Newest 2026-2027 OCR As Level Chemistry B
(Salters) Paper 2 Mark Scheme: Edition for First-
Time Exam Success All Graded A+ Pass.
1. The AS Curriculum: The "Storylines"
The AS content is delivered through five main modules (Storylines), where chemical ideas are
"drip-fed" and revisited with increasing complexity (a spiral curriculum).
Module / Storyline Core Chemical Concepts Covered
Elements of Life Atomic structure, mass spectrometry, Periodic Table, Group 2
(EL) chemistry, bonding and shapes of molecules.
Developing Fuels Thermochemistry, alkanes/alkenes, polymers, enthalpy cycles,
(DF) isomerism ($E/Z$), and pollution.
Elements from the Halogens (Group 7), redox reactions, electrolysis, equilibrium
Sea (ES) ($K_c$), and atom economy.
The Ozone Story Atmospheric chemistry, rates of reaction, radical mechanisms, CFCs,
(OZ) and intermolecular forces.
What's in a Alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, IR spectroscopy, TLC, and organic
Medicine? (WM) synthesis.
2. Assessment Structure
To gain the AS Level, you must sit two written exams. There is no practical exam, but your
knowledge of laboratory techniques is tested within these papers.
Paper 1: Foundations of Chemistry (H033/01)
Weighting: 50% of total AS Level.
Marks: 70 marks.
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Format: 20 multiple-choice questions + a mix of short/structured response questions.
Focus: Covers all AS content, focusing on the fundamental principles.
, 1. Exam Blueprint
This paper is designed to ensure you have a firm grasp of the fundamental concepts before you
try to apply them to complex "Storyline" scenarios.
Total Marks: 70
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Weighting: 50% of the AS Level
Calculator: Required (and a ruler!)
Data Sheet: You are provided with the OCR "Data Sheet for Chemistry B," which includes the
Periodic Table and spectroscopic data.
2. Question Breakdown
The paper is split into two distinct sections:
Section A: Multiple Choice (20 Marks)
20 individual questions, each worth 1 mark.
These often involve quick calculations, identifying functional groups, or recall of trends (e.g.,
"Which of these has the highest first ionization energy?").
Strategy: Don't spend more than 20–25 minutes here.
Section B: Structured Questions (50 Marks)
A mix of short-answer questions (1–2 marks) and longer, multi-step problems (4–6 marks).
These questions are usually "scaffolded," leading you through a calculation or a theoretical
explanation.
Expect at least one question involving Practical Skills (e.g., describing a color change or
identifying a piece of apparatus).
3. High-Yield Topics to Master
Based on past papers, these topics appear frequently in H033/01:
Chemical Calculations (Amount of Substance)
You must be fluent in converting between mass, moles, gas volume, and concentration.
The ideal gas equation:
(Salters) Paper 2 Mark Scheme: Edition for First-
Time Exam Success All Graded A+ Pass.
1. The AS Curriculum: The "Storylines"
The AS content is delivered through five main modules (Storylines), where chemical ideas are
"drip-fed" and revisited with increasing complexity (a spiral curriculum).
Module / Storyline Core Chemical Concepts Covered
Elements of Life Atomic structure, mass spectrometry, Periodic Table, Group 2
(EL) chemistry, bonding and shapes of molecules.
Developing Fuels Thermochemistry, alkanes/alkenes, polymers, enthalpy cycles,
(DF) isomerism ($E/Z$), and pollution.
Elements from the Halogens (Group 7), redox reactions, electrolysis, equilibrium
Sea (ES) ($K_c$), and atom economy.
The Ozone Story Atmospheric chemistry, rates of reaction, radical mechanisms, CFCs,
(OZ) and intermolecular forces.
What's in a Alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, IR spectroscopy, TLC, and organic
Medicine? (WM) synthesis.
2. Assessment Structure
To gain the AS Level, you must sit two written exams. There is no practical exam, but your
knowledge of laboratory techniques is tested within these papers.
Paper 1: Foundations of Chemistry (H033/01)
Weighting: 50% of total AS Level.
Marks: 70 marks.
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Format: 20 multiple-choice questions + a mix of short/structured response questions.
Focus: Covers all AS content, focusing on the fundamental principles.
, 1. Exam Blueprint
This paper is designed to ensure you have a firm grasp of the fundamental concepts before you
try to apply them to complex "Storyline" scenarios.
Total Marks: 70
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Weighting: 50% of the AS Level
Calculator: Required (and a ruler!)
Data Sheet: You are provided with the OCR "Data Sheet for Chemistry B," which includes the
Periodic Table and spectroscopic data.
2. Question Breakdown
The paper is split into two distinct sections:
Section A: Multiple Choice (20 Marks)
20 individual questions, each worth 1 mark.
These often involve quick calculations, identifying functional groups, or recall of trends (e.g.,
"Which of these has the highest first ionization energy?").
Strategy: Don't spend more than 20–25 minutes here.
Section B: Structured Questions (50 Marks)
A mix of short-answer questions (1–2 marks) and longer, multi-step problems (4–6 marks).
These questions are usually "scaffolded," leading you through a calculation or a theoretical
explanation.
Expect at least one question involving Practical Skills (e.g., describing a color change or
identifying a piece of apparatus).
3. High-Yield Topics to Master
Based on past papers, these topics appear frequently in H033/01:
Chemical Calculations (Amount of Substance)
You must be fluent in converting between mass, moles, gas volume, and concentration.
The ideal gas equation:
