At a glance
- Qualification
- OxfordAQA A Level Chemistry
- Spec code
- 9620
- Does Marlbridge teach it?
- Yes
- Are resources available?
- Yes — 8 published
- Is enrolment open?
- Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
- 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)
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. — OxfordAQA, official 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.
Assessment FAQs
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.
The subject
Chemistry teaching and study resources, organised by level and topic.
Syllabus topics
Syllabus topics are being verified
Topics are published here once confirmed against the awarding body's syllabus document.
Study resources
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Study Guides
Amount of Substance: Moles, the Ideal Gas Equation and Atom Economy
Relative atomic and molecular mass, the mole and Avogadro constant, the ideal gas equation, empirical and molecular formulae, and balanced-equation calculations including percentage atom economy, for OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Chemistry 9620, section 3.1.2.
Chemistry · OxfordAQA · A LEVELS
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Study Guides
Atomic Structure: Fundamental Particles, Isotopes, TOF-MS and Electron Configuration
Fundamental particles, mass number and isotopes, the time-of-flight mass spectrometer, electron configuration to Z=36, and ionisation energy evidence for shell and sub-shell structure, for OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Chemistry 9620, section 3.1.1.
Chemistry · OxfordAQA · A LEVELS
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Study Guides
Bonding and Structure: Ionic, Covalent, Metallic Bonding and the Four Crystal Types
Ionic, covalent and dative covalent, and metallic bonding, and the four crystal structure types -- ionic, metallic, macromolecular and molecular -- with named example structures, for OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Chemistry 9620, sections 3.1.3.1 to 3.1.3.4.
Chemistry · OxfordAQA · A LEVELS
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Study Guides
Energetics: Enthalpy Change, Calorimetry, Hess's Law and Bond Enthalpies
Standard enthalpy changes of combustion and formation, calorimetry using q = mc∆T, Hess's law calculations, and mean bond enthalpy, for OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Chemistry 9620, section 3.1.4.
Chemistry · OxfordAQA · A LEVELS
-
Study Guides
Molecular Shapes, Bond Polarity and Intermolecular Forces
Electron-pair repulsion theory and molecular shapes, electronegativity and bond polarity, and the three types of intermolecular force including hydrogen bonding, for OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Chemistry 9620, sections 3.1.3.5 to 3.1.3.7.
Chemistry · OxfordAQA · A LEVELS
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Revision Notes
OxfordAQA A Level Chemistry: Equilibria and Le Chatelier Principle — Revision Notes
Condensed recall notes on dynamic equilibrium, Kc, Le Chatelier principle and industrial compromise for International A Level Chemistry (with the International A2 Kp extension, assessed in Unit 4, flagged separately).
Chemistry · OxfordAQA · A LEVELS
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Study Guides
Chemical Equilibria: Le Chatelier's Principle and the Equilibrium Constant Kc
Dynamic equilibrium, Le Chatelier's principle, and writing and using the equilibrium constant Kc, for OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Chemistry 9620, assessed in Unit 2.
Chemistry · OxfordAQA · A LEVELS
Revision material
Exam preparation
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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