OCR Chemistry A-Level
Types of Exam Questions
and What They Really Test
and How to Answer Them
Exam Technique Command Words Mark Schemes Model Answers
Everything you need to tackle OCR A-Level Chemistry exams
with confidence — from one-mark recall questions right through
to extended response and calculation questions.
Learn what every question type is really asking,
how marks are awarded, and how to write answers that score full marks.
Command Words Question Types Calculations Mechanisms Evaluations Extended Writing Worked Answers Revision Tips
The Complete Student Exam Guide
Written for OCR A-Level Chemistry Students
Covers all question formats | Works for AS and A2 | Ideal for last-minute revision
,OCR Chemistry A-Level | Types of Exam Questions and What They Really Test Page 2
Table of Contents
1. How Exams Are Structured 4
1.1 Paper breakdown
1.2 Assessment objectives explained
1.3 How marks are allocated
2. Command Words — The Secret Code 6
2.1 Full command word glossary
2.2 What each word demands from you
2.3 Common mistakes
3. Recall and Knowledge Questions 8
3.1 Define and state questions
3.2 Identify and name questions
3.3 List questions
4. Explain and Describe Questions 10
4.1 Explain mechanism questions
4.2 Describe trend questions
4.3 How marks are divided
5. Calculation Questions 12
5.1 Moles and equations
5.2 Enthalpy calculations
5.3 Equilibrium and Kc/Kp
5.4 Showing your working
6. Evaluate and Discuss Questions 14
6.1 What evaluate really means
6.2 Compare questions
6.3 Balancing arguments
7. Extended Response Questions 15
7.1 Six-mark questions decoded
7.2 Planning your answer
7.3 Model answer framework
8. Practical and Data Questions 17
8.1 Reading graphs and data
8.2 Risk and hazard questions
8.3 Evaluation of methods
9. Organic Chemistry Questions 19
How to Answer Them | The Complete Student Exam Guide
, OCR Chemistry A-Level | Types of Exam Questions and What They Really Test Page 3
9.1 Mechanism questions step by step
9.2 Identifying reaction types
9.3 Multi-step synthesis questions
10. Inorganic and Periodic Table Questions 21
10.1 Explaining periodic trends
10.2 Transition metal chemistry
10.3 Group 7 halogen reactions
11. Rates, Kinetics and Energetics Questions 23
11.1 Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution
11.2 Rate equations and orders
11.3 Energy profile diagrams
12. Revision Strategy and Final Tips 25
12.1 Active revision techniques
12.2 Exam-day checklist
12.3 Top ten scoring habits
How to Answer Them | The Complete Student Exam Guide
Types of Exam Questions
and What They Really Test
and How to Answer Them
Exam Technique Command Words Mark Schemes Model Answers
Everything you need to tackle OCR A-Level Chemistry exams
with confidence — from one-mark recall questions right through
to extended response and calculation questions.
Learn what every question type is really asking,
how marks are awarded, and how to write answers that score full marks.
Command Words Question Types Calculations Mechanisms Evaluations Extended Writing Worked Answers Revision Tips
The Complete Student Exam Guide
Written for OCR A-Level Chemistry Students
Covers all question formats | Works for AS and A2 | Ideal for last-minute revision
,OCR Chemistry A-Level | Types of Exam Questions and What They Really Test Page 2
Table of Contents
1. How Exams Are Structured 4
1.1 Paper breakdown
1.2 Assessment objectives explained
1.3 How marks are allocated
2. Command Words — The Secret Code 6
2.1 Full command word glossary
2.2 What each word demands from you
2.3 Common mistakes
3. Recall and Knowledge Questions 8
3.1 Define and state questions
3.2 Identify and name questions
3.3 List questions
4. Explain and Describe Questions 10
4.1 Explain mechanism questions
4.2 Describe trend questions
4.3 How marks are divided
5. Calculation Questions 12
5.1 Moles and equations
5.2 Enthalpy calculations
5.3 Equilibrium and Kc/Kp
5.4 Showing your working
6. Evaluate and Discuss Questions 14
6.1 What evaluate really means
6.2 Compare questions
6.3 Balancing arguments
7. Extended Response Questions 15
7.1 Six-mark questions decoded
7.2 Planning your answer
7.3 Model answer framework
8. Practical and Data Questions 17
8.1 Reading graphs and data
8.2 Risk and hazard questions
8.3 Evaluation of methods
9. Organic Chemistry Questions 19
How to Answer Them | The Complete Student Exam Guide
, OCR Chemistry A-Level | Types of Exam Questions and What They Really Test Page 3
9.1 Mechanism questions step by step
9.2 Identifying reaction types
9.3 Multi-step synthesis questions
10. Inorganic and Periodic Table Questions 21
10.1 Explaining periodic trends
10.2 Transition metal chemistry
10.3 Group 7 halogen reactions
11. Rates, Kinetics and Energetics Questions 23
11.1 Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution
11.2 Rate equations and orders
11.3 Energy profile diagrams
12. Revision Strategy and Final Tips 25
12.1 Active revision techniques
12.2 Exam-day checklist
12.3 Top ten scoring habits
How to Answer Them | The Complete Student Exam Guide
