A-level Chemistry: topics, exams and how hard it is
What A-level Chemistry covers in physical, inorganic and organic chemistry, how each board examines it, and which degrees require it.
A-level Chemistry had over 65,000 entries in 2026. It is required for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, pharmacy and chemistry, and is one of the most respected A-levels for almost any science or engineering course. It has a reputation for being hard, mainly because of the amount of maths (at least 20% of marks) and how much of the course builds on earlier topics.
What you study
- Physical chemistry: atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, energetics, kinetics, equilibria, redox, thermodynamics, electrode potentials and acids and bases.
- Inorganic chemistry: periodicity, Group 2, the halogens, the transition metals and reactions of ions in solution.
- Organic chemistry: alkanes to aromatic compounds, reaction mechanisms, polymers, amino acids and proteins, synthesis, and analysis by spectroscopy (NMR, IR and mass spectrometry).
The exact topics depend on the exam board your school or college uses, so check its specification.
How it is examined
Like all reformed A-levels, it is a linear two-year course: you sit all the exams at the end of Year 13, and an AS taken along the way does not count towards the A-level.
| Exam board | Code | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| AQA | 7405 | Three 2-hour papers. |
| OCR A | H432 | Three papers: two of 2 hours 15 minutes and one of 1½ hours. |
| OCR B (Salters) | H433 | Three papers, taught through storylines. |
| Pearson Edexcel | 9CH0 | Three papers: two of 1 hour 45 minutes and a synoptic paper of 2½ hours. |
Coursework: None, but see the practical endorsement below. Calculator: Calculators are allowed.
As in all A-level sciences, you also carry out a set of practical activities in class. Your teacher assesses them for the practical endorsement, which is reported separately as Pass or Not classified; it does not change your grade, but many universities expect a Pass. Questions about practical work also make up at least 15% of the marks in the written exams.
Grades and how hard it is
In summer 2026, 65,541 students took A-level Chemistry in the UK. 9.4% were awarded an A* and 32.3% an A* or A, compared with about 28% across all A-levels in England. See how subjects compare in the hardest and easiest A-levels.
Entry requirements: Usually a grade 7 in GCSE Chemistry or 7-7 in combined science, and a 6 or 7 in Maths.
Where it can lead
A-level Chemistry is useful for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, pharmacy, chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry and natural sciences.
Goes well with: Biology, Maths, Physics, Further Maths.
Work out what your predicted grades are worth with our UCAS points calculator.
Tips for doing well
- Master moles and calculations early: they run through the whole course.
- Learn organic mechanisms by drawing them, not just reading them.
- Use your board’s data sheet in practice so you know where everything is.
Questions people ask
Is A-level Chemistry one of the hardest A-levels?
It is often rated among the hardest, but 32.3% of entries got an A* or A in 2026, more than in Biology or Psychology.
Do I need A-level Chemistry for medicine?
Almost every UK medical school requires it, usually with Biology or another science.
How much maths is in A-level Chemistry?
At least 20% of the marks test maths skills, mostly calculations, rearranging equations, logarithms for pH and graphs.
