AQA A-Level Chemistry exam papers and weighting (7405)
Guide overview All 18 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
What each AQA A-Level Chemistry paper assesses
AQA A-Level Chemistry (specification 7405) is assessed by three written papers taken at the end of the two-year course, each lasting 2 hours. Paper 1 covers inorganic chemistry and most of physical chemistry, and Paper 2 covers organic chemistry with the physical topics that underpin it, both carrying 105 marks. Paper 3 carries 90 marks and can draw on any content, with questions on practical techniques and data analysis alongside multiple choice. Practical skills are assessed across all three papers and separately through the practical endorsement.
| Paper | Covers | Length | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Paper 1 Inorganic and physical chemistry |
Physical chemistry: atomic structure, amount of substance, bonding, energetics, chemical equilibria and Le Chatelier's principle, oxidation and reduction, thermodynamics, the equilibrium constant Kp, electrode potentials and electrochemical cells, acids and bases Inorganic chemistry: periodicity, Group 2, Group 7, Period 3 oxides, transition metals, reactions of ions in aqueous solution Relevant practical skills |
2 hours | 105 marks | 35% |
|
Paper 2 Organic and physical chemistry |
Physical chemistry: amount of substance, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibria, rate equations Organic chemistry: from the introduction through to NMR and chromatography Relevant practical skills |
2 hours | 105 marks | 35% |
|
Paper 3 Any content, plus practical skills |
Any content from the specification Practical techniques and data analysis A section of multiple choice questions |
2 hours | 90 marks | 30% |
Every topic, and where it is examined
| Topic | Examined on | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Structure | Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 | 98 |
| Amount of Substance | Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 | 129 |
| Bonding | Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 | 145 |
| Energetics and Thermodynamics | Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 | 124 |
| Kinetics | Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 | 142 |
| Chemical Equilibria | Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 | 87 |
| Redox and Electrochemistry | Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 | 115 |
| Acids and Bases | Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 | 132 |
| Periodicity and Group Chemistry | Paper 1, Paper 3 | 219 |
| Period 3 Elements and Their Oxides | Paper 1, Paper 3 | 108 |
| Transition Metals | Paper 1, Paper 3 | 337 |
| Introduction to Organic Chemistry | Paper 2, Paper 3 | 111 |
| Hydrocarbons | Paper 2, Paper 3 | 121 |
| Halogenoalkanes, Alcohols and Organic Analysis | Paper 2, Paper 3 | 192 |
| Carbonyls, Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives | Paper 2, Paper 3 | 176 |
| Aromatic Chemistry and Amines | Paper 2, Paper 3 | 88 |
| Polymers, Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA | Paper 2, Paper 3 | 142 |
| Organic Synthesis, NMR and Chromatography | Paper 2, Paper 3 | 145 |
Assessment details from the AQA AS and A-level Chemistry, specification 7405. AQA specification at a glance.
AQA A-Level Chemistry Active Recall Guide
2,611 questions across every paper on the specification.