HomeA-LevelChemistry
Organic synthesisOrganic analysis

A-Level Chemistry Tutoring & Prep Course

One-to-one A-Level Chemistry tutoring, with full past-paper practice and a personalised study plan built around your target grade.

Since 2008, TestPrep Europe has taught A-Level Chemistry through one-to-one tutoring and small-group courses on its own online learning platform. The programme combines the A-Level syllabus with subject teaching, problem solving and past-paper practice.

One-to-one and small groups · Live online · Edexcel, AQA, OCR and Cambridge specifications

See pricesAll A-Level subjects
From a TestPrep A-Level Chemistry private lesson — standard electrode potentials: an E° table, a Daniell cell, cell notation and the cell EMF

100% live online lessons

About the subject

A-Level Chemistry: what it covers and who it suits

A-Level Chemistry tutoring at TestPrep Europe covers AQA, OCR (A 'Chemistry A' and B 'Salters'), Edexcel and Cambridge International (9701). Structure may vary by board and syllabus code. We teach physical, inorganic and organic chemistry, mathematical chemistry, and required practicals to top-band standard.

  • AQA, OCR A, OCR B (Salters), Edexcel and Cambridge International specifications mapped explicitly
  • Mathematical chemistry (moles, Kp/Kc, pH, Born-Haber, kinetics) drilled separately
  • Organic synthesis taught with reaction maps across all functional groups
Read more

A-Level Chemistry is required or strongly preferred for many university courses, including medicine, pharmacy, chemical engineering, biochemistry and materials science. The specification spans Atomic structure, Bonding, organic reaction mechanisms, Thermodynamics and Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells, and develops the quantitative reasoning and experimental skills central to chemistry at university.

A-Level Chemistry covers the structure, properties, reactions and energetics of matter. On AQA 7405 the content falls into Physical chemistry (from Atomic structure, Amount of substance and Bonding to Thermodynamics, Rate equations, Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells and Acids and bases), Inorganic chemistry (Periodicity, Group 2, Group 7(17), Transition metals) and Organic chemistry (functional groups from Alkanes to Aromatic chemistry, Organic synthesis, Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Chromatography), with organic chemistry of particular relevance to pharmaceuticals and materials science. Our programme follows each student's exam board (AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel or Cambridge International) with past-paper practice and Practical Endorsement preparation, working towards an A*.

One-to-one A-Level Chemistry tutoring

Our one-to-one A-Level tutoring is built around your current grade, your target grade and the exam board you are sitting. Each lesson works on your weak topics, drills AQA, OCR A, Edexcel, CIE past-paper questions and walks through mark schemes, so you know exactly how marks are awarded.

A private group for A-Level Chemistry

There is no open group timetable for this subject. Bring 3 or more students together and we open a private group course for you. The price per student depends on how many subjects you take, with 30 hours of live lessons in each: 1 subject (30 hours) €1,026, 2 subjects (60 hours) €1,919, 3 subjects (90 hours) €2,677 and 4 subjects (120 hours) €3,480. Each student buys their own place online, and we let you know as soon as your group is ready.

Exam

A-Level Chemistry exam format

Exam boards: AQA, OCR A, Edexcel, CIE

  • Paper 1 (AQA 7405)

    35%

    2 hours, 105 marks of short and long answer questions. Physical chemistry sections 3.1.1–3.1.4, 3.1.6–3.1.8 and 3.1.10–3.1.12 (Atomic structure, Amount of substance, Bonding, Energetics, Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier's principle and Kc, Oxidation, reduction and redox equations, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium constant Kp, Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells, Acids and bases), all of Inorganic chemistry, and relevant practical skills.

  • Paper 2 (AQA 7405)

    35%

    2 hours, 105 marks of short and long answer questions. Physical chemistry sections 3.1.2–3.1.6 and 3.1.9 (Amount of substance, Bonding, Energetics, Kinetics, Chemical equilibria, Rate equations), all of Organic chemistry, and relevant practical skills.

  • Paper 3 (AQA 7405)

    30%

    2 hours, 90 marks. Any content and any practical skills: practical techniques and data analysis (40 marks), questions across the specification (20 marks) and multiple choice (30 marks).

One-to-One Tutoring

A-Level Chemistry Private Tutoring

Fully customised one-to-one A-Level tutoring with experienced Cambridge / Edexcel specialists. A* preparation across every A-Level subject.

  • A fully personalised A-Level lesson plan
  • Maths, Further Maths, Sciences, Economics and every other subject
  • Past-paper and mock-exam-driven coaching
  • Flexible schedule and pacing

How it works

  1. 1

    Tell us your goal

    We start from your school syllabus, your exam date and the result you are aiming for.

  2. 2

    Your own plan

    We map out the lessons you need, unit by unit.

  3. 3

    Live one-to-one lessons

    Meet your tutor online at times that suit your week.

  4. 4

    Regular progress checks

    Homework and a short check after each lesson show how you are getting on.

Start one-to-one A-Level Chemistry

Per lesson in a package, from

€85

See all prices

Ideal for students aiming at A*, Oxbridge or Russell Group universities, or anyone who needs help in specific subjects.

Book one-to-one lessons

No package needed — you can book a single lesson.

Even our newest A-Level tutor has been teaching A-Level prep since 2016.

  • 100% First-Lesson Money-Back Guarantee

    Not satisfied? Full refund, no questions asked.

  • Secure Payments

    Powered by Stripe with 256-bit encryption.

    Stripe

  • Flexible Billing

    Pay in EUR — local cards welcome, instalments available.

Lessons cancelled less than 3 hours before the start count as taken. Full terms

Included in lessons

Practice built into your A-Level Chemistry lessons

Every topic you cover in A-Level Chemistry is reinforced with question sets your tutor puts together for you. This programme has no separately sold question bank or practice test.

Mock exams included in the programme
  • Targeted questions on every topic
  • Practice sets built around your weak areas
  • Exam-style practice with past papers and mark schemes
  • Worked solutions and feedback on every question

Syllabus

A-Level Chemistry topics

Topic names are those of the AQA 7405 specification; other exam boards order and name them a little differently.

1

3.1 Physical chemistry

  • Atomic structure
  • Amount of substance
  • Bonding
  • Energetics
  • Kinetics
  • Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier's principle and Kc
  • Oxidation, reduction and redox equations
  • Thermodynamics
  • Rate equations
  • Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems
  • Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells
  • Acids and bases
2

3.2 Inorganic chemistry

  • Periodicity
  • Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
  • Group 7(17), the halogens
  • Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides
  • Transition metals
  • Reactions of ions in aqueous solution
3

3.3 Organic chemistry

  • Introduction to organic chemistry
  • Alkanes
  • Halogenoalkanes
  • Alkenes
  • Alcohols
  • Organic analysis
  • Optical isomerism
  • Aldehydes and ketones
  • Carboxylic acids and derivatives
  • Aromatic chemistry
  • Amines
  • Polymers
  • Amino acids, proteins and DNA
  • Organic synthesis
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
  • Chromatography

Approach

How we teach A-Level Chemistry

Study plan

  1. 1

    Phase 1 — Physical 1 + inorganic 1

    Atomic, bonding, energetics

    • Atomic structure and bonding
    • Energetics and enthalpy
  2. 2

    Phase 2 — Physical 2 + organic 1

    Equilibrium, kinetics, hydrocarbons

    • Kinetics and equilibria
    • Alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, halogenoalkanes
  3. 3

    Phase 3 — Physical 3 + inorganic 2 + organic 2

    Year 2 content

    • Acids/bases, Ka/pH, Born-Haber
    • Transition metals
    • Carbonyls, carboxylic acids, aromatic chemistry
  4. 4

    Phase 4 — Synthesis + practicals + mock

    Reaction maps + papers

    • Reaction maps and synthesis problems
    • Required practicals
    • Past-paper timed mocks

How lessons work

  • Mathematical chemistry as a separate skill

    Moles, Kp/Kc, pH, Born-Haber and kinetics are taught with explicit numerical workflows so method marks are protected under time pressure.

  • Reaction maps

    Organic synthesis is taught as a connected map of functional groups, not as isolated reactions.

  • Mechanism precision

    Curly arrows are taught with explicit origin → destination — examiners test arrow precision as much as product.

Advice

A-Level Chemistry: common mistakes and study tips

  • MistakeEquilibrium constant expressions with the wrong powers.

    FixPowers come from the stoichiometric coefficients. Read the equation before writing Kc/Kp.

  • MistakepH and Ka calculations without checking dissociation assumptions.

    FixWeak-acid pH assumes [HA] ≈ initial; check the assumption is reasonable before quoting.

  • MistakeBorn-Haber cycle arrows in the wrong direction.

    FixAlways orient arrows by definition (formation, atomisation, ionisation, electron affinity, lattice). Direction errors cascade.

  • MistakeOrganic mechanisms with curly arrows starting from the wrong place.

    FixCurly arrows start from a lone pair or bond, not from an atom. Mechanism rubrics test arrow origin and direction precisely.

  • MistakePractical answers without controlled variables.

    FixIndependent, dependent and controlled variables must be named explicitly.

Study tips

  • Draw organic mechanisms step by step with curly arrows; mark schemes award marks for arrow placement, intermediates and products independently.
  • Drill Amount of substance calculations (moles, the ideal gas equation, titrations): on AQA, 20% of the marks require maths at GCSE level (Level 2) or above.
  • Practise IR and NMR spectrum interpretation with real, unknown structures rather than memorising example questions.
  • Build a concept map linking Physical, Inorganic and Organic chemistry; AQA's Paper 3 can draw on any part of the specification.

Student results

A-Level success stories

Results our A-Level students shared in their own reviews.

  • A-Level Chemistry: A*
    “I started from zero on mole calculations and they're now my strongest area.”
    Berk M.A-Level Chemistry student

Ready to raise your A-Level Chemistry grade?

You can start one-to-one A-Level Chemistry lessons with a single lesson. Every package and price is on one page.

  • Live one-to-one lessons online
  • No package needed — book a single lesson
  • Lesson times that fit your school week
Chat on WhatsAppSee all pricesCall us: +44 7862 610215

You can also write to us through our contact page.

Other subjects

Related and other A-Level subjects

Often taken alongside this subject

All A-Level subjects

View All A-Level Subjects
FAQ

A-Level Chemistry Prep — Frequently Asked Questions

The questions students ask most about A-Level Chemistry preparation.

Essential. On AQA, 20% of the marks require maths at GCSE level (Level 2) or above: mole calculations, the ideal gas equation, ratios and logarithms (pH, pKa) appear constantly. Taking A-Level Mathematics alongside makes this much easier.

Grade boundaries are set each series with the difficulty of the papers in mind, so no board is reliably easier. What differs is the format: AQA 7405 has three two-hour papers, with 30 multiple-choice marks on Paper 3; Cambridge International 9701 has five papers, including a laboratory-based practical exam. Fluency with your school's board and its mark schemes matters far more than headline difficulty.

On AQA, OCR and Pearson Edexcel, students complete at least 12 practical activities, assessed by their teachers against the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC). The result appears on the certificate as Pass or Not Classified, separately from the A-Level grade, and many science and engineering courses expect a Pass.

No board publishes a difficulty ranking. OCR Chemistry B (Salters) is context-led; AQA and OCR Chemistry A follow a more traditional topic-by-topic approach; Cambridge International 9701 has five papers, including a laboratory-based practical exam. Fluency with your own board's question style matters more than the board itself.

Critical. Mark schemes treat numerical questions like physics — full marks need formula → substitution → answer with units.

Many UK medical schools make Chemistry compulsory, and many others accept Chemistry or Biology alongside a second science, so Chemistry keeps the most options open. Requirements differ by school and country; confirm with each target university.

There is no fixed number: it depends on the starting point, the target grade and the time left before the exams. A Free Intro Call is where we agree a plan.

The money-back guarantee covers live lessons. If you are not satisfied after your first private lesson, we refund your payment in full.

Lessons cancelled less than 3 hours before the start count as taken and are not refunded. A lesson that has not been paid for 3 hours before it starts is cancelled automatically.

A-Level Chemistry reviews

Be the first to review this programme.

Share your experience

Your comment will appear after approval.

Your rating

All TestPrep Europe reviews