IGCSE Chemistry

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry enables learners to:

  • Increase their understanding of the technological world.
  • Take an informed interest in scientific matters.
  • Recognise the usefulness (and limitations) of scientific method, and how to apply this to other disciplines and in everyday life.
  • Develop relevant attitudes, such as a concern for accuracy and precision, objectivity, integrity, enquiry, initiative and inventiveness.
  • Develop an interest in, and care for, the environment.
  • Better understand the influences and limitations placed on scientific study by society, economy, technology, ethics, the community and the environment.
  • Develop an understanding of the scientific skills essential for both further study and everyday life.

Students will follow either the Core curriculum only or the Extended curriculum. The Extended curriculum goes into greater depth and includes some topics not covered at Core level.

Aims

The aims are to enable learners to:

  • Provide an enjoyable and worthwhile educational experience for all learners, whether or not they go on to study science beyond this level.
  • Enable learners to acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding to:
    • Become confident citizens in a technological world and develop an informed interest in scientific matters.
    • Be suitably prepared for studies beyond Cambridge IGCSE.
  • Allow learners to recognise that science is evidence based and understand the usefulness, and the limitations, of scientific method.
  • Develop skills that:
    • Are relevant to the study and practice of Chemistry.
    • Are useful in everyday life.
    • Encourage a systematic approach to problem solving.
    • Encourage efficient and safe practice.
    • Encourage effective communication through the language of science.
  • Develop attitudes relevant to biology such as:
    • Concern for accuracy and precision.
    • Objectivity, integrity, enquiry, initiative, and inventiveness.
  • Enable learners to appreciate that:
    • Science is subject to social, economic, technological, ethical and cultural influences and limitations.
    • The applications of science may be both beneficial and detrimental to the individual, the community and the environment.

Syllabus content

The three main domains in Chemistry are:

  • Knowledge and understanding.
  • Handling information and solving problems.
  • Experimental skills and investigations.

    Additional equipment

    All students will require:

    • Ruler
    • HB pencil
    • Eraser

    Assessment

    Extended Curriculum (A* to E)

    Paper title Duration and marks What’s in the paper? Percentage of final grade
    Paper 2: Multiple Choice (Extended) 45 minutes
    (40 Marks)    		 Multiple-choice questions based on the Extended curriculum. 30%
    Paper 4: Theory (Extended) 1 hour 15 minutes
    (80 Marks)    		 Short-answer and structured questions Questions will be based on the Extended curriculum. 50%
    Paper 6: Alternative to Practical 1 hour
    (40 Marks)    		 Questions will be based on the experimental skills. 20%

    Core Curriculum (C to G)

    Paper title Duration and marks What’s in the paper? Percentage of final grade
    Paper 1: Multiple Choice (Core) 45 minutes
    (40 Marks)    		 Multiple-choice questions based on the Core curriculum. 30%
    Paper 3: Theory (Core) 1 hour 15 minutes
    (80 Marks)    		 Short-answer and structured questions Questions will be based on the Core curriculum. 50%
    Paper 6: Alternative to Practical 1 hour
    (40 Marks)    		 Questions will be based on the experimental skills. 20%

    Find out more

    You can find out more by visiting the qualification page on the Cambridge Assessment website.