Acing A-Level/IB Chemistry: Expert Advice from The Admissions Academy

A-Level/IB Chemistry is one of the most respected and challenging subjects you can study. Whether you’re taking OCR A, OCR B (Salters), AQA, or Edexcel, it demands a unique combination of memory, logic, and problem-solving skills. The key isn’t natural talent; it’s smart strategy. By learning how to approach the subject methodically and understanding what examiners really want, you can transform your confidence and results.

1. Know the Whole Syllabus – Leave No Topic Behind

Every year, the examiners include at least one high-mark question from an area students tend to skip. Missing it can cost you a whole grade boundary. Each exam board publishes a detailed specification outlining exactly what you need to know. Use it as your checklist, and make sure you’re confident with all question types.

Practical tips:

• Print the specification and tick off topics you’ve mastered.

• Revisit areas you find uncomfortable early in your revision.

• Don’t just learn the content — understand the logic behind it.

At The Admissions Academy, we encourage students to map the syllabus visually, so they can see how Physical, Organic, and Inorganic Chemistry interconnect. When you see the subject as a whole, it becomes much easier to retain and recall during exams.

2. Do as Many Past Paper Questions as You Can

Examiners often reuse question formats or repeat similar ideas with slightly different contexts. By completing as many past papers as possible from OCR, AQA, and Edexcel, you’ll recognise recurring structures, build exam instincts, and improve timing.

Why it works:

• You’ll become familiar with question wording and mark allocation.

• You’ll see which topics examiners favour.

• You’ll gain confidence interpreting graphs, data tables, and reaction pathways.

After completing each paper, mark it using the official mark scheme and identify exactly where marks were lost. Were you missing keywords, equations, or explanation depth? Fix these patterns early — that’s how A* students refine their technique.

3. Memorise Your Equations

Even though A Level Chemistry exams provide a data booklet, relying on it wastes time and can break your concentration.

Memorising equations like ∆G = ∆H – T∆S, q = mc∆T, and E°cell = E°(reduction) – E°(oxidation) helps you move faster and make fewer mistakes.

Top tip: Write your equations out repeatedly on a whiteboard, then test yourself daily. Within a week, you’ll recall them instinctively. This saves valuable minutes in the exam — and minimises the risk of miscopying values or rearranging incorrectly.

4. Memorise Your Reaction Pathways and Reaction Conditions

Organic Chemistry is one of the most mark-rich areas of the course, but only if you know your reaction pathways and conditions. Many questions test reagents, temperatures, pressures, and catalysts. These are easy marks if memorised — but easy to lose if not.

Create a detailed reaction map linking all major functional groups (alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, etc.). Add the reagents and conditions (acid/base, reflux/distillation, catalyst, temperature). Review it regularly until you can redraw it from memory.

At The Admissions Academy, we help students design visual flowcharts — a single-page summary of every reaction pathway. This one resource can easily be worth 5–10 marks in your final paper.

5. Ask for Help When You Need It

Chemistry is complex, and even strong students hit stumbling blocks. Whether it’s balancing redox equations or interpreting titration data, ask for help early. Talk to your teacher, peers, or a tutor.

A one-to-one tutor from The Admissions Academy can pinpoint misconceptions and help you rebuild your understanding with clarity and confidence. Private tuition is especially powerful before exams — it allows focused revision on the exact areas you find challenging.

6. Use Mark Schemes to Your Advantage

Mark schemes show exactly how examiners award marks and what phrasing they prefer. Study them to learn key language like “collision frequency increases”.

By comparing your answers to the mark scheme, you’ll start to notice how marks are distributed — often one for recalling, one for applying, and one for explaining. Learning this pattern lets you write answers that hit every marking point directly.

At The Admissions Academy, we teach students to ‘think like an examiner’. Once you understand how marks are awarded, you can tailor your writing for maximum impact and clarity.

Conclusion

Getting a great mark in A Level Chemistry isn’t about luck — it’s about consistency and understanding.

• Master the full syllabus.

• Practise past papers regularly.

• Memorise equations and reaction conditions.

• Ask for help when you need it.

• Use mark schemes to your advantage.

At The Admissions Academy, we’ve helped students achieve A’s and A*s using these exact principles. Chemistry rewards precision, logic, and effort — and with the right approach, you can absolutely achieve your best grade.