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Northern Ireland · CCEA2026

CCEA A-Level Chemistry: complete guide to the AS and A2 units, the exams and how to study each module

A complete guide to CCEA A-Level Chemistry (specification 2016). Covers the physical, inorganic and organic content across AS 1, AS 2, A2 1 and A2 2, the practical and mathematical skills, how the AS and A2 exams are structured and marked, and how to study each module for top grades.

Browse guides →Syllabus dot points (29)

CCEA A-Level Chemistry (specification first taught 2016) is a two-year course split into AS and A2, set and marked by CCEA in Northern Ireland. This page is the index: below is a map of the four content modules, the practical and mathematical skills, the assessment structure, and how to study each module.

The CCEA Chemistry modules

The specification groups the subject content into four examined units, studied across the AS and A2 years.

AS 1 Basic Concepts in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry. The foundation. It covers atomic structure and mass spectrometry, amount of substance (the mole, the ideal gas equation, titrations, yield and atom economy), bonding and structure with molecular shapes, intermolecular forces, redox chemistry, energetics, kinetics and equilibrium. The unifying idea is the quantitative, model-based foundation of the whole subject.

AS 2 Further Physical and Inorganic Chemistry and an Introduction to Organic Chemistry. The bridge into organic chemistry. It covers periodic trends, Group II and Group VII, qualitative analysis, organic nomenclature and isomerism, the chemistry of alkanes, alkenes and haloalkanes and alcohols, and infrared and mass spectrometry. The unifying ideas are periodicity, functional-group chemistry and structure determination.

A2 1 Further Physical and Organic Chemistry. The most demanding unit. It covers thermodynamics and Born-Haber cycles, rate equations, the equilibrium constant Kp, acid-base equilibria, stereochemistry, and the organic families of carbonyl compounds, carboxylic acids and derivatives, amines and amino acids, and aromatic chemistry. The unifying idea is quantitative physical chemistry alongside richer organic reactions.

A2 2 Analytical, Transition Metals, Electrochemistry and Organic Chemistry. The synoptic finish. It covers transition metals and complexes, electrode potentials and cells, analytical chemistry, chromatography and NMR, and organic synthesis and polymers. The unifying ideas are analysis, electrochemistry and the building of complex molecules.

Practical and mathematical skills

Practical skills are compulsory and assessed in dedicated units (AS 3 and A2 3), which include a practical examination and a planning and analysis task rather than a separately graded report. Mathematical skills are embedded throughout: the mole and titration calculations, the ideal gas equation, energetics and Born-Haber cycles, rate equations, Kp and pH calculations, electrode potentials, and data and uncertainty handling. These skills are examined across the written papers as well as in the practical units.

Assessment structure

CCEA A-Level Chemistry is split between AS (40 percent) and A2 (60 percent), with both written papers and assessed practical units.

  • AS 1 Basic Concepts in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry - a written paper on atomic structure, the mole, bonding, energetics, kinetics and equilibrium.
  • AS 2 Further Physical and Inorganic and Introduction to Organic - a written paper on periodicity, group chemistry, qualitative analysis and the first organic families.
  • AS 3 Practical Skills in Assessment of Chemistry - assessment of practical and investigative skills.
  • A2 1 Further Physical and Organic Chemistry - a written paper on thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibria, acid-base chemistry and further organic chemistry.
  • A2 2 Analytical, Transition Metals, Electrochemistry and Organic Chemistry - a written paper on transition metals, electrochemistry, analysis and synthesis.
  • A2 3 Practical Skills in Assessment of Chemistry - a practical examination and a planning and analysis task.

How to study CCEA Chemistry

Chemistry rewards fluent calculation, precise definitions, and confident mechanism and spectral work.

  1. Work from the specification statements. Each numbered point is a checklist; questions are written from them.
  2. Drill the calculations. Moles, titrations, energetics, rate equations, Kp, pH and electrode potentials recur every year, with method marks for working and units.
  3. Learn definitions and named tests precisely. Oxidation number rules, enthalpy terms, and the ion, gas and carbonyl tests are tested by name.
  4. Rehearse the organic mechanisms. Draw free-radical, electrophilic addition, nucleophilic substitution and electrophilic substitution mechanisms with curly arrows.
  5. Combine the spectra. Practise reading infrared, mass and NMR spectra together for structure determination, and prepare thoroughly for the practical units.

The modules, dot point by dot point

Each module has a specification-level overview with worked questions and cross-links, plus dot-point pages and a quiz. Browse the full set at /ccea-a-level/chemistry/syllabus.

For the official specification

CCEA publishes the full specification, past papers and mark schemes at ccea.org.uk. Always revise from the current CCEA specification and CCEA's own past papers, because question style and practical expectations are board-specific.

Chemistry guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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Chemistry practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The CCEA-A-LEVEL system, explained

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Common questions about Chemistry

How is CCEA A-Level Chemistry structured?
CCEA A-Level Chemistry is a two-year course split into AS and A2. AS has two written units, AS 1 Basic Concepts in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry and AS 2 Further Physical and Inorganic Chemistry and an Introduction to Organic Chemistry, plus AS 3 which assesses practical skills, and the AS counts for 40 percent of the full A-Level. A2 has A2 1 Further Physical and Organic Chemistry and A2 2 Analytical, Transition Metals, Electrochemistry and Organic Chemistry, plus A2 3 which assesses practical skills, and the A2 counts for 60 percent. Practical and mathematical skills are embedded throughout.
What are the CCEA A-Level Chemistry exam papers?
At AS, AS 1 and AS 2 are each a written paper, and AS 3 assesses practical skills. At A2, A2 1 and A2 2 are written papers, and A2 3 assesses practical skills through a practical examination and a planning and analysis component. The written papers use structured short-answer questions, calculation and data questions, mechanism and equation questions, and some extended writing.
What topics are in CCEA A-Level Chemistry?
The content runs from physical and inorganic foundations into organic and analytical chemistry. AS 1 covers atomic structure, the mole, bonding, intermolecular forces, redox, energetics, kinetics and equilibrium. AS 2 covers periodic and group trends, qualitative analysis, and the first organic families with infrared and mass spectrometry. A2 1 covers thermodynamics, rate equations, Kp, acid-base equilibria, stereochemistry and further organic chemistry. A2 2 covers transition metals, electrochemistry, analytical methods, NMR and chromatography, and organic synthesis and polymers.
How much practical and maths work is in CCEA A-Level Chemistry?
Practical skills are compulsory and assessed in dedicated units (AS 3 and A2 3), which include a practical examination and a planning and analysis task. Mathematical skills run throughout: students use the mole and titration calculations, the ideal gas equation, energetics and Born-Haber cycles, rate equations, Kp and pH calculations, electrode potentials, and the handling of data and uncertainty. A calculator is allowed in the written papers.
How should I revise CCEA A-Level Chemistry?
Work module by module against the specification statements, because questions are written from them. Drill the calculations until they are automatic, learn the definitions, oxidation number rules and named tests precisely, and rehearse the organic mechanisms with curly arrows. Practise interpreting infrared, mass and NMR spectra together, and prepare thoroughly for the practical units, which carry their own assessment.
How does CCEA A-Level Chemistry compare to other exam boards?
All A-Level Chemistry specifications cover the same regulated core, so atomic structure, bonding, energetics, organic chemistry and analysis appear everywhere. CCEA's distinctive features are its AS and A2 unit structure, its dedicated practical-skills units (AS 3 and A2 3) with a practical examination, and its particular grouping of content across the four written units. Always revise from the current CCEA specification and CCEA past papers, because question style and practical expectations are board-specific.
What's the difference between ionic and covalent bonding?
Ionic: electrons are transferred between atoms (typically metal + non-metal); forms a lattice. Covalent: electrons are shared (non-metal + non-metal); forms discrete molecules or networks.
How do I calculate pH?
pH = -log₁₀[H⁺]. For strong acids/bases, [H⁺] equals the concentration. For weak acids, use Ka. For buffers, use Henderson-Hasselbalch.
What's Le Chatelier's principle?
When a system at equilibrium is disturbed (concentration, temperature, pressure change), the equilibrium shifts to partially counteract the disturbance.
How do I balance a redox equation?
Identify the half-reactions (oxidation and reduction), balance atoms (excluding O and H), balance O with H₂O and H with H⁺, balance charge with electrons, then combine so electrons cancel.
What's the difference between enthalpy and entropy?
Enthalpy (ΔH) is the heat change of a reaction. Entropy (ΔS) is the change in disorder. Gibbs free energy (ΔG = ΔH - TΔS) tells you if the reaction is spontaneous.