OxfordAQA · A Level
OxfordAQA A Level Chemistry
OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Chemistry (9620). What it covers, how it is assessed, a link to the official specification, and the free study material Marlbridge publishes for it.
- Syllabus
- 9620
- Board
- OxfordAQA
- Qualification
- A Level
- Not your course?
- Change course
Topics and resources
Each topic below is from the official OxfordAQA document for OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Chemistry (9620), with its study guides, revision notes and practice questions together. Everything here is for OxfordAQA A Level Chemistry (9620) only.
- Learn with study guides
- Revise with revision notes
- Practise with practice questions
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AS Level
Topics 1–7, 13–15, 19–24. Usually studied in the first year, and assessed at AS.
- AS topic 1
Atomic structure
Covers Fundamental particles, Mass number and isotopes, Electron configuration
Study guides
Revision notes
No revision notes for this topic yet.
Practice questions
No practice questions for this topic yet.
- AS topic 2
Amount of substance
Covers Relative atomic mass and relative molecular mass, The mole and the Avogadro constant, The ideal gas equation, Empirical and molecular formula, Balanced equations and associated calculations
Revision notes
No revision notes for this topic yet.
Practice questions
No practice questions for this topic yet.
- AS topic 3
Bonding
Covers Ionic bonding, Nature of covalent and dative covalent bonds, Metallic bonding, Bonding and physical properties, Shapes of simple molecules and ions, Bond polarity, Forces between molecules
Study guides
Revision notes
No revision notes for this topic yet.
Practice questions
No practice questions for this topic yet.
- AS topic 4
Energetics
Covers Enthalpy change, Calorimetry, Applications of Hess’s law, Bond enthalpies
Revision notes
No revision notes for this topic yet.
Practice questions
No practice questions for this topic yet.
- AS topic 5
Oxidation, reduction and redox equations
Covers Oxidation, reduction and redox equations
Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 6
Kinetics
Covers Collision theory, Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution, Effect of temperature on reaction rate, Effect of concentration and pressure, Catalysts
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 7
Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc
Covers Chemical equilibria and Le Chatelier’s principle, Equilibrium constant Kc for homogeneous systems
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 13
Periodicity
Covers Classification, Physical properties of Period 3 elements
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 14
Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
Covers Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 15
Group 7(17), the halogens
Covers Trends in properties, Uses of chlorine and chlorate(I)
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 19
Introduction to organic chemistry
Covers Nomenclature, Reaction mechanisms, Isomerism
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 20
Alkanes
Covers Fractional distillation of crude oil, Modification of alkanes by cracking, Combustion of alkanes, Chlorination of alkanes
Study guides
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Practice questions
- AS topic 21
Halogenoalkanes
Covers Nucleophilic substitution, Elimination
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Practice questions
- AS topic 22
Alkenes
Covers Structure, bonding and reactivity, Addition reactions of alkenes, Addition polymers, Epoxyethane
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Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 23
Alcohols
Covers Oxidation of alcohols, Elimination
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Practice questions
- AS topic 24
Organic analysis
Covers Identification of functional groups by test tube reactions, Mass spectrometry, Infrared spectroscopy
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Revision notes
Practice questions
A Level
Topics 8–12, 16–18, 25–34. Studied in addition to the AS content for the full A Level.
- A Level topic 8
Thermodynamics
Covers Born–Haber cycles, Gibbs free-energy change, ∆G, and entropy change, ∆S
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- A Level topic 9
Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells
Covers Electrode potentials and cells, Commercial applications of electrochemical cells
- A Level topic 10
Acids and bases
Covers Brønsted–Lowry acid–base equilibria in aqueous solution, Definition and determination of pH, The ionic product of water, Kw, Weak acids and bases; Ka for weak acids, pH curves, titrations and indicators, Buffer action
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- A Level topic 11
Rate equations
Covers Rate equations, Determination of rate equation
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- A Level topic 12
Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems
Covers Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems
- A Level topic 16
Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides and chlorides
Covers Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides and chlorides
- A Level topic 17
Transition metals
Covers General properties of transition metals, Substitution reactions, Shapes of complex ions, Formation of coloured ions, Variable oxidation states, Catalysts
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- A Level topic 18
Reactions of ions in aqueous solution
Covers Reactions of ions in aqueous solution
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Practice questions
- A Level topic 25
Optical isomerism
Covers Optical isomerism
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Revision notes
Practice questions
- A Level topic 26
Aldehydes and ketones
Covers Aldehydes and ketones
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Practice questions
- A Level topic 27
Carboxylic acids and derivatives
Covers Carboxylic acids and esters, Acylation
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Revision notes
Practice questions
- A Level topic 28
Aromatic chemistry
Covers Bonding, Electrophilic substitution
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- A Level topic 29
Amines
Covers Preparation, Base properties, Nucleophilic properties
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- A Level topic 30
Polymers
Covers Condensation polymers, Biodegradability and disposal of polymers
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Practice questions
- A Level topic 31
Amino acids and proteins
Covers Amino acids, Proteins, Action of anticancer drugs
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Practice questions
- A Level topic 32
Organic synthesis
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- A Level topic 33
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Covers Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
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Practice questions
- A Level topic 34
Chromatography
Covers Chromatography
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Practice questions
Source: OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Chemistry (9620) specification, Version 5.3, Section 3 Subject content (all 87 sub-topic names re-checked against it, 2026-09-16) — For teaching from September 2019 (exams from May/June 2020) onwards. Verified 2026-09-16. Subtopics are shown where Marlbridge has entered them; a topic may have more in the official document. A topic listed here is part of the syllabus; it does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.
About this course
- Qualification
- OxfordAQA A Level Chemistry
- Spec code
- 9620
- Does Marlbridge teach it?
- Yes — request a free trial class
- Who teaches it?
- Farhat ul Ain Sehgal · Nouman Ahmed
- Are resources available?
- Yes — 95 published
- Is enrolment open?
- Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
- Official specification
- OxfordAQA specification
- Topic checklist
- Printable 9620 checklist
- Where was this verified?
- 2026-08-18, official OxfordAQA specification
Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official OxfordAQA specification on 2026-08-18.
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.
The qualification
OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Chemistry (9620)
Marlbridge's summary of the course
Mirroring the way many universities split their content, each section begins with an overview, which puts the topic into a broader chemical context and ensures understanding of the place of each topic within the subject.
The board's own description is on the official OxfordAQA syllabus page.
Structured around physical, inorganic and organic chemistry across five units, with a dedicated Practical and Synoptic paper at A2 built on ten required practicals (assessed through written questions rather than a hands-on exam). AS units are worth 50% of the AS award or 20% each toward the full A-level. First teaching September 2019; first AS and A-level exams May/June 2020 — a later first-teaching cohort than OxfordAQA's Biology and Physics AS/A-level.
Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the OxfordAQA syllabus page for your examination year.
Assessment structure
Modular qualification
| Component | Duration | Marks | Weighting | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS Paper 1: AS Paper 1 – Unit 1: Inorganic 1 and Physical 1 | 1h 30m | 70 | 20% | Written exam |
| AS Paper 2: AS Paper 2 – Unit 2: Organic 1 and Physical 1 | 1h 30m | 70 | 20% | Written exam |
| A-level Paper 1: A-level Paper 1 – Unit 3: Inorganic 2 and Physical 2 | 1h 30m | 80 | 21% | Written exam |
| A-level Paper 2: A-level Paper 2 – Unit 4: Organic 2 and Physical 2 | 1h 30m | 80 | 21% | Written exam |
| A-level Paper 3: A-level Paper 3 – Unit 5: Practical and Synoptic Paper | 1h 25m | 60 | 18% | Written exam |
Source: official OxfordAQA specification, verified 2026-08-28. Directly confirmed against the official live "Assessment" section: a modular qualification of five papers – two AS papers at 20% of A-level each, two A2 papers at 21% each, and a dedicated Practical and Synoptic paper at 18%, summing to 100%. Ten required practicals are assessed through the written papers rather than a hands-on exam. A later first-teaching cohort than OxfordAQA's own Biology and Physics AS/A-level: first teaching September 2019; first AS and A-level exams May/June 2020.
Questions about this course
How is OxfordAQA Chemistry (9620) assessed?
OxfordAQA Chemistry (9620) is assessed through: AS Paper 1 (AS Paper 1 – Unit 1: Inorganic 1 and Physical 1) — 1h 30m, 70 marks, 20% of the qualification; AS Paper 2 (AS Paper 2 – Unit 2: Organic 1 and Physical 1) — 1h 30m, 70 marks, 20% of the qualification; A-level Paper 1 (A-level Paper 1 – Unit 3: Inorganic 2 and Physical 2) — 1h 30m, 80 marks, 21% of the qualification; A-level Paper 2 (A-level Paper 2 – Unit 4: Organic 2 and Physical 2) — 1h 30m, 80 marks, 21% of the qualification; A-level Paper 3 (A-level Paper 3 – Unit 5: Practical and Synoptic Paper) — 1h 25m, 60 marks, 18% of the qualification. It is a modular qualification. Source: official OxfordAQA specification, verified 2026-08-28.
What topics does OxfordAQA A Level Chemistry (9620) cover?
34 topics in the current syllabus: Atomic structure; Amount of substance; Bonding; Energetics; Oxidation, reduction and redox equations; Kinetics; Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc; Thermodynamics; Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells; Acids and bases; Rate equations; Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems; Periodicity; Group 2, the alkaline earth metals; Group 7(17), the halogens; Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides and chlorides; Transition metals; Reactions of ions in aqueous solution; Introduction to organic chemistry; Alkanes; Halogenoalkanes; Alkenes; Alcohols; Organic analysis; Optical isomerism; Aldehydes and ketones; Carboxylic acids and derivatives; Aromatic chemistry; Amines; Polymers; Amino acids and proteins; Organic synthesis; Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Chromatography. The printable topic checklist lists every topic and subtopic on one page.
Can I get a tutor for OxfordAQA A Level Chemistry (9620)?
Yes. Marlbridge teaches OxfordAQA A Level Chemistry (9620) live online, one-to-one or in small groups, taught by a named subject teacher from its academy in Lahore, Pakistan. The first trial class is free.
Are there free OxfordAQA A Level Chemistry (9620) revision notes and practice questions?
Yes. Marlbridge has published 95 free resources for this course (study guides, practice questions, revision notes), free to read with no sign-up.
The subject
Chemistry teaching and study resources, organised by level and topic.
Chemistry at other qualifications
These are separate qualifications with different syllabuses and assessments — not different names for the same course. Check which one your school enters you for.
- Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry Syllabus 4CH1
- AQA GCSE Chemistry Syllabus 8462
- OCR GCSE Chemistry Syllabus J248
- OxfordAQA IGCSE Chemistry Syllabus 9202
- Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Syllabus 0620
- Cambridge O Level Chemistry Syllabus 5070
- International Baccalaureate IB Diploma Programme Chemistry Syllabus DP Chemistry
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