EDEXCEL AS CHEMISTRY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Edexcel
Chemistry
Questions and Answers
, Contents
Introduction......................................................................................3
Unit 1
Multiple-choice questions.............................................................7
Structured questions..................................................................10
Unit 2
Multiple-choice questions.................................................................15
Structured questions..................................................................18
Context question........................................................................23
Edexcel AS Chemistry Questions and © Philip Allan Updates 2
, Introduction
The new Edexcel specification for AS chemistry will be examined for the first time in
2009. This CD contains samples of questions that might be asked in the
examinations, together with the sort of answers that an A-grade candidate should
give. There is also important advice about how examinations should be tackled and
examples of common mistakes made by candidates who achieve low grades. These
questions with their answers provide a useful resource in the important matter of
examination technique, as well as helping to clarify chemical ideas.
The questions given here are not balanced in each unit in terms of type of
question or level of demand — they are not intended to typify real papers, only
the sort of questions that could be asked.
The answers are those that examiners would expect from a grade-A candidate.
They are not ‘model answers’ to be regurgitated without understanding. There are
also examples of common errors that candidates make and which lead them away
from the top grade.
In answers that require more extended writing, it is usually the ideas that count
rather than the form of words used. The principle is that correct and relevant
chemistry scores.
Below you will find important advice on how to cope with answer papers that
are marked online and some information on marking exams and how this differs
from the marking of homework.
The new specification
There are some significant differences in question style between previous
examinations and the new ones. You should bear these differences in mind if you
have to work through past papers based on the previous specification.
Multiple-choice questions
Multiple-choice questions have been re-introduced by Edexcel for first examination
in 2009. These questions need to be read carefully; it is important not to jump to a
conclusion about the answer too quickly. You need to be aware that one of the
options may be a ‘distracter’. For example, in a question having a numerical answer
of 600 kJ mol1, a likely distracter would be
600 kJ mol1.
Some questions require you to think on paper — there is no demand that the
working for multiple-choice questions be carried out in your head. Space is
provided on the question paper for rough working. It is not marked, so do not
write anything that matters in this space because the examiner will not see it.
Multiple-choice answers are machine-marked. For each question there are four
suggested answers, A, B, C and D. You select the best answer by putting a cross in
the box beside the letter of your choice. If you change your mind, you should put a
horizontal line through the box and then indicate your alternative choice. Selecting
more than one option does not earn any marks.
The Unit 1 and 2 examinations each have 20 multiple-choice questions, and
these should take you no more than 20 minutes. Examination papers are often
written on the basis of approxi- mately 1 mark a minute.
Contemporary contexts
Chemistry questions often involve contexts, i.e. a particular area of chemistry is
linked to an industrial process or a feature of everyday life. A context question may
Edexcel AS Chemistry Questions and © Philip Allan Updates 3
, ask you to read a passage and then examine the underlying chemistry. It is not a
simple comprehension exercise. The chemistry behind the context must be known,
including any equations. It is in your answers to such questions that your quality of
written communication will be assessed.
Context questions appear in Unit 2 at AS and Unit 4 at A2.
Edexcel AS Chemistry Questions and © Philip Allan Updates 4
Edexcel
Chemistry
Questions and Answers
, Contents
Introduction......................................................................................3
Unit 1
Multiple-choice questions.............................................................7
Structured questions..................................................................10
Unit 2
Multiple-choice questions.................................................................15
Structured questions..................................................................18
Context question........................................................................23
Edexcel AS Chemistry Questions and © Philip Allan Updates 2
, Introduction
The new Edexcel specification for AS chemistry will be examined for the first time in
2009. This CD contains samples of questions that might be asked in the
examinations, together with the sort of answers that an A-grade candidate should
give. There is also important advice about how examinations should be tackled and
examples of common mistakes made by candidates who achieve low grades. These
questions with their answers provide a useful resource in the important matter of
examination technique, as well as helping to clarify chemical ideas.
The questions given here are not balanced in each unit in terms of type of
question or level of demand — they are not intended to typify real papers, only
the sort of questions that could be asked.
The answers are those that examiners would expect from a grade-A candidate.
They are not ‘model answers’ to be regurgitated without understanding. There are
also examples of common errors that candidates make and which lead them away
from the top grade.
In answers that require more extended writing, it is usually the ideas that count
rather than the form of words used. The principle is that correct and relevant
chemistry scores.
Below you will find important advice on how to cope with answer papers that
are marked online and some information on marking exams and how this differs
from the marking of homework.
The new specification
There are some significant differences in question style between previous
examinations and the new ones. You should bear these differences in mind if you
have to work through past papers based on the previous specification.
Multiple-choice questions
Multiple-choice questions have been re-introduced by Edexcel for first examination
in 2009. These questions need to be read carefully; it is important not to jump to a
conclusion about the answer too quickly. You need to be aware that one of the
options may be a ‘distracter’. For example, in a question having a numerical answer
of 600 kJ mol1, a likely distracter would be
600 kJ mol1.
Some questions require you to think on paper — there is no demand that the
working for multiple-choice questions be carried out in your head. Space is
provided on the question paper for rough working. It is not marked, so do not
write anything that matters in this space because the examiner will not see it.
Multiple-choice answers are machine-marked. For each question there are four
suggested answers, A, B, C and D. You select the best answer by putting a cross in
the box beside the letter of your choice. If you change your mind, you should put a
horizontal line through the box and then indicate your alternative choice. Selecting
more than one option does not earn any marks.
The Unit 1 and 2 examinations each have 20 multiple-choice questions, and
these should take you no more than 20 minutes. Examination papers are often
written on the basis of approxi- mately 1 mark a minute.
Contemporary contexts
Chemistry questions often involve contexts, i.e. a particular area of chemistry is
linked to an industrial process or a feature of everyday life. A context question may
Edexcel AS Chemistry Questions and © Philip Allan Updates 3
, ask you to read a passage and then examine the underlying chemistry. It is not a
simple comprehension exercise. The chemistry behind the context must be known,
including any equations. It is in your answers to such questions that your quality of
written communication will be assessed.
Context questions appear in Unit 2 at AS and Unit 4 at A2.
Edexcel AS Chemistry Questions and © Philip Allan Updates 4
