Overall assessment breakdown

Stage 2 Chemistry uses the same broad structure as Biology:

• Investigations Folio — 30%
• Skills and Applications Tasks — 40%
• external examination — 30%

Students complete:

• one or two practical investigations
• one Science as a Human Endeavour investigation
• three or four Skills and Applications Tasks
• one external examination

This gives six or seven assessments overall.

Practical investigations and D&D tasks

Practical investigations assess students’ ability to design and carry out chemical investigations safely, collect reliable data and use that evidence to support a conclusion.

At least one practical should include an individual deconstruction and design component. Students break the problem into its key requirements, identify variables, select equipment, design a logical method and justify why the approach is appropriate. This planning evidence is limited to four A4 sides at a minimum font size of 10.

Common practical contexts may include:

• volumetric analysis and titration
• reaction rates
• equilibrium systems
• chromatography
• calorimetry and fuels
• electrochemical cells
• water analysis or treatment

The report may be up to 1500 words or nine minutes and includes relevant chemistry, the method, risk management, results, analysis, evaluation and a justified conclusion.

High-level work uses correct units, significant figures, tables, graphs and chemical conventions. Students should connect trends to collision theory, equilibrium, bonding, intermolecular forces or another relevant principle. Evaluations need to explain the effect of an error on the data, not merely state that “human error may have occurred”.

Science as a Human Endeavour investigation

The Chemistry SHE task investigates a recent development, issue or innovation and how it interacts with society. Possible areas include:

• green hydrogen production
• fuel cells and battery technologies
• carbon capture or ocean-acidification responses
• catalytic-converter development
• sustainable metal extraction
• desalination and water-treatment technologies
• biodegradable polymers and chemical recycling
• lower-emission fuels or green chemistry

A strong SHE response clearly explains the chemistry before examining development, collaboration, benefits, risks, limitations and social or economic influences. The task should not become a general environmental essay with only a few chemical terms added.

The report may be up to 1500 words or nine minutes and requires proper referencing.

Skills and Applications Tasks — 40%

Students complete three or four SATs, with at least two under direct supervision. Each supervised task may use up to 90 minutes of class time, excluding reading time.

A typical four-task sequence may follow the official topics:

1. monitoring the environment and analytical chemistry
2. managing chemical processes
3. organic and biological chemistry
4. managing resources

These tasks usually mix conceptual explanations with calculations, equations, data analysis and application to unfamiliar contexts. Students may need to complete stoichiometry, titration, equilibrium, pH, thermochemical or electrochemical calculations while also explaining the chemistry at particle or molecular level.

The best revision combines calculation practice with written explanation. Students should maintain a formula-and-units checklist, practise balancing all relevant equations and complete data-analysis questions without relying on memorised wording.

External examination — 30%

The Chemistry examination is 130 minutes and may assess inquiry skills and content from all four topics, including questions that connect several areas. Students receive a reference sheet containing a periodic table, SI prefixes, common quantity symbols, selected mathematical relationships and a metal-activity table.

Markers look for accurate calculations, appropriate significant figures, balanced equations, correct chemical terminology and explanations grounded in molecular or particle behaviour. Past-paper practice should be completed under timed conditions, followed by careful review of every lost mark. Chemistry rewards students who can move comfortably between equations, calculations, experimental evidence and written reasoning.