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CHEMISTRY
Subject
Department: CHEMISTRY
Examination
Board: OCR
AS
Code: 3882
A2 Code: 7882
Large numbers of students choose
to study Chemistry for AS and A2 Level in this school. Many join
from other schools; all students achieve passes and most achieve
very good grades.
Like the other sciences, chemistry
courses have moved on from the simple learning of chemical facts
to reflect more accurately the thinking skills needed by professional
scientists. The majority of people do not become professional scientists
but the logical approach and types of thinking which science courses
require will be very important life skills in a very large number
of careers.
Students who enjoy success in chemistry
at AS and A2 Level have the following characteristics:
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they are very hard-working
and are good at researching information;
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they are motivated to do background reading
and take an interest in science generally;
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they have a natural fascination for the
whole business of substances changing into different ones
and have a "need to know why"; |
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they have no problem with imagining unimaginably
large numbers of unimaginably tiny things; |
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they are unafraid of mathematics but not necessarily brilliant
at it; |
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they enjoy using apparatus and doing experiments; |
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they are able to write reasonably detailed
(or better) reports of experiments |
Entry Requirements
GCSE Dual award Science, or separate Chemistry: minimum B grade.
If you have all or a majority of
those characteristics listed above then Chemistry could be a sensible
choice for further study beyond GCSE. Over the years it has been
found that students really do need a B grade or better at GCSE Chemistry
or Dual Award Science if they are going to have a chance of enjoying
Chemistry at the higher level. Advanced level courses attract students
who have followed Double Award Science as well as the Separate Sciences,
and teaching is geared to pick up from the point reached by students
who have followed the Double Award course.
From September 2006, a new, modernised
GCSE Chemistry course will start. This will provide more useful
and relevant information for those not continuing with Science beyond
GCSE, while at the same time ensuring a firm foundation for those
continuing to the AS and A2 courses.
Teaching
Recognising that many students coming up to GCSE may be moving away
from science, Chemistry is taught in as sympathetic a way as possible
with the emphasis on support for those finding it challenging. Students
are encouraged to attend Science Surgeries either for extra tuition
or for more advanced discussion if their interest goes beyond the
course requirements.
If you fancy your chances at becoming
the next Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin or Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin,
then go for it!
Assessment
Pattern
AS
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January |
Foundation
Chemistry
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May/June |
Chains and Rings |
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How Far, How Fast?
(half module) |
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Coursework
(half module)
Coursework starts in the Autumn Term. |
A2
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January |
Chains,
Rings and Spectroscopy
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May/June |
*Trends
and Patterns (half
module) |
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Methods of Analysis and Detection
(half module) |
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*Unifying Themes (half module) |
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Coursework
(half module)
We complete most of the A2 coursework during the post AS period
in Year 12. |
* these modules are synoptic in that
some of the general principles and fundamental material from AS
may be tested in the examinations
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