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ChemistryCOURSE INFORMATIONSTANDARD GRADE Standard Grade Chemistry is designed for a wide ability range of pupils and contributes to their general education by helping to make them aware of the applications of chemistry/science in everyday life. An additional aim is to provide a suitable base for further study, for training or work. It is hoped to develop positive pupil attitudes through success and enjoyment in the subject. Topics studied are:
Chemistry Grades will be awarded on the scale 5 to 1 with Grade 1 denoting the highest performance. Assessment of pupil performance will be in three elements: 1. Knowledge and Understanding will be assessed externally by written examination. 2. Problem Solving will be assessed externally by written examination. 3. Practical Abilities will be assessed in the school. HIGHER Purpose – the study of Chemistry at Higher extends the candidates’ knowledge and understanding of the physical and natural environments and the development of the problem solving and practical skills associated with scientific enquiry beyond Intermediate 2. A grounding for the future study of Chemistry and Chemistry–related subjects in higher education is provided for candidates who wish to pursue a career in a science-based area. Recommended Entry – candidates will normally be expected to have attained one of the following awards or its equivalent:
Unit – Title, Length and Brief Description The course consists of three units, each split into sub-units. 1. Energy Matters (a) Reaction rates (b) Enthalpy (c) Patterns in the Periodic Table (d) Bonding, structure and properties (e) The Mole 2. The World of Carbon (a) Fuels (b) Nomenclature and structural formulae (c) Reactions of carbon compounds (d) Uses of carbon compounds (e) Polymers (f) Natural products 3. Chemical Reactions (a) The chemical industry (b) Hess’s Law (c) Equilibrium (d) Acids and bases (e) Redox reactions (f) Nuclear chemisty Practical – all candidates will be expected to carry out 9 prescribed practical activities. One of these must be written up formally and reach a set standard. Assessment – each unit of work takes approximately 12 weeks. Internal assessment of each unit of work will take place when it has been completed. These assessments come from the SQA National Assessment Bank. A mark of 18 out of 30 must be attained. Where candidates have been unsuccessful, they can be re-assessed. Only under exceptional circumstances will there be a further re-assessment. Additional tests will estimate candidates exam performance. To gain the award of the course, the candidate must achieve all the component units of the course as well as the external assessment. External assessment will provide the basis for grading attainment in the course award. The external examination consists of one paper of 2 hours 30 minutes with a total allocation of 100 marks. The paper is in two sections Section A 40 marks Section B 60 marks Section A contains 40 multiple choice questions for 40 marks. Section B takes the form of a question and answer book. Approximately 6 marks are allocated to questions that draw on the candidates’ experience of the prescribed practical activities. Of the remaining marks, approximately 32 marks are for the assessment of knowledge and understanding and approximately 22 marks are for the assessment of problem solving. Up to 10 marks over the paper can be allocated to questions based on content which is common to Standard Grade and Intermediate 2. Candidates are expected to answer all questions. Materials – Homework exercises are set during each sub-topic, usually one per week. Four textbooks are used for the course: “Revision Questions for Higher Chemistry” “Revision Notes for Higher Chemistry” (Chemcord) "Test your Higher Chemistry Calculations" (Gibson) Questions in Higher Chemistry (Leckie & Leckie) Formal notes are provided during the course as either photocopied notes, notes copied from the overhead projector, or self written notes. INTERMEDIATE 2 Unit – Title, Length and Brief Description The course has three mandatory units: Building Blocks (Int 2) (40 hours) Elements, compounds, chemical reactions, atoms and the links between these topics. Carbon compounds (Int 2) (40 hours) Uses and reactions of carbon compounds including fuels, solvents, food additives, plastics biochemicals. Acids, Bases and Metals (Int 2) (40 hours) Reactions of acids, bases and metals and their relationships including the extraction of metals, protection from corrosion, the production of chemicals, and the manufacture of batteries. In addition, students will carry out a series of 9 prescribed practical activities which relate directly to the course content. In common with all courses, this course includes a further 40 hours over and above the 120 hours for induction, extending the range of learning and teaching approaches, support, consolidation, integration of learning and preparation for external assessment. This time is an important element of the course. Recommended Entry Students would normally be expected to have attained one of the following awards or its equivalent: · Standard Grade Chemistry at grades 3 and 4 · Standard Grade Biology, Physics or Science at grades 1 to 3 · The Intermediate 1 Chemistry course or its component units · The Intermediate 2 Biology or Physics or its component units · Standard Grade Mathematics at grades 3 and 4 or Intermediate 1 Mathematics (The preferred entry from Standard Grades is based on achievement in the Knowledge and Understanding and Problem Solving elements) Progression Students who achieve Intermediate 2 Chemistry may progress to
ADVANCED HIGHER Purpose The study of chemistry at Advanced Higher level develops the student’s knowledge and understanding of the physical and natural environments. The course builds on the Higher level, developing further the underlying theories of chemistry and the practical skills used in the chemical laboratory. The course also develops the skills of independent study and thought that are essential in a wide range of occupations. The course is particularly suitable for students who wish to progress to degree courses either in chemistry or in subjects of which chemistry is a major component such as medicine, chemical engineering and the environmental and health sciences. Recommended entry Students would normally be expected to have attained the following award or its equivalent:
Course Description The course has four units Electronic Structure and the Periodic Table Principles of Chemical Reactions Organic Chemistry Chemical Investigation Twelve prescribed practical activities (PPAs) should be carried out with the course. Major homework exercises are set for each sub-topic in the theory units. Assessment To gain the award of the course, the student must achieve all the component units of the course as well as the external assessment. External assessment will provide the basis for grading attainment in the course award. External assessment will consist of the following two components: Written examination (2 ½ hours) The paper will be divided into two parts Part 1 Fixed-response paper 40 marks Part 2 Extended-answer paper 60 marks Chemical investigation 20 marks Total 125 marks The chemical investigation is a short project which should take approximately 20 hours. Assessment will be by submission of a written report. The report of the investigation should be approximately 1,500 words long The investigation report will be externally assessed and marked. The grade awarded for the course will depend on the total marks obtained for the written question paper and the chemical investigation. The certificate will record an award for overall attainment. |
Adverse Weather Call 0870 054 6999 and enter the pin 041080 Absence Procedure If a pupil is absent from school a parent or carer should phone the school on the first day of absence, on either the school message number which is 01349 855942 or the school number 01349 852362 |
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