic resources | |||
| F. Internal Assessment (IA) readiness | Focused question with meaningful chemistry and measurable outcomes | Topic resources | |||
| F. Internal Assessment (IA) readiness | Method: variables, control, repeats, calibration and safety | Topic resources | |||
| F. Internal Assessment (IA) readiness | Data processing: graphs, uncertainties, calculations and justification | Topic resources | |||
| F. Internal Assessment (IA) readiness | Evaluation: limitations, improvements, and chemistry explanation | Topic resources |
Tip: Pair this checklist with past paper practice and spaced repetition. Always confirm exact assessment components (SL/HL, options) with your school’s IB DP route for the 2026 exam session.
Quick answers about this free revision checklist, how to use it for exam prep, and how it relates to the official syllabus.
This revision checklist mirrors the official IB DP Chemistry 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 covers both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) topic expectations. For the authoritative version, always cross-check with the latest syllabus PDF on your exam board's website before your final revision push.
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.
16–20 weeks of consistent revision is realistic for IB DP — work through one topic per week alongside ongoing past-paper practice and Internal Assessment polish. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes. The topics and sub-topics on this page are drawn from the current 2026 IB DP Chemistry specification published by your exam board. 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.