How Many A Level Chemistry Papers Are There?
Written by: Philippa Platt
Reviewed by: Richard Boole
Published
Contents
Planning your A Level Chemistry revision and wondering exactly how many exam papers you’ll be facing? You’re not alone! This is one of the most common questions students ask when they start preparing for their exams.
If you’re just starting out, you might be asking, What is A Level Chemistry? The answer depends entirely on your exam board, and crucially, whether you are studying a UK-based A Level or an International A Level (IAL). The structures are quite different.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about A Level Chemistry papers across the major exam boards.
Quick Answer – A Level Chemistry Paper Overview
For students in the UK, all major exam boards (AQA, OCR, and Edexcel) use a 3-paper structure for the full A-Level qualification.
UK A-Level Exam Boards
Board | Number of papers | Total Exam Time |
AQA (7405) | 3 | 6 hours |
OCR A (H432) | 3 | 6 hours |
Edexcel (9CH0) | 3 | 6 hours |
For international students, the structure is more varied, with some boards using a modular system and assessing practical skills differently.
International A-Level (IAL) Exam Boards
Board | Number of papers | Total Exam Time |
Edexcel IAL (YCH11) | 6 | 9hrs 10 mins |
CAIE (9701) | 5 | 7 hrs 45 mins |
Oxford IAL (9620) | 5 | 7 hrs 25 mins |
A-Level Chemistry Papers in the UK
For students in the UK, the qualification is linear, meaning all exams are taken at the end of the two-year course. The AQA, OCR and Edexcel exam boards all use a three-paper structure.
While the paper formats have slight differences, the core syllabus is broadly similar. For a full breakdown of the syllabus for each UK board, you can review our guide to A-Level Chemistry Topics by Exam Board.
Let's look at each board in detail.
AQA A Level Chemistry Exam Papers (7405)
AQA's A Level Chemistry course is linear, meaning all exams are taken at the end of the two years. The assessment style is topic-based, splitting content between two main papers and using a third to test synoptic links and practical skills from across the entire specification.
A Level (Full Qualification)
Paper 1: Inorganic & Physical Chemistry (2 hr, 105 marks, 35% of A-Level)
Paper 2: Organic & Physical Chemistry (2 hr, 105 marks, 35% of A-Level)
Paper 3: Any content + practical skills (2 hr, 90 marks, 30% of A-Level)
Alongside the three written papers, students must also complete the Practical Endorsement, which is a pass/fail assessment of their lab skills conducted by their school.
AS Level (Separate Qualification)
For students sitting the separate AS qualification after the first year, the structure consists of two papers:
Paper 1: Inorganic & Physical Chemistry (1 hr 30 min, 80 marks, 50% of AS)
Paper 2: Organic & Physical Chemistry (1 hr 30 min, 80 marks, 50% of AS)
Ready to start studying for your AQA papers? Explore our full range of resources:
OCR A Level Chemistry Exam Papers (H432)
OCR A's A Level Chemistry course is linear, with all exams taken at the end of the course. Its assessment style is designed to test breadth and depth of knowledge in the first two papers, followed by a unified chemistry paper that brings all concepts together synoptically.
A Level (Full Qualification)
Paper 1: Periodic Table, Elements and Physical Chemistry (2 hr 15 min, 100 marks, 37% of A-Level)
Paper 2: Synthesis and Analytical Techniques (2 hr 15 min, 100 marks, 37% of A-Level)
Paper 3: Unified Chemistry (1 hr 30 min, 70 marks, 26% of A-Level)
Students are also required to complete the Practical Endorsement, a non-exam assessment of practical skills which is graded as Pass or Fail.
AS Level (Separate Qualification)
For students sitting the separate AS qualification, the structure is:
Paper 1: Breadth in Chemistry (1 hr 30 min, 70 marks, 50% of AS)
Paper 2: Depth in Chemistry (1 hr 30 min, 70 marks, 50% of AS)
Preparing for your OCR A exams? We have the resources you need:
Edexcel A Level Chemistry Exam Papers (9CH0)
Edexcel's A Level Chemistry course is linear, with exams taken at the end of two years. Its assessment style features two topic-focused papers and a heavily weighted final paper dedicated to general principles, synoptic links and practical skills.
A Level (Full Qualification)
Paper 1: Advanced Inorganic and Physical Chemistry (1 hr 45 min, 90 marks, 30% of A-Level)
Paper 2: Advanced Organic and Physical Chemistry (1 hr 45 min, 90 marks, 30% of A-Level)
Paper 3: General and Practical Principles in Chemistry (2 hr 30 min, 120 marks, 40% of A-Level)
Students also complete a Practical Endorsement, which is assessed by their teachers as a Pass or Fail.
AS Level (Separate Qualification)
For students taking the standalone AS qualification, the structure is:
Paper 1: Core Inorganic and Physical Chemistry (1 hr 30 min, 80 marks, 50% of AS)
Paper 2: Core Organic and Physical Chemistry (1 hr 30 min, 80 marks, 50% of AS)
Getting started with your Edexcel revision? We've got you covered:
International A-Level (IAL) Chemistry Papers
The international versions of A-Level Chemistry are structured differently from their UK counterparts. They are typically modular, meaning the full A-Level is built from individual units that can be sat in different exam sessions.
You'll also find that practical skills are often assessed via formal exams—either written or hands-on—instead of the in-school Practical Endorsement used in the UK.
Here’s a breakdown of the structures for the main international boards.
Edexcel International A Level (IAL) Chemistry Papers
The Edexcel International A-Level in Chemistry is a modular qualification. This means the full A-Level is awarded based on marks from six separate papers (or "units") which can be taken in different exam sessions. The first three units also make up the standalone IAS (AS-Level) qualification.
A key feature of Edexcel IAL is that practical skills are assessed in two dedicated written papers (Unit 3 and Unit 6).
The six units that comprise the full A-Level are:
AS Units (IAS)
Unit 1: Structure, Bonding and Introduction to Organic Chemistry (1 hr 30 min, 20% of IAL)
Unit 2: Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes and Alcohols (1 hr 30 min, 20% of IAL)
Unit 3: Practical Skills in Chemistry I (1 hr 20 min, 10% of IAL)
A2 Units
Unit 4: Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry (1 hr 45 min, 20% of IAL)
Unit 5: Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry (1 hr 45 min, 20% of IAL)
Unit 6: Practical Skills in Chemistry II (1 hr 20 min, 10% of IAL)
Tackling the Edexcel IAL? Find all the resources you need for each unit:
Cambridge International (CAIE) A Level Chemistry Papers (9701)
The Cambridge International (CAIE) A Level is a popular international qualification with a staged assessment route. Students can complete the AS Level papers as a standalone qualification, or carry those results forward and take the A2 papers later to achieve a full A Level.
A key feature of CAIE is its practical assessment, which is a hands-on lab exam (Paper 3).
AS Level Qualification
Students sit the following three papers:
Paper 1: Multiple Choice (1 hr 15 min, 15.5% of A-Level)
Paper 2: AS-Level Structured Questions (1 hr 15 min, 23% of A-Level)
Paper 3: Advanced Practical Skills (2 hr, 11.5% of A-Level)
Full A Level Qualification
To achieve the full A Level, students take the three AS papers plus the following two papers:
Paper 4: A-Level Structured Questions (2 hr, 38.5% of A-Level)
Paper 5: Planning, Analysis and Evaluation (1 hr 15 min, 11.5% of A-Level)
This means the full A Level qualification is made up of 5 papers in total.
Preparing for your Cambridge exams? We have all the resources you need:
Oxford AQA International A Level (IAL) Chemistry (9620)
The Oxford AQA International A Level in Chemistry is a modular course built from five papers (or "units"). A key feature is that practical skills are assessed within the written exams, rather than through a separate practical endorsement.
The full A Level is awarded based on marks from all five units. The first two units also make up the standalone AS Level qualification.
The five units that comprise the full A-Level are:
AS Units
Unit 1: Inorganic 1 and Physical 1 (1 hr 30 min, 20% of A-Level)
Unit 2: Organic 1 and Physical 1 (1 hr 30 min, 20% of A-Level)
A2 Units
Unit 3: Inorganic 2 and Physical 2 (1 hr 30 min, 21% of A-Level)
Unit 4: Organic 2 and Physical 2 (1 hr 30 min, 21% of A-Level)
Unit 5: Practical and Synoptic (1 hr 25 min, 18% of A-Level)
Studying for the Oxford AQA IAL? Find the resources you need below:
Why Exam Structures Differ by Exam Board?
Each exam board has its own educational philosophy, which is why they assess A-Level Chemistry in slightly different ways. The main differences you'll see are:
Content split:
Some boards, like AQA and Edexcel, use a topic-based approach, splitting content logically between papers (e.g., Inorganic/Physical in Paper 1, Organic/Physical in Paper 2).
OCR A prefers a "breadth and depth" model, assessing the whole course in different ways across its papers.
Practical assessment: This is the biggest point of difference.
UK Boards (AQA, OCR, Edexcel): Use a separate, non-exam Practical Endorsement (Pass/Fail).
International Boards (CAIE, Edexcel IAL): Have dedicated practical exam papers.
Oxford AQA IAL: Uniquely integrates practical and synoptic assessment into its final written paper.
Synoptic assessment:
All boards test your ability to make connections across the entire syllabus, but they do it differently, usually in the final paper (e.g., AQA Paper 3, OCR A Paper 3, Edexcel Paper 3).
This is why knowing your specific exam board and specification code is the most important first step in your studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do All Exam Boards Have 3 A Level Chemistry Papers?
Most UK exam boards (AQA, OCR, Edexcel) use a three-paper structure for A Level Chemistry.
However, the International A-Levels are structured differently. Both Cambridge International (CAIE) and Oxford AQA IAL use a five-paper structure for the full A-Level, while Edexcel IAL is a modular course made up of six papers (called units).
Are Practical Skills Directly Tested in the Exam?
Yes, absolutely, but the method of assessment is one of the biggest differences between the exam boards. There are three main approaches:
Practical Endorsement (AQA, OCR, Edexcel - UK):
Your practical skills are assessed by your teacher throughout the course, resulting in a "Pass" or "Fail" on your final certificate.
The written exams will then test your understanding of practical techniques.
Hands-On Practical Exam (Cambridge International - CAIE):
You will sit Paper 3, which is a timed, supervised practical exam where you actually carry out experiments in exam conditions.
Written Practical Papers (Edexcel IAL & Oxford AQA IAL):
You will sit separate, timed written papers (like Edexcel IAL's Unit 3 and Unit 6) that are dedicated to assessing your knowledge of experimental methods, data analysis, and evaluation.
There is no hands-on lab component in the exam itself.
Final Thoughts
The most important takeaway is this: the number of A Level Chemistry papers you'll sit depends entirely on your exam board. Your first and most critical step is to confirm your exact exam board and specification code (e.g., AQA 7405, OCR A H432).
Once you know this, you can use the summary below to be certain of your exam structure.
A-Level Chemistry Papers: A Final Summary
Exam Board | Number of A-Level Papers |
AQA, OCR A, Edexcel (UK) | 3 Papers |
Cambridge International (CAIE), Oxford AQA (IAL) | 5 Papers |
Edexcel IAL | 6 Papers (Units) |
Knowing your exam structure isn't just about facts; it's the foundation of a smart study strategy. It allows you to target the specific skills each paper tests and manage your time effectively. For a complete guide on building that strategy, check out our articles on How to Make an A-Level Revision Timetable and How to Revise for A-Level Chemistry.
Ready to start studying? Save My Exams has a complete library of resources. These include revision notes, exam questions and past papers, all tailored to your specific exam board, helping you prepare for every single paper with confidence.
Explore all A Level Chemistry Resources now.
References
AQA A Level Chemistry Specification (opens in a new tab)
OCR A Level Specification (opens in a new tab)
Edexcel A Level Chemistry Specification (opens in a new tab)
Edexcel IAL Chemistry Specification (opens in a new tab)
CIE IAL Chemistry Specification (opens in a new tab)
Oxford IAL Chemistry Specification (opens in a new tab)
Sign up for articles sent directly to your inbox
Receive news, articles and guides directly from our team of experts.
Share this article
written revision resources that improve your