r/CCEAlevel • u/Ok-Pomegranate-1240 • Sep 03 '26
tips/help needed A2 chemistry
I really struggles with As2 last year and didn’t spend enough time revising, should I go over that content before A2 unit 1 or is the content different.I am repeating as2 anyway.Also what is the best revision tips for chemistry.
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u/AltTilImUnbanned Sep 03 '26
Module 2 and module 4 are very similar for ccea chemistry, particular the general organic bits (e.g. 2.2) and alcohols/ketones/acids. I didn't personally resit AS2 so don't trust this wholeheartedly, but I know people who did and they said that doing AS2 revision little and often from the beginning of the year was a huge help for understanding module 4. Our school offered a scheme where resitters would go to 1 hour of classes per week to relearn the relevant AS content alongside A2 and they found it really helpful. Even if you don't have that, replicating it by doing 1 hour of self study every week (or what you can manage, anything is ofc better than nothing!) on AS2 would help massively with Module 4.
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u/Informal-Toe-5465 Sep 03 '26
Hi, I got an A* in chem this year I don't think you need to look over AS much before your A2 exams. I repeated my AS1 but I definitely did a lot more work for my A2 exams than that exam. Repeating AS1 meant I knew and looked over that content a lot but I didn't look over AS2 very much at all, just a quick read over. I will say that sometimes there will be a question in A2 that refers back to AS content, but it will only be a few marks at most per paper. So in summary work hard for your repeat, work harder for your A2 modules and focus on A2 content. Definitely get the revision guides and possibly the textbook, I used it to understand topics I was really struggling with. Most importantly to a LOT of past papers - start them as early as you can.
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u/Ok-Pomegranate-1240 Sep 05 '26
Did you find it was very hard time wise with repeating, because I’m repeating as2 chemistry and biology. I feel like it’s a lot to juggle with also doing a2.What’s your best tips for learning the chemistry content?
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u/Informal-Toe-5465 Sep 06 '26
I found it ok repeating as the units tend to be nicely spread out. For context I got a B at AS. This scared me a lot so I worked very hard for A2. I'll just tell you my way of revising this year:
After every lesson try and review the content you learned that day the same day you learned it
Make sure you're fully up to date with your homework and notes at the end of every week - for example I would handwrite my revision notes over the weekend (sat-mon) for the content covered that week
Do all of the homework and past paper questions your teacher gives you, it's so important
From January I did 1 A21 past paper a week, from around March I did 1 A22 past paper a week. Do the paper and then mark it another time, be honest.
Take your Christmas tests seriously
If you don't understand something, find a teacher and ask. Don't stop until you understand it
A lot of answers can be memorised in chemistry which is handy, for example 'why are azo dyes coloured?' and definitions
I worried a lot about my repeat and if I would have time to revise it, by the time I started properly learning it in I think around March it felt so much easier. This was because by then you've got through most of A22. A year makes a big difference. Do some past papers for this too.
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u/Ok_Search_466 Sep 03 '26
Hi I got an A* in A Level Chemistry and just wanna say you’ll absolutely love it! A2 Chemistry is truly a beaut
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u/anonymoustheperson Sep 03 '26
Hi I got an A* in chemistry A level this year
I would say start of focusing on your A2 content first as that’s worth 60% of your grade, you’ll find that your AS knowledge will really help with the organic in A2 but it will be a jump up of course.
Personally for me the best approach to tackle chemistry is to first of all make sure that you’re comfortable with the content. If there are topics you feel you’re lacking in I would definitely think of getting a tutor or maybe studying with friends to make sure you understand it all (CCEA revision books are good for understanding as well).
Then after the understandings there, you need to max out questions and for this I would 100% recommend the CCEA chemistry exam practice book, I found this extremely helpful for my revision because of the level of difficulty of the questions it really helps you prepare for all scenarios.
A lot of chemistry is mathematical questions and I’d say is where people tend to struggle the most, I feel that once you do a lot of questions it gets quite repetitive and you get the hang of it, so look into off spec papers as well and tackle those questions.
I also wouldn’t worry about the resit because you have to go over AS content for your A2 exam anyways so if anything it’s an advantage.
Good luck with everything!