Sixth Form Subject Guide 2019-2021 REDRAFTED Sixth Form Choices Guide | Page 58
IB Chemistry (Higher and Standard Level)
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: Mr M Kemp ([email protected])
Entry Requirements Grade 6 in GCSE Chemistry or 66 in Double science or equivalent (Grade 7 recommended)
Where next? Any student considering studying Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary science must study
chemistry. Other courses that benefit from study of the subject include natural sciences,
(chemical) engineering, biochemical and biomedical sciences, pharmacology and a host of other
science related degree courses.
Careers such as medicine, forensics, environmental science, drug discovery and marine biology
are just a handful of careers that benefit directly from chemistry. Indirectly, through the skills
you develop whilst studying chemistry, it is also great training for careers in law, business and
finance, consultancy, investment banking, publishing and sales and marketing. Successful
chemistry students can dissect novel problems, gather information and produce unequivocal
solutions. They are, more importantly, able to communicate those solutions in clear and concise
language to a range of audiences; these are skills, which are of great value in both academia and
the world of work.
WHAT WILL I STUDY?
Chemistry is divided into 3 disciplines:
Organic – study of carbon-based molecules.
Inorganic – study of the rest of the periodic table.
Physical – study of the laws underlying what atoms and molecules do
HOW IS THE COURSE ASSESSED?
The course consists of three linear exams, sat at the end of the two years. Internally assessed coursework makes up 20%
of the final mark.
Paper 1: 20% multiple-choice questions.
Paper 2: 40% for SL and 36% for HL (short and extended response questions)
Paper 3: 20% for SL and 24% for HL (data based and questions from the option topic)
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